The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has approved the continuation of a program that helps port truckers replace older, higher-polluting vehicles with newer, cleaner burning ones.

Its board on Wednesday approved an additional $2.42 million for the agency's Truck Replacement Program, which began in 2010 to provide a financial incentive to truckers toward the purchase of newer vehicles. The funds will help pay for the replacement of approximately 80 older trucks with 2007 or older engines. The newer trucks are projected to result in emission reductions of approximately 42 tons of particulate matter and 708 tons of nitrogen oxides over the lives of the replacement vehicles, according to the port authority.

The program, funded by a $2 million federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant, will cover up to 50% of the cost of a new truck, up to a maximum of $25,000 per truck. To be eligible for the program, truckers must regularly call on Port Authority of New York and New Jersey marine terminals and commit to serving the port for at least five years.

Since the program began, the port authority has disbursed federal grant money to replace 429 older trucks with newer models.

Since its inception, the Truck Replacement Program has resulted in an estimated annual emission reduction of 356 tons of nitrogen oxide and 14 tons of fine particulate matter, which represent roughly 70% and 64% percent reductions, respectively, in both pollutants, according to the port authority.