NJ Transit unveils first solar powered bus shelter
New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) has a new state-of-the-art solar bus panel bus shelter, the first of its kind for the agency.
The shelter continues to advance NJ Transit’s sustainability goals laid out in its 10-Year Strategic Plan. The solar panels on the roof of the shelter harness the power of the sun to recharge a battery which operates the shelter’s lights at night and adds a new customer convenience in USB charging ports.
“This is the latest initiative by NJ Transit as part of Governor Murphy’s commitment to a sustainable, energy efficient transportation system,” said NJ Transit Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. “We are very pleased to partner with Cherry Hill on this innovative, first of its kind project for NJ Transit.”
The new shelter, located at the bus stop at Rt. 70 and South Cornell Avenue in Cherry Hill, serves NJ Transit’s bus route No. 406, which makes stops at Berlin, Marlton, Cherry Hill, Pennsauken and Camden en route to Philadelphia. The No. 406 bus line averages about 800 customers per weekday with about 50 to 60 customers using the Cherry Hill shelter.
The new shelter includes high intensity LED lighting for visibility and safety, a two-port USB charging outlet and a motion sensor that conserves the battery and will automatically turn on/off depending on motion inside.
The shelter is ADA accessible and a new concrete pad was laid to accommodate the new shelter. The solar cap is waterproof and maintenance free.
NJ Transit says it will evaluate the performance of the shelter before determining the possibility of expanding the installation of these shelters in other parts of the state.
“This shelter is the first of what we foresee to be many more to come at bus stops throughout the state, and underscores NJ Transit’s steadfast commitment to achieving the goals outlined in Governor Murphy’s Energy Master Plan”, said NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “It also aligns perfectly with one of the five overarching goals in our ten-year strategic plan, NJT2030, which commits to promoting a more sustainable future for our planet.”