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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives approved a Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 omnibus bill that includes his request of $150,000 for New Brunswick to make road improvements along College Avenue to support Rutgers University's redesign of College Avenue.
Last night, the House approved a $515.7 billion spending bill that combines 11 appropriations bills into one omnibus bill funding domestic programs and foreign operations for FY 2008, which officially began on October 1, 2007. The bill now goes to the Senate for its approval before heading to the Presidents desk later this week.
The redesign of the College Avenue campus of Rutgers University is critically important to New Brunswick. The project will transform the campus into a distinctive academic environment and link both the city and university more closely than ever before.
The New Jersey congressman said the first stages of this multi-year project will include landscaping and streetscaping followed by street widening and pedestrian traffic flow improvements.
"As Rutgers University embarks on a long-term project to transform its historic campus, both Rutgers and New Brunswick are working together on transportation improvements that are central to the College Avenue Redesign," Pallone said. "The funds approved by the House today will allow New Brunswick to begin road improvements that support this redesign in order to enhance the city, create jobs and improve safety."
The overall redesign project will improve traffic flow through the city, encourage better commuting practices, enhance the safety for bicyclists and pedestrians and provide green spaces designed for the use of the university community and the citizens of New Brunswick.
The New Jersey congressman said that the federal funds approved last night are the first for what is expected to be a multi-year project led by Rutgers University that will involve the local, state and federal governments.
Pallone requested the funds earlier this year in a formal request to the House Appropriations Transportation and Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Subcommittee.
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