SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $1.2 MILLION IN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR INSTALLATION OF LIFE-SAVING POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL TECHNOLOGY FOR MIDDLETOWN & NEW JERSEY RAILROAD IN ORANGE COUNTY

Department Of Transportation Funding Will Be Used To Install Positive Train Control Technology In Orange County, NY To Prevent Dangerous and Disruptive Derailments and Crashes 

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,200,000 in federal funding for Middletown & New Jersey Railroad’s Positive Train Control (PTC) system in Orange County, New York. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) FY 2018 Positive Train Control Grants under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant Program. Specifically, the Middletown & New Jersey Railroad Project will use the funding to monitor train speeds and prevent collisions and derailments by controlling train movements through a system of integrated command, control, communications, and information technologies.

“This federal investment will accelerate the installation of life-saving Positive Train Control on the Middletown & New Jersey Railroad in Orange County to prevent dangerous and destructive derailments and crashes,” said Senator Schumer. “PTC saves lives and protects vulnerable communities from crashes. That is why I fought so hard to secure federal funding to speed up PTC implementation. I will continue fighting to ensure this kind of life-saving technology is implemented everywhere.”

“Positive train control is a life-saving technology, and this federal funding for the Middletown & New Jersey Railroad will help prevent accidents and keep surrounding communities safe as trains pass through Orange County,”  said Senator Gillibrand. “I will continue to fight to make sure that our local railroads have the resources that they need to install this important safety precaution.”

This funding is awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The FRA and FTA provide grants under this program to railroads to be used to put Positive Train Control (PTC) technology, communications and equipment for various railroads’ PTC systems in place. More information can be found here.

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