FTA Grants $75M to NJ TRANSIT for New MOW Facility in Clifton

NEWARK, N.J. – The FTA has awarded $75 million from the Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program to go toward constructing a new MOW facility.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded a grant totaling $75 million to NJ TRANSIT that will go toward constructing a new maintenance of way (MOW) facility in Clifton. The funds come from the FTA’s Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program. The facility will replace a 70-year-old MOW facility located in Wood-Ridge, where it “sustained extensive damage during Hurricane Ida in 2021 and continues to be risk prone to destructive weather events.” The site’s operations include maintenance and upkeep of MOW equipment, rebuilding signal relays, constructing new signal bungalows, and staffing maintenance crew for NJ TRANSIT’S Main, Bergen County, and Pascack Valley Lines. 

Another reason for a newer MOW facility is due to the lack of expansion potential at the current facility. There are plans for future “more intensive MOW operations” and additional parking and vehicle storage.  Currently, the new, energy-efficient facility is in the preliminary design phase and will be located at a higher elevation on Kuller Road in Clifton.

U.S. Senator Cory Booker said, “This $75 million grant for a new rail maintenance facility in Clifton is a much-needed investment in resilient infrastructure in a flood-prone area of our state. . . This more sustainable, modern facility will help improve safety and reliability for commuters for years to come.”

Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09) said, “Building resilient infrastructure is imperative in a region so devastated by frequent flooding. This $75 million federal grant is a massive step in the right direction and can help keep the trains running on schedule. . . Hurricane Ida caused extensive damage to NJ TRANSIT’S existing Maintenance of Way facility in Wood-Ridge, which continues to serve our North Jersey communities despite the facility’s increased risk of future storm damage. The federal aid we are announcing today will help protect NJ TRANSIT operations in our area and prevent delays along our rail lines.”

NJ TRANSIT President and CEO Kevin S. Corbett said, “The new facility in Clifton will enable us to better maintain and enhance our rail infrastructure, which translates to better, more reliable service for our customers. . . We are grateful to the FTA for this generous $75 million grant as we continue to modernize operations to meet the future demands of New Jersey’s growing population and the transportation needs of our customers.”