The NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors has awarded a contract to AECOM to design the infrastructure for battery electric buses at Hilton Garage.
AECOM will also conduct surveys at all 16 NJ TRANSIT bus garages (depots) to identify future upgrades for the agency’s garage modernisation programme.
The garage modernisation programme will initially upgrade Hilton Garage in Maplewood, while later stages will include design work for five selected garages for full scale modernisation. The 11 remaining garages will then be redesigned and fitted with the required infrastructure to enable NJ TRANSIT to operate a 100 percent zero-emissions bus fleet.
Governor Murphy said:The electrification of NJ TRANSIT’s bus fleet is a critical part of our State’s Energy Master Plan. Battling climate change requires bold and innovative steps. With today’s contract award, our State is closer to ensuring that one of the largest bus fleets of any transportation agency is made of 100-percent zero-emissions vehicles.
The 4 million USD contract with AECOM of Piscataway, New Jersey includes the conceptual, preliminary, and final engineering and construction services to prepare Hilton Garage for a limited deployment of electric buses. The contract also includes a systemwide bus garage survey to document existing conditions.
Modern infrastructure is necessary to support NJ TRANSIT’s smooth transition to operating a zero-emissions bus fleet. The garage modernisation programme will therefore advance NJ TRANSIT’s roadmap to a 100 percent zero-emissions fleet, building upon the purchase of eight battery electric buses which will be deployed in the Camden region from the Newton Avenue bus garage later this year.
NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett, said:NJ TRANSIT’s transformational bus garage modernisation programme will include the necessary renovation and construction at our existing bus garages to accommodate a zero-emissions bus fleet, similar to the work we’ve done at our Newton Avenue Bus Garage in Camden. This initial phase of the bus garage modernisation program represents a significant leap forward in meeting our commitment to transition to a 100-percent zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040, aligned with Governor Murphy’s Energy Master Plan.
Transitioning to a zero-emission fleet will require a major transformation of infrastructure, routes and operations. The bus garage modernisation project will involve the extensive upgrading of existing garage facilities and infrastructure, including power utilities to accommodate a zero-emissions fleet.
Some of the possible improvements at the garages include strengthening the roof for solar systems and power equipment, upgrading the power supply, and installing new technologies, including bus charging equipment.
