NJ Transit to receive nearly $100M to upgrade Meadowlands Bus Garage

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration on Tuesday said New Jersey Transit will receive close to $100 million to upgrade the Meadowlands Bus Garage to support its green bus fleet of the future. The modernization project will enable NJ Transit to house, charge and maintain its electric buses while increasing service in historically disadvantaged communities.

The money is part of approximately $1.5 billion in funding to support 117 projects that will improve public transportation in 47 states. Under President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, FTA has awarded nearly $5 billion in the past three years to replace and modernize transit buses on America’s roadways, building new technology with American workers. U.S. factories will produce more than 4,600 new buses.

“Today, another 117 communities across 47 states are receiving the good news that their transit buses are being modernized and their commutes improved through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “The Biden-(Kamala) Harris administration is helping agencies replace old buses running on dirtier, expensive fuels by delivering modern and zero-emission buses, manufactured by American workers, that will connect more people to where they need to go.”

Approximately 80% of the buses being funded will run on zero- or low-emission technology, reducing air pollution and helping meet the goal of zero emissions by 2050.

Federal support for bus projects over the last several years has been instrumental in improving public transit and helping communities advance their climate goals.

NJ Transit’s Meadowlands Bus Garage operates 32 bus routes in Hudson County that cover 6.4 million miles annually, including serving several diverse New Jersey communities. NJ Transit plans to retrofit the garage, which opened more than 30 years ago, to include charging equipment to support the future deployment of battery electric buses. As part of the project, NJ Transit will initiate workforce training to help bus operators and maintenance staff perfect how to drive and maintain buses powered on new technology.