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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jim Saxton (NJ-3rd), who represents a large area of the Jersey Shore that includes Long Beach Island (LBI) and the half-dozen municipalities on the island, held talks with the island mayors, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, and N.J. Dept. of Environmental Commissioner Lisa Jackson today about moving the long-awaited LBI beach repair project forward.
Gov. Corzine told Saxton that he wanted the bidding process for the first phase of the project underway by the end of the month, and saw no acceptable reason for it to be delayed.
"I am very encouraged by these developments," Saxton said. "The process seems to be on track, and I am thankful to Gov. Corzine and Commissioner Jackson for acting to make this happen. I think we are almost there. We are finally close to seeing construction begin. Long Beach Island's battered beaches are in need of critical repairs. Erosion has taken its toll."
Congressman Saxton, a 12-term Member of the House of Representatives, has represented the Third District of New Jersey in Congress since 1984.
Saxton added funding for the first main phase of the construction, $5 million, in the 2006 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act. In 2000, Saxton made sure that the federal government would pay 65 percent of the cost of the LBI project, one of the last in the country at that favorable rate. Due to budgetary reasons, future construction projects are unlikely, and are also expected to be funded as low as 35 percent by the federal government.
LBI was hit by a series of powerful storms in 1991 and 1992. Between 1994 and 2003, Saxton was able to obtain about $3 million in engineering funds for the LBI project, and $1.75 million for construction in 2004 and 2005. In 2005, Saxton obtained the $5 million for the LBI project in the fiscal year 2006 House budget, and then. Sen. Corzine helped add the funds in the Senate. |
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