New Jersey Transit faces a year-end deadline for Positive Train Control installation, and the agency’s effort to install the federally mandated safety system should soon be moving forward once again.

Software problems threatened to set PTC testing back five months, but those issues have been resolved and live testing of the system has been expanded from one to five trains at night.

CEO Kevin Corbett says he’s optimistic about moving forward.

“While I fully expect us to meet the deadline, be sure it is a monumental effort that requires tremendous resources and energy by a lot of people for the rest of this year,” says Corbett.

PTC uses computers and trackside transponders to determine if a train operator is obeying speed limits. If not, PTC stops the train.

The system has to be tested and certified for operation by Dec. 31 or rail service could shut down. If NJ Transit decided to run trains without a certified PTC system, it could be fined $27,000 a day.

Agency officials have also applied to the Federal Railroad Administration to move to the next phase of testing of PTC using trains carrying passengers.