$4.6M In Air Conditioning Upgrades Coming For Newark Penn Station

NEWARK, NJ — Newark Penn Station is about to get a little cooler.

On Thursday, NJ Transit announced that it will make “key upgrades” to the station’s air conditioning system. The agency’s board of directors has approved a contract to replace two chillers and two cooling towers, which NJ Transit says will “provide reliable cooling for the foreseeable future.”

Chillers at the busy train station provide air conditioning for all interior spaces, including electrical equipment rooms necessary for station operations.

John O’Hara Company Inc. of East Orange was awarded a contract for $4,620,756, plus five percent for contingencies, subject to the availability of funds.

“The contract approved by our board [Wednesday] will significantly improve the overall experience of thousands of customers who pass through Newark Penn Station every day,” NJ Transit president and CEO Kevin Corbett said.

According to a statement from NJ Transit:

“Newark Penn Station was constructed in 1935. As the structure of the station has aged, so have the mechanical systems that provide a comfortable commute for customers. Two chillers and two cooling towers are used to maintain the air conditioning in the station. The current units, each with a 150-ton refrigeration capacity, have been in service for nearly 30 years and have reached the end of their useful life. For the past seven years, the necessary maintenance of the existing HVAC system has increased while the replacement parts needed for repair have become more difficult to acquire.”

In 2020, Gov. Phil Murphy announced $190 million for renovations and upgrades at the historic station. The work began immediately with $30 million in renovations and restorations, with additional upgrades scheduled over the coming years totaling $160 million.

• See Related: New Jersey Will Spend $190M To Renovate Newark Penn Station

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