NEW JERSEY – NJ TRANSIT has announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded the agency a $13.3 million grant for its local transportation programs for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20). The award will help sustain existing local transportation in the rural areas in New Jersey particularly used by senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and the economically disadvantaged.
NJ TRANSIT will distribute the grant funds for operating, planning, capital and administrative expenses for the existing rural transit providers throughout New Jersey.
“We are grateful that the U.S. Department of Transportation recognizes the economic impact of COVID-19 on New Jersey’s local transportation providers and their ability to provide essential services to remote and vulnerable populations,” Governor Murphy said. “By providing the vast majority of these funds to counties and municipalities, we can ensure that transit services remain accessible and available to our rural communities who depend upon them.”
“Residents in rural areas who most depend on these essential services can be confident that the transportation they desperately need will be sustained thanks to this funding,’’ said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin Corbett. “This support for our local providers will help fill transportation gaps for New Jersey’s transit-dependent residents.’’
The grant is part of the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
In addition to the CARES Act funding, the FTA issued a Safety Advisory that prompts transit agencies to develop and implement policies and procedures regarding face coverings and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, physical separation, and hand hygiene consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance. CARES Act funding can be used to cover 100 percent of these costs.
