The Borough of Carteret’s ambitious waterfront revitalization and commuter transit expansion has received a major federal boost. Mayor Daniel Reiman announced a $9.6 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant awarded to NJ Transit.
The federal funding will be utilized to construct an electric, low-emitting ferry boat—marking the borough’s third vessel as it prepares to launch direct passenger service connecting Central New Jersey to New York City.
The grant was part of a broader $665 million federal funding announcement by the FTA supporting 23 projects across 14 states. Mayor Reiman credited the achievement to strong bipartisan backing from New Jersey’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim, alongside Congressman Frank Pallone.
“This award is a win for New Jersey and will help expand Carteret’s ferry system, reduce emissions, and strengthen critical transportation connections for communities between Central Jersey and New York City,” Booker said. “I’m proud to have helped advance and secure investments like this through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I’ll never stop fighting to bring home every federal dollar possible to shore up the transportation infrastructure New Jerseyans depend on.”
“This $9.6 million federal award represents another major milestone for the Carteret Ferry Service Expansion Project and the continued redevelopment of Carteret’s waterfront,” Reiman said. “With our new Multimodal Ferry Terminal already under construction, this funding will help us build a modern, reliable ferry service that offers commuters another option, reduces congestion on our roadways, and strengthens Carteret’s connection to the New York Metropolitan region.”
While full procurement and delivery of the new electric ferry are projected around 2030, the borough already owns two other vessels—including the Theodore Roosevelt at the Carteret Municipal Marina and a second vessel currently under construction in New Orleans. Interim service options, such as mobile app ticketing and dockside kiosks, are also being explored.
The new ferry fleet will anchor out of the state-of-the-art Carteret Multimodal Ferry Terminal, a 52,000-square-foot, four-story facility currently taking shape along the Arthur Kill waterfront.
Constructed by Brockwell and Carrington Contractors under a $47.5 million contract, the terminal is slated for completion by late 2027. Designed as a holistic community destination, the facility will feature retail spaces, restaurants, and recreational areas, alongside an intermodal hub linking passengers with NJ Transit buses, municipal jitneys, and local rideshare services.
To date, the Reiman administration has successfully secured more than $100 million in combined federal and state grants to underwrite the comprehensive ferry and waterfront initiative, transforming a formerly industrialized Brownfield site into a vibrant hub for recreation, arts, and transit.
