STUDY IN FINAL PRODUCT, SECURED BY PASCRELL, WILL EVALUATE THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MASS TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08), a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced the successful completion of a federal surface transportation conference report after a long two years.  He commended Senators Corzine and Lautenberg, and the New Jersey delegation, for their hard work on behalf of Garden State priorities included in the final product.

Included in this measure is both strong language and dollars for New Jersey Transit to work with the Federal Transit Administration to build a needed second commuter rail tunnel under the Hudson River between Northern New Jersey and Midtown Manhattan.  This project is a top priority for the state and will help congestion relief throughout New Jersey's intermodal system.

"Unless we want to start paving over our backyards, we must continue to increase the ability for New Jerseyans to get out of their cars and into the mass transit system," stated Rep. Pascrell, a member of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.  "Access to Manhattan is critical to the economic growth of our state, but demand for our trans-Hudson infrastructure system is quickly reaching its breaking point.  The passenger rail tunnel is the best option and I am glad we are on our way to getting it done."

Pascrell also secured $500,000 for a Public Transportation National Security study in the final transportation bill to evaluate the value public transportation systems place on national security in project planning.  To be completed by the National Academy of Sciences, the report will also examine the ability of New Jersey Transit and other systems to accommodate the evacuation of critical locations in times of emergency.

"We all remember how critical mass transportation was in evacuating New York City after 9/11, and then transporting commuters in the next weeks and months," concluded Pascrell, a member of the Homeland Security Committees.  "I am hopeful the results of this study will ensure that transit agencies are looking at response plans in terms of a comprehensive vulnerability assessment.  Certainly, one benefit of a new tunnel under the Hudson is that it would increase evacuation options in the event of an emergency.  Eventually, I hope that we will achieve a day when the federal government will prioritize funding for mass transit projects based on the value they give to national security interests."

Pascrell concluded, "All will share in the benefits from the tunnel project.  The groundwork we lay with improvements systemwide will ease congestion on our roads and improve rail service throughout the state.  I am proud to work with my delegation colleagues and the House Transportation Committee to secure a beneficial authorization for this project in the surface transportation reauthorization bill."

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