New York New Jersey Rail LLC Receives Over $700,000 in Homeland Security Funds
Ensuring a Greater Level of Security and Public Safety
West Seneca, NY--December 19, 2006-- New York New Jersey Rail LLC (NYNJR) announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has approved an application for $727,645 in 2006 grant funds for security upgrades of their New York cross harbor rail float operations. Improvements will be directed at the Bush Terminal in Brooklyn, New York and the Greenville Rail Yard in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The award is part of the DHS 2006 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) and the DHS Infrastructure Protection Program. According to DHS, the PSGP is an important component of a coordinated, national effort to strengthen the security of America’s critical infrastructure. NYNJR Managing Director James Cornell said “One of our top priorities is ensuring a greater level of security and public safety for our trans-harbor railcar freight operations in the Ports of New York and New Jersey.”
Over the past year, the new management of NYNJR has successfully led a turnaround of the rail float operations as evidenced by the increase in freight railcars ferried across the Hudson River per year. The company has recently implemented a five year strategic plan to expand operations and provide regularly-scheduled daily trans-harbor services. This will enable an increase in capacity to 79 railcars/day by 2008 and ultimately to optimum capacity of 270 railcars/day in 2012. The establishment of a robust security program to coincide with this significant increase in freight volume is a fundamental component to the successful implementation of the strategy.
Cornell added “I am proud that DHS has recognized the importance of the homeland security program for our facilities at Bush Terminal and Greenville Yard and has provided this funding to help us meet our security priorities. The DHS grant will be matched 100% by NYNJR internal expenditures and is tightly focused on those priorities. I am confident this funding will greatly increase our abilities to prepare, protect, respond and recover from any threat or emergency.”
About New York New Jersey Rail LLC:
New York New Jersey Rail LLC (NYNJR) is a privately-held, New York limited liability company headquartered in West Seneca, New York. The company operates the federally-regulated (Federal Railroad Administration) railroad which provides railcar float barge ferry services across the Hudson River between the Bush Terminal Rail Yard in Brooklyn, New York and the Greenville Rail Yard in Jersey City, New Jersey. NYNJR is a bi-state short line railroad and is the only marine railroad in the region operating from the only intermodal freight facility in New York City. NYNJR provides a critical connection between CSX and Norfolk Southern (NS) railroads in New Jersey and shippers in New York City. NYNJR also interchanges with the New York and Atlantic Railroad (NY&A) which serves Long Island shippers.
Contact Information:
James Cornell, Managing Director
Phone: (716) 675-6001
Email: cornelljim@aol.com
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