Newark - U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ13) today joined Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to announce an $11.4 million dollar federal TIGER grant for the South Hudson Intermodal Facility Project in Bayonne as part of a larger plan to expand the Global Terminal. The grant will be used for rail infrastructure and two cranes which will increase rail freight capacity to and from the terminal. In 2010, the entire Port of New York and New Jersey supported 279,200 jobs in the region and generated over $37 billion in business income. From dredging, to freight rail improvements, to the conversion of MOTBY to a commercial port, this grant is the latest in a list of Port modernization projects that have benefitted from partnership with the federal government.
"The Port is number one on the East Coast, but to stay number one we need to continue to grow," said Senator Menendez. "This federal funding will ensure the Port remains a premier commercial center, one that keeps one of the largest economic engines in the region humming. When the Port does well, New Jersey does well."
"The South Hudson Intermodal Facility will enhance the Port of New York and New Jersey, creating both jobs and economic growth for the region while improving safety and accessibility," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "As part of President Obama's plan for an America built to last, TIGER projects like this one are putting people to work while providing better, safer transportation options and a stronger economic future for the nation."
"This federal grant is major victory for New Jersey and the entire regional economy,"said Senator Lautenberg, a member of the Appropriations Committee that funds this grant program. "Modernizing this shipping terminal and investing in the port will allow us move more cargo, reduce carbon emissions and help make sure New Jersey continues to be an international leader in shipping. We thank Secretary LaHood for his support and will continue working with the Obama Administration to make sure New Jersey's ports are prepared for the 21st Century."
"As the representative of one of the busiest ports on the East Coast, I am proud that the City of Bayonne is receiving this federal grant funding, which will create hundreds of new jobs in my district," said Sires. "This grant is vital to improving economic opportunity to the region and New Jerseyans very much appreciate this significant award."
Senator Menendez, Senator Lautenberg, and Congressman Sires all have a accomplished history in fighting for the Port. Senator Menendez helped facilitate the deal that allowed the harbor deepening project move forward in the late 1990's and has worked with Senator Lautenberg and Congressman Sires to secure $1 billion for the deepening project which will be completed at the end of this year. Dredging of the navigational channels is necessary to deepen the berths so that larger ships can access the port.
The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER Discretionary Grant program, is a multimodal DOT discretionary grant program. Through FY11 the DOT has awarded over 150 TIGER grants. Each project is multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional or otherwise challenging to fund through existing programs. The TIGER program enables DOT to use a rigorous process to select projects with exceptional benefits, explore ways to deliver projects faster and save on construction costs, and make investments in our Nation's infrastructure that make communities more livable and sustainable.
###
