Transportation

Recognizing that an adequate transportation network is vital to our national and local economy, I continue to work to secure annual Federal funding for vital public transportation, rail, and road efforts.  Northern New Jersey is our nation’s most densely populated state. I understand the importance of reducing congestion, making travel more efficient, and protecting our environment.

Congress is currently working on a multi-year Surface Transportation Reauthorization that would provide significant resources and allow for longer-term planning for local projects and critical infrastructure improvements to our nation’s highways, rail lines, and transit operations.

Rodney’s key mass transportation initiatives include:

• Lackawanna “Cutoff”-Northwest NJ-Northeast PA Passenger Rail Project - an ongoing effort to relieve congestion for commuters traveling to and from eastern Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey by reestablishing passenger rail service between Scranton and Hoboken.
• The establishment of Midtown Direct Service in 1996– direct service on the Morris & Essex and Montclair-Boonton transit lines to and from Penn Station, New York, as well as the modernization of stations and trains along these lines.
• Improving commuter access to Midtown Manhattan.
• Establishment and expansion of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail in 2000 - a seven-station light rail project that serves Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City and West New York.
• Newark-Elizabeth Rail Link in 2006- an 8.8 mile light rail system that connects the Newark City Subway with downtown Newark and Elizabeth as well as provide a connection for Morris/Essex and Boonton NJ Transit line commuters.
• Improvements to Amtrak – Congress passed legislation providing $1.6 billion for Amtrak for the current Fiscal Year, while including provisions to improve its operations and efficiency.  Congress is also looking to open the Northeast Corridor to private investment, while increasing safety in passenger and freight trains, and improving accountability of the rail sector.

Rodney has also worked to reduce road congestion supporting:

• Mount Arlington Station and the Howard Boulevard “Park and Ride” – Working with the Morris County Freeholders to open a highway intercept, regional Park & Ride, and NJ Transit station designed to alleviate congestion at a critical intersection of Routes 80 and 15.  It opened in January of 2008.
• Route 22 Sustainable Corridor Plan – Working with the Somerset County Freeholders and Somerset County Business Partnership to establish a long-term vision for the 8-mile stretch of Route 22 in Somerset County to improve traffic safety and manage congestion.
• New Jersey Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) – used to transport the general public from urban, suburban, and rural areas to suburban employment opportunities.