TRANSPORTATION
NJ TRANSIT : Connecting Commerce , Moving at the Speed of Business
The Garden State ’ s economic engine is its transportation network .
By Diane C . Walsh Contributing Editor
When Kevin S . Corbett took over as president and CEO of NJ TRANSIT five years ago , the nation ’ s largest statewide public transit system was in a free-fall .
It was textbook crisis management . A deadline was fast-approaching for “ positive train control ,” a federally-mandated technology designed to avert collisions . Chronic shortages of engineers were plaguing the system . Train cancellations were rampant and an Amtrak project had displaced so many NJ TRANSIT trains , it was dubbed “ the summer from hell .”
As a former executive for AECOM , one of the world ’ s premier transportation and infrastructure companies , Corbett had been clued in by his colleagues in the industry . “ I knew it was a mess . But it wasn ’ t until I got inside that I really saw it .” he said
He was baffled by the lack of a five-year capital plan , no strategic plan and not even an accounts payable system to pay vendors . While dousing the fires , the new administration regrouped . “ We had a vision and we knew what we need to do and what we needed to be ,” Corbett said .
The crumbling system was resurrected through the support of Gov . Phil Murphy , the state legislature , the federal rail administration
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and the federal transit administration . “ We were able to get the political support and money needed to hire talent ,” Corbett said .
Now even despite the setbacks of the pandemic , Corbett reported progress in all areas , especially in awarding the $ 1.6 billion construction contract for a new Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River . It ’ s the biggest project in NJ TRANSIT history and will replace a 111-year-old malfunctioning bridge that caused bottlenecks along the Northeast corridor . The new bridge will rise 50-feet over the river . It is designed as a modern , high-level fixed span that does not open or close , eliminating the risk of failing parts .
The portal bridge is the centerpiece of a new capital plan that includes major construction and renovation projects throughout the 5,325 square mile service area .
“ We feel very positive .” Corbett said , adding “ We are in the most densely populated state in the union with a very antiquated and ancient transit system that dates back to the 1800s . But it ’ s very robust . It ’ s a great liability but it ’ s also a great asset .
“ Transit is not about transportation for transportation ’ s sake . It ’ s the underpinning of the economy . New Jersey gets it and appreciates the importance of transit to the New Jersey economy ,” Corbett said .
As the biggest statewide transit system in the United States , NJ TRANSIT provides nearly 270 million passenger trips each year on its 252 bus routes , three light rail lines , and 12 commuter rail lines . It employs 11,000 workers and owns a fleet of 2,221 buses , 1,231 trains and 93 light rail vehicles .
Train Photo from Folder By NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT President and CEO Kevin S . Corbett
As the biggest statewide transit system in the United States , NJ TRANSIT provides nearly 270 million passenger trips each year on its 252 bus routes , three light rail lines , and 12 commuter rail lines . It employs 11,000 workers and owns a fleet of 2,221 buses , 1,231 trains and 93 light rail vehicles .
One of the system ’ s high-profile customers is Corbett himself . He rides the train from his home in Mendham to Newark Penn Station and then transfers to a bus or light rail for the final leg of his trip to headquarters in Newark .
Commuters are not afraid to buttonhole him during the ride . While he hears complaints sometimes , Corbett said passenger feel safe aboard the trains . He is proud of the transit police and the high marks his agency received from the International Standards Organization ( ISO ) for its cyber security .
The transit president said his staff is updating the capital plan this year but great strides have already been taken on many major projects including : ground-breaking on a $ 31.5 million new rail station in Lyndhurst ; $ 45.5 million in renovations to the Perth Amboy station ; a $ 29 million facelift at the Trenton Transit Center ; $ 76 million renovation of the Elizabeth Station ; construction of the new $ 595 million Raritan River Bridge ; and $ 45 million in upgrades to the Hoboken Rail Yard to make certain it can withstand extreme weather .
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Photo : Getty Images / iStockphoto / texpan