New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) will hold an industry forum on March 14 as it continues to develop plans for its Northern Bus Garage and is seeking feedback from qualified professionals.
NJ Transit says its bus ridership and demand is growing and the agency is planning to replace the majority of its diesel bus fleet, which is approaching the end of service life, with zero-emission buses. These two elements coupled with the fact that NJ Transit’s current bus maintenance facilities in Northern New Jersey are at capacity makes advancing the design of the Northern Bus Garage a critical project for NJ Transit bus operations.
“This industry forum is an important part of advancing our critical Northern Bus Garage project, which will increase bus storage and maintenance capacity to meet today’s needs as well as anticipated future demand,” said NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “The project will also include the necessary charging infrastructure to support our commitment to transitioning to a 100 percent zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040.”
The Northern Bus Garage will need to accommodate diesel and zero-emissions buses on day one with the flexibility to transition to a 100 percent zero-emission bus fleet over time. The new garage will house 500 45-foot and 60-foot transit and commuter buses. NJ Transit also explains the Northern Bus Garage will need to include proper circulation aisles and modern labor-saving equipment and meet the spatial and functional needs for enclosed bus parking, service area and parts storage, bus maintenance bays and inspection bays, diesel fueling facility, alternative fueling/charging station, a bus washing facility, administrative offices and on-site parking.
NJ Transit continues to evaluate various approaches for this project and its related support facilities, equipment, access and zero-emissions bus capabilities. The upcoming forum, which will be a virtual event, is a way for industry participants to inform the scope of the procurement, choice of the delivery model, means of transitioning to a zero-emissions bus fleet and/or support revenue potential.
Interested professionals must register for the free event, which will take place March 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. NJ Transit plans a general session where it will share an overview of the Northern Bus Garage needs and business opportunity and then follow with one-on-one meetings with interested and qualified parties.
NJ Transit notes this is not the start of a formal procurement process and no firm will be advantaged or disadvantaged in subsequent solicitations through their participation or non-participation in the forum.
If interested, registration for the forum is available through NJ Transit’s website.
