NJ Transit to invest more as PTC pressure prompts service cuts – On August 8, 2018 New Jersey Transit [NJT] announced that it would be spending $3·8bn in the 2019 financial year as the commuter railroad seeks to address an urgent shortfall in investment.
NJT is one of the largest commuter rail operations in the USA, running an extensive network of services which is primarily focused on linking New Jersey with New York via the Northeast Corridor and the Hudson River tunnels. NJT also operates bus and light rail networks across New Jersey.
Its 2019 budget allocates $2·3bn for ongoing operations and $1·5bn for capital spending. A key priority for the operator is to accelerate the installation of Positive Train Control [PTC], which at the start of the year stood at just 10% but has now reached 52%. Under federal law, passenger rail operators are required to fit their fleets and networks with PTC by the end of this year.
If this deadline is not met, there is a risk that Amtrak, which owns much of the NEC infrastructure, could refuse to allow NJT access to its tracks to serve New York Penn station.