For Immediate Release                                                           Contact: Erica Daughtrey

October 29, 2010                                                                   201-222-2828

Washington, D.C.— Today, Congressman Sires announced that New Jersey Transit has received a grant award of $2,484,766 from the Department of Transportation’s TIGGER (Transit Investment for Greenhouse Gas & Energy Reduction) II grant program.  In August 2010, Congressman Sires sent a letter of support for the project that will allow New Jersey Transit to install energy efficient electric rail heaters.

“I was proud to write a letter of support NJ Transit’s application for this innovative grant program,” said Congressman Sires. “This Department of Transportation grant program prioritizes projects that save energy and lower greenhouse gas emissions, and though the award of these funds, NJ Transit will be able to be more energy efficient.”

New Jersey Transit will replace hundreds of existing electric rail switch heaters with energy efficient rail switch heaters.  Energy efficient rail switch heaters have a flat shape that conform to the rail and provide more surface contact area.  This increased surface contact then provides better heat transfer and requires less energy to properly heat the rail.  Energy efficiency is approved by approximately 50 percent and safety and operational efficiency will also be increased during the cold weather.

###