Congress has appropriated an additional $6.5 million in the $397 billion omnibus spending bill to renovate and expand the Trenton Train Station, a vital transit facility in the state’s capital city, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4) announced today.  

    Smith has been leading the effort to renovate the station for several years.  The $6.5 million for the project secured in this bill brings the total amount of federal money for the project to $14 million over the past three fiscal years. 

    “The $6.5 million included in the omnibus bill should result in a near seamless transition from the planning and design phase of this project to actual construction.  The money will help prevent any stoppage of work from one phase to the next and make a renovated and enhanced train station for our capital city a reality,” Smith said.  

    “The Trenton Station is one of the busiest along the Northeast Corridor and second busiest in New Jersey,” Smith said.  “It needs to be upgraded to accommodate the heavy volume of riders, attract more businesses, and complement the renaissance and redevelopment underway in our Capitol City.” 

    Each year, the station accommodates the needs of about 2.5 million passengers – 1.3 million New Jersey Transit riders, 900,000 Amtrak passengers, and another 450,000 people who ride SEPTA. 

    The train station is conveniently located for people who may want to use mass transit to visit the State House and other government offices; the renovated War Memorial, Old Barracks Museum, and Battle Monument; Waterfront Park and the Sovereign Bank Arena; and the brand new Marriott at Lafayette Yards.  

    The overall design phase, renovation, and expansion of the more than 30-year-old Trenton Train Station are expected to cost about $40 million. The project will include reconstruction of the main building and the addition of a new mezzanine level so the total size of the station will be increased from 19,000 to nearly 40,000 square feet.