STATEMENT FROM NJ TRANSIT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JAMES WEINSTEIN

Re: Awarding of Federal Funding for Sandy Relief

 March 14, 2013

“Rebuilding in the aftermath of Sandy has truly been a team approach.  I am grateful for the efforts of Senators Lautenberg and Menendez, our Congressional delegation, Administrator Rogoff and the FTA, as well as the leaders and staff at FEMA and the U.S. Department of Transportation for their assistance and support during this trying time.  They have been true partners in the recovery effort.

“In particular, I want to specifically recognize Gov. Christie, for his continued leadership and his continued success in leading the rebuilding of our great state. 

“Exactly two weeks after NJ TRANSIT submitted its application to the federal government, NJ TRANSIT was awarded more than $144 million in federal funds to help our transit system recover in the wake of the worst natural disaster to ever strike the Garden State.  This award, which covers the first, initial phase of recovery, covers emergency transportation costs as well as repairs to facilities and infrastructure made in the first three months following Sandy. 

“NJ TRANSIT has come a long way in the short time since Sandy devastated our transit infrastructure.  Not only has all bus and light rail service been restored, but as of March 24, 97% of our rail service will be fully operational - all in the aftermath of the worst natural disaster in our state’s history.   I want to again express my thanks to our hundreds of thousands of daily customers, for their patience and understanding while NJ TRANSIT, and, indeed, the entire State of New Jersey continues to rebuild after Sandy.

“Repairs and resilience both take funding. Money invested in preventing future storm damage will limit the bill for future storm relief – as well as ensuring that our transit systems have a better chance of avoiding service interruptions. We are committed to rebuilding our system in a stronger, more resilient manner to withstand future storms on par with, or exceeding that of Sandy.  Thanks to the efforts of our team at the federal and the state level, we are well on our way towards that important goal.”

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