(TRENTON) — Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assemblyman Adam Taliaferro joined officials of the Delaware River Port Authority and PATCO, and Congressmen Bob Brady and Donald Norcross for the debut of the next generation of PATCO train cars held at the PATCO Woodcrest Station in Cherry Hill Thursday.
“By nature of our location, New Jersey is a major transportation hub that relies on its robust infrastructure to support the economy,” said Senator Sweeney. “But if we want to expand opportunities and support growth, we need to invest in improving our aging roads, bridges and railroads. That is what PATCO and DRPA are doing here and they deserve a lot of praise.”
The eight cars unveiled to date are part of a complete overhaul of the PATCO fleet of 120 train cars. The $194 million project received $85 million from the federal government to modernize the cars.
“This modernization will make the rides of tens of thousands of commuters more pleasant and comfortable,” added Assemblyman Taliaferro. “This is a productive way to improve mass transit and to help the working people who rely on PATCO for their livelihood. By connecting people and jobs, public transportation provides an invaluable service that must be regularly maintained and improved. I am pleased to see the region upgraded with modern equipment and improved communication systems.”