SENATORS BOOKER, MENENDEZ ANNOUNCE $44.6 MILLION FOR UNION CITY BUS GARAGE AND TERMINAL PROJECT

August 16, 2022

Newark, NJ – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez (both D-NJ) announced $44,677,500 in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding for the Union City Garage and Bus Terminal Reconstruction Project. The funding will allow for the rehabilitation of Union City’s 75-year-old garage to make the facility suitable for bus storage and includes the addition of a bus terminal to improve connectivity for the city’s 70,000 residents. The proposed garage and terminal will be capable of supporting battery-electric buses, which is a critical part of NJ TRANSIT’s Garage Modernization Program and consistent with the agency’s goal of achieving a zero-emissions fleet by 2040. Booker wrote a letter to FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez in support of the project last month.

 “This federal grant is a win for our economy and public health: it will lead to the replacement of older buses with new, electric ones, reduce air pollution in communities, and bolster New Jersey’s transportation system in one of the most densely populated areas of our state,” said Sen. Booker. “Over the past months, New Jersey has embarked on initiatives to improve its infrastructure, and this investment continues our efforts to enhance public transportation for commuters. I was proud to secure this funding and look forward to seeing the impact that it makes in our state.”

 “This federal grant will help modernize our state’s public transportation system, increase service for commuters, and improve air quality for residents in Union City and the surrounding area,” said Sen. Menendez. “Investing in green buses and the infrastructure to support them, benefits public health, strengthens our economy, reduces our dependence on fossil fuels, and creates a healthier environment for our families. As a former mayor of Union City, I recognize the critical importance of this modernization project and appreciate the Biden Administration for their commitment to ensuring we have the resources to create a greener, cleaner New Jersey.”

 "The Union City Bus Garage Reconstruction project is a critical step in advancing NJ TRANSIT’s Bus Modernization Program on our way to a 100 percent zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “NJ TRANSIT is grateful to the FTA for this significant grant award, which will allow us to transform a structure that’s currently unfit for bus maintenance and storage, into a state-of-the-art facility supporting up to 60 battery-electric buses. We’re also thankful for the continued support and advocacy for funding from Senator Menendez, Senator Booker and the NJ Congressional Delegation, as well as our partnership with Union City Mayor Brian Stack.”