The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced that it awarded a $6.8 million grant to NJ Transit, which allows them to move forward in determining what upgrades are needed at existing and future garages as the company looks to move towards a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040.
“I’m proud to have helped NJ TRANSIT secure this investment in our shared future. It demonstrates NJ TRANSIT’s commitment to sustainability and improving local air quality, supporting the agency’s zero-emission procurement goals and bolstering the resiliency and reliability of our state’s public transportation systems,” said Senator Cory Booker.
The $6.8 million bus study grant will allow NJ Transit to continue developing long-term capital investment and implementation plans while also advancing engineering and facility design for deploying a zero-emission bus fleet. The goal of the study is to create standards for the best practices to modernize service
“Together, we’re showing that we can build a reliable public transit system while achieving our bold climate goals,” said Rep. Rob Menendez (NJ-08). “Throughout New Jersey, our leaders have recognized the urgent need to address the climate crisis as well as build transit infrastructure that New Jerseyans in every corner of our state can count on. With the support of the Department of Transportation and their RAISE Grant program, we are doing both. There is still work ahead, but I’m grateful to both our partners in the Biden Administration and at NJ TRANSIT for their continued efforts to deliver results for our great state.”
In Jan. 2020, NJ Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation establishing goals to increase the use of zero-emission vehicles in the Garden State. The goal is to gradually build their way up with at least 10% of new bus purchases being zero-emission buses by the end of 2024 and going up to 100% by the end of 2032.