NEWARK, NJ — On July 17, the NJ Transit board of directors authorized the expenditure of approximately $45 million in federal and state funds to implement local transportation programs for Fiscal Year 2020, providing critical local transportation services for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, the economically-disadvantaged and rural residents. Each of the programs extends or complements existing NJ Transit services.
“In every county across the state, residents who most depend on these critical services are able to get the transportation they rely on thanks to the funding we approved today,” said New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, who also chairs NJ Transit’s board of directors. “In addition to the larger mass transit network, it is important to support these private and nonprofit organizations to fill in the transportation gaps for seniors and people with disabilities throughout New Jersey.”
“The services offered by these programs are critical to getting seniors, people with disabilities and working families to doctor’s appointments, jobs or basic necessities such as the grocery store,” NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett said. “Local governments and nonprofits understand the needs of their communities and can meet those transportation needs with access to this funding.”
NJ Transit partners with all 21 New Jersey counties to fund community transportation programs. The NJ Transit board has approved the following:
- $18.5 million from the Casino Revenue Tax Fund to operate the Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Assistance Program;
- $9.4 million for Federal Transit Administration Section 5310 programs, which provide federal funds for operating expenses as well as the purchase of vehicles and related equipment by private, nonprofit agencies and designated public entities; this includes $1.7 million in state funding to support local matching fund requirements;
- $5.4 million for FTA Section 5311 programs, which provide federal funds for capital, administrative and operating assistance for public transportation services in and between small urban and rural areas of New Jersey; this includes $2 million in state funding to support local matching fund requirements.
- $130,339 in federal funding for the Rural Transit Assistance Program, which provides training and technical assistance for small transit operators receiving funding through NJ Transit’s local programs;
- $5.3 million for the New Jersey Jobs Access and Reverse Commute Program under which counties provide public transportation services to help residents obtain community transportation to employment opportunities; and
- $6 million in other funds passed through to recipients.
About the Author
