Replacement of the 100-year-old Raritan River Drawbridge, which connects South Amboy and Perth Amboy, is one of the public transit improvements underway in Middlesex County after sustaining damage from superstorm Sandy.
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6) announced the award of more than $630 million in federal funding to New Jersey Transit Corp. for projects in Middlesex County. In addition to the Raritan River Drawbridge, funding will go toward a rail car storage facility in New Brunswick.
The grants are provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), whose funding is intended to protect public transportation infrastructure that has been repaired or rebuilt after superstorm Sandy, or is at risk of being damaged or destroyed by a future natural disaster.
An allocation of $446.3 million will go toward the Raritan River Drawbridge replacement project, while $184.4 million will go toward a new Delco Lead and Service and Inspection Facility, a storage facility located in New Brunswick.
The Raritan River Drawbridge, which is used by the North Jersey Coast Line, sustained structural damage during superstorm Sandy. Service was suspended for three weeks while the structure was repositioned and the tracks were reset to support train operations.
The grant will allow NJ Transit to replace the drawbridge with a more resilient structure, enhancing the reliability of the North Jersey Coast Line, which averages 31,400 weekday trips.
The Delco Lead project in New Brunswick is focused on protecting equipment against functional damage resulting from wind or flooding, as well as facilitating the rapid resumption of service after storms have passed, according to William Smith, senior public information officer of NJ Transit.
“A key objective in this effort is the development of permanent, safe haven storage for rail rolling stock,” Smith said. “The Delco Lead Train Safe Haven Storage Service Restoration project accomplishes this objective.”
The Delco Lead will provide storage for 312 rail cars, Smith said.
“The additional storage yards do not directly impact customers on a daily basis, but will allow for the safe relocation and prompt return to service of the fleet in the event of a weather emergency.”
More than 300 rail vehicles were damaged as a result of flooding during superstorm Sandy, according to the NJ Transit website.