Legislation Passed to Help Build Livable Communities Throughout the State

SOUTH ORANGE - U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. and U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne today announced $400,000 in funding for phase one of the Rahway River Corridor Bike Pedestrian Path in South Orange, New Jersey.  This funding is part of the House passage of H.R. 3550, The Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU), a $275 billion piece of legislation renewing federal funds for highway and transit programs designed to replace the expiring Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, known as TEA-21.

"The benefits of this project will be tremendous as it has widespread support," stated Rep. Pascrell, a member of the House Transportation Committee.   "Once completed, it will improve the quality of life for residents as it will reduce traffic and vehicle trips, thereby easing congestion and air pollution."

"This project will encourage active, healthy living by encouraging walk and bike trips," stated Rep. Donald M. Payne.  "This path will connect residential neighborhoods to South Orange's downtown, its train station, middle schools, pool, parks, and recreation fields for all sports, as well as its community center."

The river itself is a channelized Army Corps 1970s-style flood control project. Currently, there is no off-road path connecting these destinations, and local streets are hazardous.
The completed greenway will act as a gateway to and from downtown and the parks and neighborhoods.

Environmental signage and educational activities will also be part of the project, coordinated through the local middle school.  It will also constitute a safe route to the middle school, which is now lacking, and will be coordinated through the regional school board.

"South Orange has done a great job getting commuters out of their cars and to mass transit through the community shuttle bus program," stated Pascrell, who created the jitney bus program in the previously passed TEA-21 legislation.  "Helping commuters get to the train station has eased congestion on our highways and mitigated parking problems downtown.  And this access to transit has only added to the appeal of South Orange and done wonders to increase property values."

The House passed with an overwhelming vote of 357-65 its $275 billion reauthorization bill entitled TEA-LU, on April 2, 2004.  The Senate passed a $308 billion version
(S. 1072) on February 12, 2004.

"TEA-LU is not just a bill for expanding highways, maintaining interstates, and repairing crumbling bridges," stated Pascrell. "It is also for funding buses, rail lines, and ferries.  It is for providing safe routes to schools, congestion mitigation, air quality, and transportation enhancement projects.

Overall, transit funding level is $36 billion, with New Jersey scheduled to receive $2.1 billion, an increase of $436,368,732 over TEA-21 levels.  Highway funding is at $188 billion, with New Jersey receiving $4.8 billion, an increase of $425 million.

"We must encourage the President to sign off on this bill.  It is an incredible bipartisan effort to improve the everyday lives of the residents of the Garden State," added Congressman Pascrell. "Being in New Jersey - the most densely populated state in the union - we can and must do more to promote alternate modes of transportation."

"Just last week, the EPA reminded New Jersey that our state was still among the worst states in the union for air quality," stated Congressman Payne.  "While much of that pollution comes from dirty power plants in the Midwest, our congested roadways are not helping the problem.  Every car we can get off the road helps."

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