Pallone announces $112 million in federal funding for NJ Transit, Amtrak upgrades

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06) today announced $112 million in federal funding to overhaul key Amtrak and NJ Transit infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor in New Jersey. The funding includes $18.6 million to upgrade the signal system between New Brunswick and Elizabeth, $13.4 million for catenary modernization across a 23-mile stretch in northern New Jersey, and $80 million for upgrades at the Kearny Substation. These upgrades will reduce service disruptions, improve train speeds, and enhance reliability for daily commuters.

“Securing this $32 million investment is a victory for New Jersey commuters who have endured years of frustration due to outdated infrastructure,” Pallone said. “Upgrading signals and catenary wires will deliver safer, faster, and more reliable train service. This funding is the result of sustained efforts by our congressional delegation, including direct calls, site tours, and pushing for federal investment to modernize our rail system. I’ll continue to push for improvements that benefit our state’s commuters and economy.”

Pallone has been at the forefront of efforts to modernize New Jersey’s rail network, pressing Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration to prioritize critical infrastructure projects under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Over the past year, Pallone has led regular calls with Amtrak’s leadership to track project progress, demanded greater transparency, and organized an on-site tour of the Northeast Corridor with NJ Transit and Amtrak officials to spotlight areas in urgent need of repair. His advocacy was spurred by persistent service outages caused by aging catenary wires and signal failures that have plagued commuters.

Pallone has long advocated for leveraging federal dollars to address infrastructure deficiencies. He has also fought against proposed Republican budget cuts to Amtrak, emphasized federal-state collaboration, and consistently pushed for updates and accountability on repair timelines.