President Joe Biden’s newly-unveiled Fiscal Year 2023 budget includes hundreds of millions of dollars for vital infrastructure projects in Hudson County, according to an announcement by the Federal Transit Administration.
“Public transit creates jobs, reduces traffic and pollution, and lowers the cost of living for people in the community,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With this funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we can help support transit projects all over the country that will improve the lives of millions of Americans.”
This includes $100 million for the Gateway Tunnel Project that will help start construction of a new tunnel for the Northeast Corridor connecting New Jersey and Manhattan. The project includes the Hudson Yards right-of-way preservation project, a new Hudson Tunnel, and the rehabilitation and modernization of the existing North River tunnel.
“FTA looks forward to working with communities across the country to provide exciting new transit options,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “These investments support President Biden’s commitment to combat climate change while also improving safety, advancing equity, and improving quality of life for millions of Americans.”
The budget also includes a proposed total of $339,519,539 to continue Portal North Bridge construction work in Secaucus next year. Biden made a visit to Kearny to kick off construction of the new bridge in October of 2021.
U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., a Democrat who represents the 9th Congressional District which includes Secaucus and Kearny, celebrated the announcement of the additional federal funds for components of the Gateway Project.
“No state or region in our great country relies on its bridges and tunnels more than New Jersey and the Tristate,” said Pascrell. “New Jersey and our region’s growth for the next generation depends on strengthening those avenues for travel and if we fail, the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast can atrophy. All of us know completion of a new tunnel and bridge is absolutely essential to guaranteeing our future. Today’s Biden budget shows a farsightedness to our region’s destiny.”
Pacrell continued: “This massive $100,000,000 down payment is another building block as we move closer to commencing work on the Gateway Tunnel. The over $339 million for the Portal North Bridge will continue to build on the work we’ve done to replace the existing 110 year old span over the Hackensack River. The spiteful decisions of Donald Trump and Chris Christie set us grievously back, but under President Biden and Governor Murphy we are moving forward again because leadership matters.”
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.
