BOARD APPROVES ACCESS LINK BUS PURCHASE
New Vehicles to Replace, Supplement Older Models
CONTACT: Michael Klufas (973-491-7078)
NEWARK, NJ, June 13, 2001 -- As part of its mission to provide statewide, affordable public transportation, NJ TRANSIT partners with all 21 of the Garden State's counties to fund local public transportation programs. These programs provide local fixed-route service as well as specialized service for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
NJ TRANSIT's Board of Directors today continued this effort by approving five programs for Fiscal Year 2002:
- $24.82 million to operate the state-funded Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Assistance Program.
- $2.25 million for Section 5310 programs, which provide federal funds for the purchase of vehicles and related equipment by private, non-profit agencies and designated public entities.
- $4.21 million for Section 5311 programs, which provide federal funds for capital, administrative and operating assistance for public transportation services in small urban and rural areas of New Jersey.
- $87,640 in federal funding for the Rural Transit Assistance Program, which provides training and technical assistance for small transit operators receiving Section 5310 and 5311 funding.
- $3 million for the Jobs Access and Reverse Commute Program, a part of the WORK FIRST New Jersey initiative under which counties provide public transportation services to help WORK FIRST participants obtain convenient transportation to employment opportunities.
"The $34.4 million we are allocating for these programs is an investment in programs that benefit all of New Jersey's 21 counties as well as private and non-profit o
CONTACT: Michael Klufas (973-491-7078)
NEWARK, NJ, June 13, 2001 -- Current and future NJ TRANSIT bus drivers will have additional opportunities to enhance their driving skills following approval by the Corporation's Board of Directors of a $452,000 contract with Doron Precision Systems, Inc. (DPS).
Under the contract, the Binghamton, NY company will enhance NJ TRANSIT's driver-training computers at the Corporation's Maplewood training facility and at the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden. In addition, DPS will also add four positions to Camden's driver-training computer, doubling the number of bus drivers that can use the machine at one time. The company also will provide an additional Vehicle Maneuvering Training System (driver simulator) at the Walter Rand Transportation Center similar to the one already in use at the Maplewood facility.
"New Jersey's roads are among the most congested in the country," said NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman and State Transportation Commissioner James Weinstein. "Bus operators must be prepared to deal with all sorts of road and weather conditions. These enhancements will improve driver training and prepare them to deal with just about any road condition."
"The driver simulation programs pay for themselves," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Jeffrey A. Warsh. "NJ TRANSIT drivers who have participated in the training and simulation programs have had an almost perfect success rate in obtaining their Commercial Driver's License. They also have fewer incidents. In the end, these programs save NJ TRANSIT thousands of dollars defending personal injury and damage claims."
The Vehicle Maneuvering Training System (driver simulator) device to be installed at the Walter Rand Transportation Center will create real time bus driving conditions for bus
CONTACT: Michael Klufas (973-491-7078)
NEWARK, NJ, June 13, 2001 -- NJ TRANSIT's Board of Directors has approved a $1.2 million contract with Arcola Bus Sales Corporation of Carlstadt, NJ to purchase 24 accessible minibuses to transport customers with disabilities under the Access Link paratransit program.
The contract will allow NJ TRANSIT to continue providing service for residents with disabilities who live within three-quarters of a mile of an NJ TRANSIT local bus route. The newer vehicles also will provide a more comfortable ride for customers while decreasing vehicle maintenance and overhaul costs.
"As the state provider, we must be diligent in making quality mass transportation available to everyone," said NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman and State Transportation Commissioner James Weinstein. "This contract shows NJ TRANSIT's continued commitment to our customers for whom traveling is a challenge."
"Since 1993, NJ TRANSIT has provided Access Link service for New Jerseyans with disabilities," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Jeffrey A. Warsh. "This service is provided through contracts with bus companies to whom we provide minibuses and sedans. The 24 new minibuses will allow us to expand our fleet while retiring 37 minibuses that have been in service five years or have topped 100,000 miles."
Access Link service is available in 18 of the Garden State's 21 counties. The service has transported thousands of customers to work, school, medical appointments and recreational activities.
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing bus, rail and light rail services for 383,900 daily commuters on 240 bus routes, two light rail lines and 12 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the counrganizations around the state," said NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman and State Transportation Commissioner James Weinstein. "Thousands of people can travel around New Jersey more easily because of the transportation options provided through these programs."
"The funding provided by these programs allows NJ TRANSIT, counties and other organizations to enhance travel opportunities for local residents," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Jeffrey A. Warsh. "These programs increase the mobility of New Jerseyans who choose not to own a car or are unable to drive, especially persons with disabilities, senior citizens and those living in rural areas."
Implementation of New Jersey's Local and Community Services Transportation Programs will begin on July 1, 2001. Below is a summary of the five programs:
Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Assistance Program
Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco has recommended $24.82 million be appropriated for this program in his Fiscal Year 2002 budget. The program is funded from the Casino Revenue Tax Fund.
As part of the program, 85 percent of the annual appropriation -- $21.1 million -- will be distributed among New Jersey's 21 counties. The remaining 15 percent -- $3.72 million -- will be allocated to NJ TRANSIT to provide technical assistance to the counties, to coordinate the program within and among the counties, and for bus and rail accessibility projects.
Each year, counties transport approximately 1.8 million senior citizens and persons with disabilities as part of this program.
Section 5310 Program and Grant
Section 5310 of the Federal Transit Act provides funds for states to purchase vehicles for lease to private, non-profit agencies that provide special operators and operator trainees using cameras mounted atop a miniature bus. The virtual reality-type system allows operators to "feel" every bump and witness various scenarios as the miniature bus proceeds through the course, picking up "passengers" and avoiding potential problems. The Maplewood simulator already provides such training for North Jersey bus operators.
The driver-training computer tests operators under certain scenarios generated by a computer. This method allows NJ TRANSIT to identify and correct operator weaknesses. When the four consoles are added at the Walter Rand Transportation Center, eight operators will be able to use that training computer. Under the new contract with DPS, all consoles in Camden and Maplewood will be updated to resemble new MCI 4000D buses.
NJ TRANSIT first purchased driver simulation and training equipment in 1994. The updated equipment -- expected to be installed next month -- will be purchased with Transportation Trust Fund dollars.
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing bus, rail and light rail services for 372,000 daily commuters on 240 bus routes, two light rail lines and 12 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 162 rail stations, 26 light rail stations and more than 17,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.
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Under the program, federal funds can be used to pay up to 80 percent of the vehicles' cost. Since NJ TRANSIT assumed administration of this program in 1979, more than 800 vehicles have been purchased for non-profit organizations and other public bodies throughout the state.
Applications for this program are reviewed by a committee and scored based upon specific criteria. This year, NJ TRANSIT has received more than 100 applications from private non-profit organizations, municipalities and counties seeking one or more vehicles.
Section 5311 Program and Grant
Section 5311 of the Federal Transit Act provides capital, administrative and operating assistance for public transportation services in small urban and rural areas of New Jersey. The Fiscal Year 2002 program contains $4.21 million in federal, NJ TRANSIT and matching funds from local grant recipients. NJ TRANSIT will disperse the funds to 16 recipients.
Since the program's inception in 1979, NJ TRANSIT has provided half of the matching funds for all Section 5311 projects, with recipients providing the other half. Up to 15 percent of the annual federal allocation for the program can be set aside to cover NJ TRANSIT's administrative costs.
Rural Transit Assistance Program
The $87,460 of federal funds available through the program for Fiscal Year 2002 allows NJ TRANSIT to provide training and technical assistance for all small transit operators receiving Section 5311 or Section 5310 funds.
The program allows NJ TRANSIT to continue driver training, as well as provide training and technical assistance for small transit managers, dispatchers, mechanics and other support staff members. The training is conducted by NJ TRANSIT staff through workshops and training programs.
Jobs Access and Reverse Commute Program
This program provides federal funds for counties to make public transportation available to participants in New Jersey's Work First program.
This year, $6 million will be available to fund 20 projects. The local match for this grant is split among several funding sources, including the New Jersey Department of Human Services, the New Jersey Department of Labor's Welfare To Work program, and local providers.
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing bus, rail and light rail services for 383,900 daily commuters on 240 bus routes, two light rail lines and 12 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 162 rail stations, 26 light rail stations and more than 17,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.
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