NJ Transit reallocates federal funds to pay for resiliency projects

New Jersey Transit, with the approval of the Federal Transit Administration, is redirecting $503 million in federal grant funding to support resiliency infrastructure improvements at Hoboken Terminal, Delco Lead and County Yard in New Brunswick and the Raritan River Bridge.

The funding, which includes a 25% local share, was originally allocated to NJ Transit's TransitGrid Microgrid Central Facility (MCF) in Kearny, according to an NJ Transit press release.

A review of industry proposals for the MCF revealed that the project was not financially feasible, NJ Transit officials said. Furthermore, since this project was originally designed, multiple improvements to the affected power grid have been enacted that have functionally made the MCF as envisioned at that time much less necessary than other critical resiliency projects, they said.

NJ Transit leaders determined that the MCF funding would have greater benefit if applied to other resiliency projects to harden the rail system’s more highly exposed infrastructure, which is at a greater risk of failure due to increasing climate-related threats.

The reallocation will be: $175 million for the Delco Lead, County Yard expansion; $240 million for the Raritan River Bridge; and $88 million for the Hoboken long slip.

The Raritan River Bridge project involves replacement of the existing obsolete bridge that was damaged during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The Delco Lead, County Yard expansion is a multifaceted project that would address the operations, storage and resiliency needs along the Northeast Corridor and provide a safe haven for rail cars in the event of a major storm or flooding event. The Hoboken long slip project will be completed in two phases: The first includes filling of the existing canal with structural fill and surcharging; and the second includes construction of six new tracks with high level platforms and a small crew quarters facility on the filled in canal.