Washington - Today, U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded $4,300,000 in funds to the National Transit Institute (NTI). The Institute was established in 1991 under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) with the objective of developing, promoting, and delivering quality training, education, and clearinghouse services for the public transit industry. Its primary objective is to develop, deliver, and promote quality programs and materials via cooperative partnerships with industry, government, institutions, and associations around the country.

"As we know well in New Jersey, public transit helps families save time and money and helps clear the air we breathe," said Menendez. "An emphasis on public transit will be critical to rebuilding our economy because of its potential to create new jobs, cut energy costs and traffic congestion and reduce pollution. This federal investment will not only help support a renewed focus on public transit, but it will help New Jersey and Rutgers continue to lead the way."

"As more people across the country are taking mass transit than ever before, it's critical that we have the most up to date research to keep our transit systems moving safely and efficiently," Lautenberg said. "This federal funding will continue the vital research that the National Transit Institute has been conducting since 1991."

Since its founding in 1991, NTI has developed 149 courses and other training materials in collaboration with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the public transit industry in response to their needs. New courses are developed every year to adapt to changes in the industry. In recent years, NTI modernized its educational approach to include the use of visual digital resources outside the classroom. Including the current fiscal year, NTI has been awarded a total of $79.7 million in federal funds since it was established in 1991. For more information about the National Transit Institute, click here: http://www.ntionline.com/index.asp

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