The U.S. Department of Transportation has set aside $18.445 million to renovate and improve service at Newark Penn Station, elected officials said Tuesday.
U.S. Senators Bob Menendez, ranking member of the Senate’s mass transit subcommittee, and Cory Booker along with members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee -- Congressmen Albio Sires, Donald Payne Jr., Tom Malinowski -- announced the federal funding in a joint statement.
“Newark Penn Station is one of the busiest transit hubs on the vital Northeast Corridor that generates nearly one-fifth of the entire U.S. economy. This critical funding will help modernize our aging rail infrastructure, keep us economically competitive and improve the safety and reliability of rail service in and out of Newark,” Menendez said.
NJ Transit-owned Newark Penn Station provides commuter service on NJ Transit lines, PATH and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. It is the third busiest station on the Northeast Corridor line, which stretches from Boston to Washington, D.C.
“As a Newark resident, I see firsthand what an important economic driver Penn Station is for local businesses and our community,” Booker said. “By putting much-need resources into modernizing Newark’s Penn Station, we are taking important steps to keep passengers safe while creating jobs and bolstering New Jersey’s economic competitiveness.”
The project will repair the station’s Platform D, which serves Tracks 3 and 4 and is a critical transfer point for Amtrak and NJ Transit.
“Thousands of New Jersey’s residents and commuters rely on the overtaxed platforms at Newark Penn Station every day to travel in and out of our region. As the densest state in the nation and a major transportation hub, the need for this federal funding is no less than existential,” said Governor Phil Murphy.
The work will include replacing structurally compromised reinforcement, applying a corrosion resistant membrane on the platform surface, rebuilding platform edges, installing new tactile strips and timber rub rails, repairing and/or replacing the overhead canopy and lighting fixtures and replacing deck joints throughout the platform.
Commuters recently have been complaining about the conditions at Newark Penn, and inconveniences that have popped up during Amtrak infrastructure projects.
“The platform upgrades will increase customer safety and improve the quality of the commute while continuing our mission to provide a transportation experience our customers expect,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin Corbett.
Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.