Kearny, NJ— Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) joined the groundbreaking for the new Portal North Bridge, a project she has fought to secure funding for since first taking office. The Congresswoman joined Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, Congressional colleagues, and NJ Transit officials today for the start of this critical federally-funded project.
The Portal North Bridge is a central component of the larger Gateway Project, which will improve and strengthen the Northeast Rail Corridor, the nation's busiest and most important transit hub. The current 111-year-old Portal North swing bridge often fails to close properly, which has led to extensive delays.
A video of today's event can be found here.
"This groundbreaking for the Portal Bridge is the culmination of years of advocacy and hard work, as well as a new beginning for NJ-11 commuters who have suffered through too many arduous daily commutes and ‘summers of hell.' This project, made possible by federal transportation funding that I've championed over the past three years, is going to make a tangible difference to the quality of life and economic opportunities of New Jersey families, and will have a significant positive environmental impact in North Jersey," said Rep. Sherrill. "I look forward to the day we return for a ribbon cutting when the project is completed."
Congresswoman Sherrill has advocated for federal investment in the Portal North Bridge, the Gateway Tunnel Project, and NJTransit rail lines since before she was in office. With Rep. Sherrill's fierce advocacy, critical funding was included in the FY2021 and FY2022 Appropriations bills to fund the Portal North Bridge. Furthermore, the bipartisan infrastructure law passed by Congress last year is now set to fully fund the remaining components of the Gateway Project.
In attendance at the groundbreaking were a number of public servants who worked in partnership to make this project possible, including:
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
NJ Governor Phil Murphy
NJ TRANSIT President and CEO Kevin Corbett
Senate Majority Leader Schumer
Senator Bob Menendez
Senator Cory Booker
Rep. Tom Malinowski (NJ-07)
Rep. Albio Sires (NJ-08)
Rep. Bill Pascrell (NJ-09)
Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (NJ-10)
Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman (NJ-12)
FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez
PFRA Administrator Amit Bose
Pat Kelleher, Hudson County Building & Construction Trade Council President
Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States
"This project turns the Portal North Bridge from a chokepoint to an access point. It modernizes the way that people and goods get to and from this region that is responsible for 20 percent of America's economic product every year," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg. "I hope that this bridge will not only bring people to work and loved ones to where they need to be, but brings renewed confidence in our ability to get things done together. We are entering into a true infrastructure decade."
"The esteemed elected officials, transportation executives, and union members gathered here today to celebrate a national milestone are evidence of what we can achieve when we band together as Americans in pursuit of a common purpose," said Governor Murphy. "Safe, reliable, and modern infrastructure is about more than just getting to work on time. It's also about the thousands of good-paying jobs this project will create and the families they support. By improving connectivity, we will also promote economic opportunity, not just for New Jersey residents and commuters, but for the Northeast Corridor and our nation. The new Portal North Bridge symbolizes our lasting legacy and our commitment to the welfare and prosperity of all New Jerseyans."
"As all too many travelers are painfully aware, the existing bridge has been a source of countless delays and frustration for the millions of NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak customers who ride along the bridge between New Jersey and New York annually, and its importance cannot be overstated," said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. "Construction of a new bridge will not only create approximately 15,000 jobs and add billions of dollars to our local economy but, more importantly, it will provide safe, reliable rail service for all Northeast Corridor commuters between Washington, D.C and Boston for generations to come."
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Original source can be found here.
