New Jersey receives $75 million for rail facilities damaged by Hurricane Ida

The state of New Jersey will use $75 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to replace the Wood-Ridge Maintenace-of-Way (MOW) facility and reconstruct a state transit bridge, both damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2021. The project is currently in the design phase, with construction expected to start in 2025.

The Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Emergency Relief Program is providing the funding to support New Jersey Transit’s (NJ TRANSIT) rail projects. The program provides public transit operators with funds to replace facilities damaged by natural disasters. The FTA recently announced $110 million in disaster relief aid to eight public transport providers, allocating the largest amount to NJ TRANSIT.

“The new facility in Clifton will enable us to better maintain and enhance our rail infrastructure, which translates to better, more reliable service for our customers,” NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett said in a press release.

Plans call for replacing the 70-year-old and flood-prone Wood-Ridge facility with a larger, energy-efficient and modernized version on NJ TRANSIT property. The new facility will be built at a site with a higher elevation to mitigate risk for future floods. It will also provide more space for parking and vehicle storage.

The site will be large enough to support additional MOW equipment in addition to furnishing enough administrative space for the growing number of staff, according to a project overview by state lawmakers. The state will set aside $165 million to cover project costs.

MOW facility operations support track and bridge upkeep and repair, including rebuilding signal relays and signal bungalows. The existing Wood-Ridge facility serves the Main, Bergen County and Pascack Valley lines.

In addition to supporting the replacement MOW facility, funds will also help NJ Transit reconstruct Peckman Bridge in Cedar Grove.

Wood-Ridge is located 14 miles northwest of New York City. Cedar Grove is 11 northwest of Newark.

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