NJ Transit awarded $1.4B in CARES funding

New Jersey Transit has been allocated $1.4 billion in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding, agency officials announced late last week.

The grant can be used for operating expenses incurred from efforts to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic dating back to January 20. 

“These funds will provide a critical funding bridge to ensure that NJ Transit can continue to provide essential services to hospital workers, first responders and other essential personnel,” said NJ Transit President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Corbett in a press release.

On May 12, together with other major transit agencies across the country, NJ Transit requested a second round of federal assistance. In a letter to New Jersey’s congressional delegation, NJ Transit requested an additional $1.2 billion in federal relief funding to help fill a looming gap in its operating budget due to plummeting ridership and millions of dollars in additional expenses for fighting COVID-19.