BLOOMFIELD, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) today outlined how the historic, $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide record investments in New Jersey’s aging infrastructure. The bill, which will send billions of dollars to New Jersey in federal funding, will help the state repair roads and bridges, expand mass transit, build the Gateway Project, replace water and sewer pipes and increase broadband internet access. President Joe Biden will sign the bill into law later this afternoon.

“When President Biden signs this legislation into law, we will begin unleashing transformative new investments in everything from roads and railways to drinking water to electrical vehicle infrastructure and more,” said Sen. Menendez. “These investments are big wins for New Jersey. NJ TRANSIT is the largest statewide transit system in America and we’re also home to the critical infrastructure that supports the busiest rail corridor in America – the Northeast Corridor. For agencies like NJ TRANSIT, this legislation will provide access to billions of dollars over the coming years to complete major upgrades, like what’s being proposed here in Bloomfield.”


CLICK TO VIEW SENATOR MENENDEZ’S REMARKS

“As President Biden signs the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law today, New Jerseyans can expect to see billions of dollars for our state’s infrastructure - from repairing roads and bridges, to replacing lead pipes and cleaning Superfund Sites, and advancing the Gateway Project,” said Sen. Booker. “In addition to funding critical infrastructure projects, these investments will also enhance our nation’s competitiveness and position our economy for continued growth by putting more Americans to work. I am proud to join Senator Menendez to highlight just one of many projects throughout New Jersey that stand to benefit from this historic legislation.”

The legislation will provide an estimated $12.31 billion in guaranteed transportation and transit funding formula dollars for New Jersey over the next five years—the largest ever investment in the state’s transportation infrastructure. The state will also receive a minimum $100 million to expand broadband internet access. State formula funding for water and sewer infrastructure has yet to be calculated, and New Jersey can still compete for additional federal funding through other discretionary sources.

At a press conference today in Bloomfield, Sens. Menendez and Booker were joined by New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti and NJ TRANSIT President and CEO Kevin Corbett. The lawmakers highlighted NJ TRANSIT’s modernization and improvement project at Bloomfield Rail Station, which is part of the agency’s $17 billion, five-year capital plan.

The upgrades proposed to the station will increase accessibility for disabled individuals, provide safer access to stations and improve the station’s state of good repair. Bloomfield Station, constructed in 1912, is one of the busiest stations along the Montclair-Boonton Rail Line, with an average pre-pandemic weekday ridership of 1,640.

“New Jersey’s transportation system is once again the beneficiary of the tireless advocacy of Senator Menendez, Senator Booker and our congressional delegation,” said Commissioner Gutierrez-Scaccetti. “There is no shortage of roadway, bridge and transit infrastructure needs in New Jersey, and we look forward to putting President Biden’s historic federal investment to work to continue improving mobility for all our state’s residents.”
 
“NJ TRANSIT is grateful for the continued support Senator Menendez, Senator Booker and the entire New Jersey congressional delegation have provided in making President Biden’s bold infrastructure plan a reality,” said Corbett. “This infrastructure plan will provide much needed funding to advance essential projects within our Five-Year Capital Plan that will enhance service reliability and frequency as ridership returns to the system.”

Other goals of NJ TRANSIT include:

·       Advancing the Gateway Project (including the Portal North and South Bridges and trans-Hudson rail tunnels)

·       Extending the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail into Bergen County and the West Side of Jersey City

·       Moving to a zero-emissions bus fleet

·       Modernizing aging train stations and rail bridges, the Newark Light Rail and Camden River Line

·       Increasing rail capacity on several lines

Earlier this year, Sens. Menendez and Booker joined NJ TRANSIT in urging Congress to pass this much-needed bill to ensure the state has the federal resources needed to help modernize New Jersey’s transportation infrastructure. They also highlighted the funding they secured in the American Rescue Plan and how it helped NJ TRANSIT avert financial crisis, cuts to bus and rail service, and potential furloughs.

Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, Jr. and Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia joined the officials at the press conference today.

“Thank you to Senators Menendez and Booker for supporting President Biden’s infrastructure initiative,” said County Executive DiVincenzo. “The money coming to New Jersey and Essex County will touch every corner of our lives from repairing roads and bridges, expanding internet access, upgrading our sea and air ports, modernizing our electric grids. This will create jobs, stimulate our economy and enhance our quality of life.”
"I would like to thank Senators Booker and Menendez for helping to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill that will deliver historic investments to our community,” said Mayor Venezia. “In addition to roads, bridges and water infrastructure, this money will go towards much needed upgrades to Bloomfield Station, which is one of the busiest stations in the area. In Bloomfield we have prioritized investments in our townships infrastructure and this will go a long way towards furthering that mission."

This bipartisan bill will pump billions of dollars into New Jersey’s infrastructure programs and keep our commuters and economy moving forward. The breakdown of the funding New Jersey is expected to receive is below:

TRANSPORTATION

·       Highways/Roads                                    $6,883,719,399

·       Bridges                                                  $1,146,780,115

·       Electric Vehicles                                     $104,373,268        

·       Ferry Service                                         $24,407,410

TRANSIT

·       TOTAL                                                   $4,154,648,806

·       FY21                                                      $626,068,511

·       FY22                                                      $792,674,692

·       FY23                                                      $809,730,546

·       FY24                                                      $831,558,775

·       FY25                                                      $849,219,308

·       FY26                                                      $871,465,485

BROADBAND                                                  $100,000,000 (*min.)

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act also includes additional infrastructure funding for federal programs that will benefit New Jersey, namely:

GATEWAY PROJECT

·       Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC)         $30,000,000,000

·       Capital Improvement Grants                     

o   Supplemental appropriation          $8,000,000,000

o   Annual authorization                    $3,000,000,000

(Note: Funding from these programs can be used to complete Gateway)

AIRPORTS

·       Airport Infrastructure Grants                   $15,000,000,000

·       Airport Terminal Program                       $5,000,000,000

 (Note: Funding is national over the next five years)

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

·       Drinking Water State Revolving Funds    $15,000,000,000   

·       Clean Water State Revolving Funds       $11,700,000,000

·       Lead Contamination in Schools              $200,000,000

·       PFAS Contamination Remediation          $10,000,000,000

(Note: Funding is national over the next five years)

SUPERFUND/BROWNFIELDS                        $5,000,000,000

To clean up and revitalize polluted sites; New Jersey has the most Superfund sites in the nation

FLOOD RESILIENCY                                     

·       Flood Mitigation Assistance Grants         $3,500,000,000

(Note: Funding is national over the next five years)

WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE                  $3,500,000,000

To reduce energy costs for homeowners

CYBERSECURITY                                           $2,000,000,000

To modernize and enhance our nation’s cybersecurity capabilities