NJ TRANSIT CONTINUES SANDY RESILIENCE PROGRAM WITH NEW BAY HEAD SUBSTATION

Resilient Substation Will Provide Secure Electricity Generation Even During Major Weather Events and Other Potential Disasters

NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT has taken another step in its continuing effort to harden infrastructure against the effects of severe weather. As part of the ongoing Resilience Program, the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors today approved contracts for the construction of a new storm-resilient electrical substation at the Bay Head rail yard on the North Jersey Coast Line.

“The new Bay Head substation will provide NJ TRANSIT and its customers with more reliable service in the face of future storms,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Kevin Corbett.  “Our resiliency projects, like this substation, are focused on minimizing the impact of storms as they occur, and returning to full service rapidly and safely afterward.”

The new substation, funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), is replacing two existing Bay Head yard substations damaged during Superstorm Sandy. It will not only be protectively encased, but will also be elevated above anticipated saltwater storm surges and flooding levels.

Contracts were awarded to T.Y Lin International and PKF-Mark III, Inc.  The T.Y. Lin International contract for construction management services is not to exceed $3,059,350.52, and the PKF-Mark III, Inc. contract for the construction of the substation itself is not to exceed $20,657,858.61. Both contracts have an additional five percent contingency built in and will have 7.29 percent of the total designated to meet NJ TRANSIT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals.

Substations are essential to supplying electric power to the catenary, yard and equipment facilities’ systems. Because of storm surge during Superstorm Sandy, the electric components of substations throughout NJ TRANSIT’s service area were particularly vulnerable to the corrosive effects of salt water. Repairing impacted substations and related electrical distribution systems was central to the full restoration of operations following the storm. By including more resilient substations that are less likely to be damaged in a severe weather or other event, NJ TRANSIT can either prevent or significantly reduce service disruptions.

The Bay Head Substation project is part of NJ TRANSIT’s ongoing Resilience Program, to make the transit system and infrastructure stronger and more reliable following Superstorm Sandy in 2012. 

More information about the projects in the Resiliency Program can visit http://njtransitresilienceprogram.com .

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 251 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.