NEW YORK – At a press conference in New York Penn Station, Governor Murphy, Amtrak Board Chairman Tony Coscia, and NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Kevin Corbett today announced the finalizing of a financial settlement that paves the way to ongoing and future improvements to the infrastructure, customer experience, and safety of our customers. The press conference also shared updates on several joint projects, including Penn Station, critical infrastructure projects, and safety, showcasing a commitment to collaboration and improving the customer experience to the traveling public.
“Investing in our
infrastructure, improving customer experience, and enhancing the safety of the
traveling public are among the highest priorities of our Administration,” said Governor Murphy. “The announcement
today establishes a partnership that will achieve these goals now, and lays the
financial foundation for continued improvements into the future. After eight
years of disinvestment in, and mismanagement of, NJTRANSIT, collaborative
partnerships like the one we are announcing today will go a long way to
restoring the agency to its former preeminence.”
“We’re excited to announce that Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT, through our strong and cooperative relationship, have come to a financial agreement that paves the path to further improving the infrastructure, customer experience, and safety of our customers,” said Tony Coscia, Amtrak Chairman of the Board. “Thanks to Governor Murphy and NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Corbett’s leadership, partnership, and joint commitment to collaboration and the traveling public, the future is bright for Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT customers due to the power in partnership.”
“This
agreement represents a clean slate and a new era in our relationship with
Amtrak,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive
Director Kevin Corbett. “In addition to continued infrastructure
improvements and enhancing safety, this significant investment and strengthened
partnership allows long-stalled major capital projects along the Northeast
Corridor like County Yard and the Elizabeth Station Reconstruction
project to advance. NJ TRANSIT will also have more input in the coordination
and prioritization of these vital projects that will have a direct impact on
improving the customer experience.”
Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT have jointly agreed to reinvest all of the funds
that came from this – and other – agreements into existing and future joint Northeast
Corridor infrastructure projects that benefit both Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT, as
well as the safety and travel experience of their customers. That includes the Portal
Bridge, as both organizations also highlighted
that they are ready to begin full construction on Portal North as soon as federal
funding is secured.
Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT
also announced their plan
for joint facility improvements, including the redesign of the Main (8th
Avenue) Concourse, targeted for after Amtrak’s relocation of major
passenger-facing facilities to Moynihan Train Hall in 2021, to provide expanded
passenger facilities and customer amenities, a refreshed ticketed waiting room,
better platform access, and improved street level entrances. As the owner and
steward of New York Penn Station, Amtrak is 100 percent committed to its
revitalization and future development, including continuing its efforts to
enhance the passenger experience.