Robert Menendez

Menendez, Champion of Liberty Corridor Economic Development Plan, Hails NJPTA Authorization Of Funds

Menendez secured the $100 million in federal funding authorized for expenditure today

November 19, 2007

Washington - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez today applauded the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority for authorizing the expenditure of $100 million in federal funding for the Liberty Corridor transportation and economic development initiative - the beginning of what will hopefully be multiple rounds of federal funding. As a member of the House Transportation Committee, Senator Menendez had the Liberty Corridor designated as a transportation corridor of National and Regional Significance, and he secured the initial $100 million in federal funding.

"This project will be an economic, jobs and transportation engine for this area," said Sen. Menendez. "This is just the beginning, and the progress will become evident - it will help innovative companies get off the ground, thrive and move products throughout the state, across the country and around the world. Investing in Liberty Corridor is investing in the economic future of New Jersey, and the quality of life of all New Jerseyans. I am proud to have secured federal funding, and I am thrilled that the NJTPA has approved this portion for important transportation upgrades."

The projects announced today will help improve the flow of freight around the region, open up abandoned brownfields for redevelopment, and improve traffic conditions for hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans. They include a bus rapid transit line in Essex and Union counties, a raising of the overhead clearances on Conrail's National Docks Secondary Line in Hudson County and various other rail and road improvements.

After securing federal funds, Sen. Menendez worked with the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Liberty Corridor Advisory Board to select the ten projects and submit a final application to the Federal Highway Authority. Final Approval of the selected projects is expected by the beginning of next year.

The Liberty Corridor is an economic development strategy combining road and rail improvements to help move freight throughout the region, harbor and terminal improvements to keep Port Elizabeth and Port Newark as the top seaport on the east coast, new freight movement strategies to ease congestion on our roadways and improve the quality of our air, brownfields redevelopment to put abandoned industrial properties to more productive use, and incentives to spur the continued growth of New Jersey's research and development sector.

Geographically, the Liberty Corridor starts at the Port of New York and New Jersey and runs southwest across the state, encompassing all or parts of Hudson, Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Union, Somerset, and Middlesex counties.

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