Although funding levels fall short of need, Subcommittee member praises
well-crafted bill that includes $42 million for 8th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell announced the House passage of H.R. 3550, The Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU), a $279 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 bill will soon be sent to a conference committee to be merged with the Senate passed highway bill.

"After decades of investments to meet an expanding nation and a growing population, the U.S. transportation system is unmatched anywhere else in the world, and is a major reason for our nation's high productivity and mobility," stated Rep. Pascrell, a member of the House Transportation Committee.

"However, the federal government needs to provide adequate funding to meet new mobility needs in order to create jobs and foster economic development."

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.

While this bill will make significant increases in funding for New Jersey's transportation system, Pascrell expressed disappointment that the funding contained may not be enough to meet growing demands.

"The Bush Administration veto threat has forced the House to scale down its approach.  In terms of family-wage job creation, in terms of reducing congestion, in terms of improving our quality of life, and in terms of remaining competitive with other nations, I believe that we are missing a great opportunity to make a difference in our economic future."

House Democrats voted for a motion that would have increased the bill funding to that of the $318 billion Senate bill, but that was defeated.  This amendment would increase New Jersey specific highway funding by $834 million, transit funding by $285 million and create 53,000 jobs in the Garden State.  The increased funding is fully paid for by cracking down on abusive corporate tax shelters and companies that move off-shore to avoid paying U.S. taxes, and by extending customs user fees

Besides the $42 million worth of high priority highway, bridge, bus, and pedestrian projects included for New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District, TEA-LU includes new project authorizations aimed at improving regional mass transportation infrastructure, including:

New Jersey Trans-Hudson Midtown Corridor - A project to expand direct rail service from New Jersey to Manhattan, this bill authorizes New Jersey Transit to work with the Federal Transit Administration to build a needed second commuter rail tunnel under the Hudson River.  This is a top priority for the state and will help congestion relief through our entire intermodal system.

Trans-Hudson improvements to the Boonton line - A project to electrify the Boonton line westward from Little Falls, this bill authorizes work which could eventually eliminate the rail yard at Lower Notch in Little Falls, and give Little Falls and Wayne residents a one seat ride on midtown direct service without any transfer.

At Congressman Pascrell's request, the House bill also authorizes a study to look at the value public transportation systems place on national security in project planning.  It will also examine the ability of such systems to accommodate the evacuation from 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 both the Transportation and 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.  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."

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