$26.3MM in Rail Freight Assistance Program Grants Awarded to 11 Projects in New Jersey

(Conrail Photograph)

TRENTON, N.J. - $26.3 million in FY26 Rail Freight Assistance Program grants were awarded through New Jersey's State Transportation Fund.

These grants will go toward 11 projects (PDF below) located across ten counties. These projects include making marine rail terminal rail improvements, repairing and rehabilitating of rail bridges, expanding capacity at port facilities, and installing rail, ties and surface improvements on a rail line. According to the release from the governor’s office, the $26.3 million in grants will leverage another $3.4 million from railroads and bring the total investment to more than $29.7 million. More than $139.32 million has been invested over the last five years by the NJDOT with another $17.04 million leveraged from railroads. This equates to almost $156.4 million in Rail Freight Assistance Program investment.

The Rail Freight Assistance Program is administered by the NJDOT Division of Local Aid – Modal Grants and provides funding for capital improvements for rail freight services across New Jersey. The program usually provides funding for up to 90% of the estimate cost of the project while a sponsor is responsible for the remaining percentage.

NJDOT Commissioner Priya Jain said, “The Sherrill Administration is committed to strengthening our economy in a sustainable way and the Rail Freight Assistance Program does that. . . These grants for critical rail freight infrastructure improvements are investments in our future to provide for safe and efficient movement of goods in New Jersey, while reducing truck traffic on our highways.”

FY2026 Rail Freight Assistance Program Grants