Gottheimer announces $500K federal grant for security at future Andover train station
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Sussex County) — U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer announced Friday that $500,000 in federal funding has been secured for security and safety improvements at the future Andover train station, part of the effort to restore passenger rail service along the Lackawanna Cut-off.
The funding, secured through the Transit Security Grant Program, can support security cameras, fencing, gates, barriers and other security measures at the planned park-and-ride station, according to Gottheimer’s office.
The Andover station is part of a larger effort to restore the Lackawanna Cut-off railway, with the goal of providing service from Scranton, Pennsylvania, through northern New Jersey to Hoboken and New York City.
“There are zero options for folks in Sussex County to make their lives easier and get on a train to get to work or see a family member, and that has to change,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I’ve clawed back $500,000 in new federal funding from Washington to Jersey, secured through the Transit Security Grant Program, to strengthen safety and security at Andover Train Station for the families and commuters who, ultimately, will count on it every day. This funding helps harden this site as the next phase of the project gets underway.”
According to Gottheimer’s office, the Andover site has experienced unauthorized access to the tunnel, including damage to or displacement of measures intended to prevent people from entering.
The tunnel construction portion of the project was completed in June 2025, but no construction activity has taken place at the site since, according to Gottheimer’s office.
The project currently has $94 million in funding toward an estimated total cost of $112.5 million. NJ TRANSIT plans to cover the approximately $19 million funding gap with state Transportation Trust Fund dollars and toll credits, according to Gottheimer’s office.
Gottheimer’s office said approximately 28,000 people commute each day between northeastern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey and New York. Sussex County has an average commute of 38 minutes, according to the congressman’s office.
The congressman has previously advocated for the restoration of passenger rail service along the Lackawanna Cut-off. In 2018, Gottheimer urged NJ TRANSIT to allow work to upgrade a culvert. In 2022, he joined state and local officials in pushing for additional work on the rail line. NJ TRANSIT later committed $32.5 million for work including rehabilitation of the Roseville Tunnel and Hudson Farm and Junction Brook culverts, construction of 8,000 feet of track bed and stabilization of rock slopes.
According to Amtrak’s 2021 Corridor Vision plan, extending passenger rail service to Scranton could generate about $87 million in annual economic activity and a one-time economic impact of $2.9 billion from construction along the corridor.
Gottheimer was joined at Friday’s announcement by Andover Mayor Thomas Walsh, Deputy Mayor Krista Gilchrist, Andover Police Chief Eric Danielson and NJ TRANSIT Government and External Affairs Chief Paul Wyckoff.
