New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced the state had awarded more than $25 million in rail freight assistance grant to 10 projects across the state.
Part of the Fiscal Year 25 Rail Freight Assistance Program, the grants will help support economic activity by preserving and improving existing freight transportation systems and by making the freight rail service more available to state businesses. Funding for the grants comes from the State Transportation Trust Fund, officials said.
“The Murphy Administration is committed to strengthening our economy in a sustainable way and the Rail Freight Assistance Program does that,” NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor said. “These grants for critical rail freight infrastructure improvements are investments in our future to provide for the safe and efficient movement of goods in New Jersey, while reducing truck traffic on our highways.”
Included in the award winners are projects that cover marine terminal rail improvements, rehabilitation and repair of several rail bridges, port facility capacity expansion and rail line improvements.
Awards include $3.393 million for Camden City and the South Jersey Port Corporation to fund Phase 3 Rail Improvements at the Balzano Marine Terminal; $647,000 for Morris County and Rockaway Borough for the Morris County Rehabilitation/Repair of Railroad Bridge 14D30.56; and $4.39 million for Cape May and Upper Township to fund Phase II of the Cape May Seashore Lines’ Rehabilitation Project.
The Rail Freight Assistance Program provides funding for capital improvements to rail freight services across the state with priority given to projects whose sponsors continue freight service on the improved line for at least 10 years after completion of the project. The New Jersey Rail Freight Assistance Program grants typically fund up to 90 percent of the estimated cost of each project while the sponsor fund the rest.