What to Know
- New Jersey Transit says it has paid $182 million to Amtrak to make good on missed payments for use of the Northeast Corridor line.
- NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy announced the settlement Wednesday
- The repayments stemmed from former Gov. Chris Christie's decision to halt payments from March 2017 after several derailments
New Jersey Transit says it has paid $182 million to Amtrak to make good on missed payments for use of the Northeast Corridor line.
NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett and Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy announced the settlement Wednesday at New York's Penn Station alongside Amtrak CEO Tony Coscia.
The repayments stemmed from former Republican Gov. Chris Christie's decision to halt payments from March 2017 after several derailments led to headaches for commuters.
The payments resumed in June 2018.
NJ Transit spokeswoman Nancy Snyder says the back-payments included $44.5 million in operating costs and $137.5 million in capital contributions.
Corbett says the railroad will pay $7 million monthly for use of the corridor going forward under a federal law calling for rail investment.
Local
In return, Amtrak says it will reinvest that money in local infrastucture which should benefit both Amtrak and NJ Transit customers.
“We’ve made a lot of progress on trying to improve the nations passenger rail system and a fundamental part of our ability to do that has been the recognition that we cannot do that alone,” Tony Ciscia, Amtrak Board Chair, said.
So what will customers see in the new improvements? Hopefully, less delays caused by outdated signals and, eventually, a replacement for the Portal Bridge in northern New Jersey. However, the latter depends on securing more funds.
Additionally, customers could get more room and new exits at NY Penn Station — when Amtrak moves across 8th Avenue to the Moynihan Train Hall.
The changes could roll out within the next three years.
