NJ TRANSIT BOARD ADVANCES RAIL STATION AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY
New Station to Benefit New MidTOWN DIRECT Service
NEWARK, NJ, September 21, 2001 -- NJ TRANSIT today announced an additional MidTOWN Direct train to alleviate overcrowding on one of the heaviest peak-period MidTOWN Direct trains.
Beginning Monday, September 24, the new train, 6320, will depart Summit at 8:13 a.m. and will stop at Short Hills (8:17 a.m.), Millburn (8:20 a.m.), Maplewood (8:25 a.m.), Brick Church (8:32 a.m.), Newark Broad Street (8:38 a.m.), and Penn Station New York, where it will arrive at 9:05 a.m. Train 6320 will help relieve overcrowding on train 6620.
Train 6620 will continue to follow its current schedule between Dover and Summit, making all stops except Mount Tabor. Following Summit, train 6620 will stop only in South Orange (8:23 a.m.), Newark Broad Street (8:34 a.m.) and Penn Station New York, where it will continue to arrive at 8:53 a.m. Starting on October 1, train 6620 will arrive in New York at 8:59 a.m. to accommodate schedule changes on NJ TRANSIT trains and on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.
NJ TRANSIT will continue to monitor changing commuter patterns and evaluate additional transportation options. Customers should check NJ TRANSIT's website, www.njtransit.com, for the latest travel information.
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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NEWARK, NJ, September 21, 2001 -- With service demand increasing each day, NJ TRANSIT’s Board of Directors is taking steps to ensure that the Corporation is using state-of-the-art equipment to transport its more than 110,000 rail customers. Today, the Board awarded a $175.3 million contract with Alstom Transportation Inc . of Hornell, NY to purchase 33 diesel locomotives.
The new engines would replace 28 GP40 diesel locomotives currently used on nine of NJ TRANSIT's 12 rail lines. The GP40 locomotives were built between 1966 and 1970 and remanufactured between 1987 and 1991.
"This transportation investment will improve the reliability of rail service throughout the State of New Jersey," said NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman and State Transportation Commissioner James Weinstein. "NJ TRANSIT must have the latest equipment to continue serving today’s customers while planning for tomorrow’s growth."
"These new locomotives will have extra power to pull more rail cars than today’s diesel locomotive fleet," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Jeffrey A. Warsh. "This purchase will allow seating capacity on some of our diesel-operated trains to increase by as many as 300 customers. As a result, these 33 engines are as critical to our rail customers as 33 new rail cars."
The new diesel locomotives would be capable of pulling up to ten single-level rail cars and up to eight bi-level cars -- which NJ TRANSIT plans to purchase in the future. The GP40 locomotives are limited to seven single-level cars and four bi-level cars. The new engines will have added power for heating and air conditioning, lighting and other customer amenities. They will also incorporate the latest federal safety standards.
NJ TRAN
NEWARK, NJ, September 21, 2001 -- A new rail station on the Boonton Line -- offering direct service to midtown Manhattan -- is coming to the campus of Montclair State University (MSU).
The NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors today amended an existing contract with J.H. Reid of South Plainfield to build an 800-foot center-island high-level platform and reposition track and overhead catenary wires to accommodate the new platforms -- located across the tracks from MSU's Yogi Berra Stadium.
J.H. Reid is currently completing work on the Montclair Connection, which will provide Boonton Line and Montclair Branch riders with direct service to midtown-Manhattan next spring. NJ TRANSIT plans to award a separate contract later this year for a future parking deck and station facilities at the MSU site, which will be fully accessible to passengers with disabilities.
"The new MSU Station is part of the Corporation’s overall effort to improve regional access to public transportation," said NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman and State Transportation Commissioner James Weinstein. "This station will provide an additional quality of life benefit for commuters by shaving valuable time off their trip between New Jersey and New York."
"Montclair State University Station will help to provide us with the commuter capacity we need for the long-term success of MidTOWN DIRECT service operating via the Montclair Connection," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Jeffrey A. Warsh. "I would like to thank Montclair State University for joining with us to deliver a project that will benefit regional commuters and the university."
The new platforms and station will serve as a key transfer point for NJ TRANSIT's expanded MidTOWN DIRECT service -- offering service to Penn Station New York -- on the Boonton Line andSIT expects to receive a prototype of the new diesel locomotive in spring 2004 with delivery of all 33 expected by the end of 2004. As part of the contract, NJ TRANSIT will have the option of purchasing five additional diesel locomotives to meet additional ridership growth.
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing bus, rail and light rail services for 384,000 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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Montclair Branch. MidTOWN DIRECT trains will operate directly to Penn Station New York beginning in spring 2002. Boonton Line passengers west of MSU will transfer at the university station to MidTOWN DIRECT trains. Passengers from MSU and stations east of the university station on the Boonton Line and Montclair Branch will have a one-seat ride to midtown Manhattan on MidTOWN DIRECT trains.
In addition to serving as a transfer location for MidTOWN DIRECT customers, the new station will be supported by a 1,000-space parking deck -- which offers convenient access from Routes 3 and 46. A future design-build contract will be awarded for the construction of the parking and station facilities.
Today’s contract amendment -- not to exceed by $5 million -- is funded by the State Transportation Trust Fund.
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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