BEM Systems, Inc. (BEM) is pleased to announce it was awarded an additional $11,500,000 for its role as the environmental program manager to New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT) in support of its post-Superstorm Sandy (Sandy) recovery and resiliency plans. The majority of this funding is provided by the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA’s) Emergency Relief Fund under a competitive grant process. BEM played a critical role assisting NJ TRANSIT with the preparation of six grant applications, of which NJ TRANSIT won five, worth a total of $1.276B. NJ TRANSIT must provide an additional 25% of its own funds as a state match. Under this new round of funding, BEM will provide a wide variety of environmental services to support the planning, design, and construction of five large scale resiliency projects, including the preparation of all NEPA documents and supporting studies; the preparation and securing of environmental permits; compliance with Section 106 & Section 4(f) requirements; and, site remediation and property acquisition support. These services fall within BEM’s capacity as environmental program manager for NJ TRANSIT’s Superstorm Sandy Repair and Resiliency Program, a role that BEM has fulfilled since November 2012. Part of this funding also goes towards the deployment of NJ TRANSIT’s Coastal Storm Surge Emergency Warning System (CSSEWS), at its Hoboken Yard and Terminal and a critical maintenance complex in Kearny, New Jersey—both of which suffered significant damage from coastal flooding during Sandy. The system will allow NJ TRANSIT’s emergency response and operational personnel to receive real time forecasts as early as 96 hours in advance of potential flood risk, for critical assets located throughout the facility, so they can take appropriate actions in sufficient time to prevent or limit damage. The accuracy of the flood inundation maps, visualized through a single dashboard, will be enhanced by the hydrologic data processing and modeling capabilities provided by Davidson Laboratory, part of the Stevens Institute of Technology, who is being funded under a separate competitive grant awarded to NJ TRANSIT by FTA. The CSSEWS is a key component of NJ TRANSIT’s overall resiliency strategy, which evaluates the risk to TRANSIT’s infrastructure from extreme weather through all phases of the project life cycle from planning through operations. BEM’s Director of Infrastructure Programs, Mittul Patel, PE, LSRP states, “these resiliency projects—a first-of-a-kind microgrid to be used for transportation purposes, including an approximate 104 MW power generation plant and use of solar and fuel cell technology; a new bridge to replace the Raritan River Drawbridge; a new resilient train station at Hoboken Terminal; and an inland storage and inspection yard that is not susceptible to flooding—provide unique challenges that require constant communication and close coordination among multiple federal, state and local government agencies, design teams, and subconsultants to successfully move the projects forward. Fortunately everyone recognizes the dual importance of building these projects to the highest standards and building them quickly, with the looming potential of another Sandy”. BEM has a 25 year history of working for NJ TRANSIT and appreciates the continued confidence it has shown in retaining BEM to help it through one of its most challenging periods. 
