New Jersey representatives in Congress who have been fighting to reinstate critical funding for New Jersey Transit successfully restored $50 million a year to our state’s federal mass transit funding.
U.S. Sens. Bob Menendez and Cory Booker along with Reps. Albio Sires and Frank Pallone refused to support a federal transportation bill if it included a provision to strip the money from NJ Transit. These public officials stood up for New Jersey’s working families by helping secure much-needed funding for infrastructure projects in our state.
Our two senators, along with every member of our House delegation except Scott Garrett, voted to support this critical highway bill. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. was absent from voting. President Obama signed it Friday.
With a deal to restore the funding in place, New Jersey can again think about investing in critical infrastructure projects like the Gateway rail tunnel, which will create jobs and bring long-sought relief to NJ Transit commuters.
Without the resolve of these dedicated public servants, NJ Transit would have lost $50.3 million in funding for repairs, maintenance and the renovation of Elizabeth train station. Sens. Menendez and Booker and 17 colleagues representing northeast states signed a letter urging Senate leaders on the bill’s conference committee preserve funding for transit service in high-density regions like ours. Reps. Sires and Pallone were on the House conference committee that negotiated the compromise legislation.
New Jersey’s representatives did a good job advocating for the state’s working people to achieve this victory!