Menendez, Lautenberg Announce More than $360 Million for Super Storm Sandy Transit Recovery

NEWARK -- U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Frank R. Lautenberg today announced more than $360 million in federal funding from the Disaster Relief Act to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the New Jersey Transit Corporation for Super Storm Sandy response and repair efforts. Today's announcement brings the total funds for the two transit agencies to more than $720 million.

"Today's announcement is a great boost to our state's efforts to not only rebuild our transportation systems, but to build them back better and stronger than before," said Senator Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development. "New Jersey commuters know first hand know how our transit systems were affected by Super Storm Sandy and I am committed to ensuring we have the resources necessary to keep both our economy and our commuters moving."

"This federal funding is a critical next step for repairing and rebuilding transit systems in New Jersey so that they are stronger than ever," said Senator Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and co-author of the Sandy relief legislation. "Superstorm Sandy did significant damage to our transit systems, putting our economy at risk and stranding families and commuters across the State and region. This funding will help New Jersey Transit and the PATH train system recover and help them prepare to withstand the force of future storms. We'll continue fighting for federal investments throughout New Jersey so that every community can rebuild stronger."

The Port Authority of New York is receiving $275,156,637. In addition to previous transit aid the agency has received $489,120,634 in Public Transportation Emergency Relief Funding. The New Jersey Transit Corporation is receiving $86,774,558, totaling $231,191,117 in Public Transportation Emergency Relief funds which will allow NJ Transit to repair extensive damage from the storm and pay for temporary ferry and bus services that helped commuters while rail service was interrupted. An additional $8 billion in emergency transportation funding in the Sandy Relief bill has yet to be allocated and both agencies hope to use additional funds to better protect their systems from future storms.

As chair of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over transit, Senator Menendez helped create the Public Transportation Emergency Relief in MAP-21, the surface transportation authorization bill that became law last year.

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