Federal agencies have approved $80 million in grants that will replace the ancient overhead wires and signal on the Northeast Corridor line that were blamed for the “summer of hell” rail problem, U.S.

That includes work on the system of wires that kept getting ensnared in NJ Transit equipment on sweltering days.

On U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey announced $112 million in federal funding for both organizations that will modernize transit infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor.

The company that built and operated NJ Transit's first light rail line for almost 30 years was ousted when the agency's board awarded a $1.5 billion contract to a Boston based contractor.

A new contract for operations and maintenance of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line was approved by the New Jersey Transit Board of Directors.

Numerous changes to the NJ TRANSIT Morris and Essex Lines and Northeast Corridor could impact commuters' schedules.

NJ Transit commuters may have already seen the agency's new customer advocate riding trains and buses and he outline how he plans to meet riders for recommendations to improve service.