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On Jan. 15, New Jersey Transit's board approved a plan to convert a Ferry Street Newark Complex building into an operations training center for rail and bus employees.


The board awarded a $3.4 million contract to ALNA Construction to renovate the building, which includes creating classrooms, simulator areas and offices.


NJ Transit plans to use the training center to offer 13 operational courses to 2,000 rail and bus employees, and seven safety courses to 800 workers.


"Combining operational and safety training with maintenance training will increase productivity and generate cost savings," said NJ Transit Executive Director George Warrington in a prepared statement.


The Ferry Street Newark Complex comprises three century-old buildings that housed the agency's central bus-maintenance operations. One building previously was converted into a maintenance training facility and another was remodeled into a bus-maintenance operation.


The board also approved a financing plan to fund two new regional park/rides, which are expected to cost $34.1 million. In the near future, NJ Transit plans to begin building a 1,500-space parking deck on the Montclair-Boonton Line and 1,264-space deck on the Main Line.


The project's design and construction will be funded from the sale of tax-exempt bonds through New Jersey Economic Development Authority.


NJ Transit plans to use revenue from the new park/rides, as well as other parking revenue, to repay the bonds.