U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton), who has garnered millions of dollars in federal funds to launch the renovation and reconstruction of the NJ Transit-owned train station in the capitol city, today welcomed the announcement that the state is at last moving to advance and complete the project. 

    “In 2000, I secured the initial $5 million to launch this project and I have been working hard ever since adding federal dollars to the kitty so that the state would one day be ready to initiate the renovation of the Trenton Train Station,” Smith said.

    “I’m pleased this day is now here and I am confident that this federal-state partnership will result in a state-of-the-art facility that will meet the increasing commuting and safety needs of residents from Trenton and the surrounding region,” he added.

    To date, the federal government – through direct Congressional earmarks pushed by Smith, has provided about one-third of the $45 million to renovate and expand this important state and regional transportation hub. Below is a breakdown of the installments of federal funding, totaling $14.75 million:

• Fiscal Year 2001 -- $5 million (Public Law 106-346)
• Fiscal Year 2002 -- $2.5 million (Public Law 107-87)
• Fiscal Year 2003 -- $6.5 million (Public Law 108-7)
• Fiscal Year 2004 -- $750,000 (Public Law 108-199)

    It was Smith who nearly four years ago worked to secure the initial $5 million in federal funding for the project. Smith personally invited his colleague, Congressman Frank Wolf of Virginia, who at the time chaired the House appropriations subcommittee charged with distributing transportation funds, to visit the station and see for himself why the federal support was needed for the project.

    Locally, Smith worked closely with Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer and then-Mercer County Executive Robert D. Prunetti to assemble a strong and committed group of local officials supportive of the plan.

    “It took a lot of work to get the federal funds needed to get this project off the ground, but in the end my colleagues in Congress realized how important a renovated Trenton Train Station is not only for local commuters, but for the regional rail system and economy,” Smith said. 

    Plans for the renovation include reconstructing the existing building and adding a second floor mezzanine level to double the size to about 40,000 square feet. This additional space will provide more room for ticketing services, retail space, and passenger waiting room. The project will also upgrade the station’s electrical and heating/air conditioning systems, elevators and escalators, parking areas and traffic patterns, and landscape to ultimately make the station more rider-friendly and efficient.