Speaking Tuesday morning in Monroe at a breakfast event held by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, NJ Transit Executive Director Veronique “Ronnie” Hakim said $1.27 billion in federal Superstorm Sandy recovery funding awarded to the agency earlier this month will be put to good use.
Through several slated projects, the money will be used to harden signals, strengthen infrastructure along the heavily used Northeast Corridor and prepare the agency for the next big storm.
“All important post-Sandy resiliency work for our future investments,” Hakim said.
Hakim was tapped for the post earlier this year, replacing Jim Weinstein, a former commissioner for the state Department of Transportation. Though Weinstein’s tenure lasted several years and saw periods of ridership growth, it was largely marked by the massive delays on NJ Transit trains during the Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium in February and the decision during Sandy to leave rail cars exposed to the storm, ultimately resulting in $120 million in damage.
In response, part of the most recent federal award will be used to build flood-proof storage for rail cars during future storms.
Hakim also briefly addressed the state’s beleaguered Transportation Trust Fund, noting that progress on the matter would require cooperation on multiple levels. She added that she believes Jamie Fox, the former DOT commissioner recently tapped again for the job by Gov. Chris Christie, will help to lead the way.
“I think Jamie is going to be integral in being part of a solution in crafting a new Transportation Trust Fund,” Hakim said.
Asked about funding options, Hakim echoed Christie in saying that “everything is on the table.”
Amtrak Chairman Anthony Coscia also spoke Tuesday, shedding light on how the rail service is dealing with improving its aging infrastructure while at the same time crafting a strategic vision for its future.
Coscia said that, with 260 million passengers each year between Boston and Washington, D.C., improving the Northeast Corridor, which runs directly through New Jersey, is a main point of focus.
So is getting more passengers from Newark to New York more efficiently, Coscia said, referencing the Gateway Project.
“I think everyone agrees that trans-Hudson capacity needs to be improved,” he said.
And in contrast to the controversial ARC Tunnel project, which Christie nixed in 2010 citing rising costs, future plans for improved tunnel access will be approached in steps.
“We’re designing the plan in a way that’s modular,” Coscia said.
Coscia added that, given that Amtrak largely serves urban corridors, it is in a good position to attract ridership from transit-oriented millennials going forward.
“Cities are clearly where the action is today,” Coscia said.