Governor Corzine announces $894 million in New Jersey Transportation Projects

Governor Corzine announces $894 million
in New Jersey Transportation Projects

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will improve infrastructure, create jobs

(Trenton) – Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced the State of New Jersey will invest $894 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for critical highway and transit projects statewide.

“The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will enable New Jersey to accelerate long-needed infrastructure projects, providing jobs for thousands of residents and improving commerce, safety, and quality of life,” said Governor Jon S. Corzine. “Through the flow of funds to projects that can start in a matter of weeks, the federal stimulus package will reinvigorate New Jersey’s economy and mitigate the impacts of the national recession.”

The ARRA will stimulate New Jersey's economy by creating or supporting thousands of transportation-related jobs and making long-term improvements to roads, bridges and the transit system. New Jersey’s transportation allocation includes $652 million for highways and bridges and approximately $425 million for transit. That total includes approximately $162 million for county and local transportation priorities and approximately $19.5 million for transportation enhancement projects.

“New Jersey’s economy depends on transportation and these new funds we provided in the recovery package will create good-paying jobs, expand our railways, repair our roads and break ground on major public works projects, such as the new Hudson River rail tunnel,” said Senator Frank R. Lautenberg. “Not only does this package serve as an engine for job creation, but these investments will pay off in the years to come by reducing congestion on our roads and providing new, energy-efficient options for travelers. Together, these investments will help jumpstart New Jersey’s economy and help create a 21st-century transportation system.”

“The economic recovery package is more than a theory, it’s a package of very real projects and programs with the capability to make a real difference in people’s lives,” said Senator Robert Menendez. “These projects represent the first wave of measures we are delivering to the state to stimulate the economy. They will get under way quickly, putting people to work, constructing necessary upgrades to our infrastructure, allowing people to commute more efficiently and helping break the shackles of foreign oil.

“We will continue working with President Obama to help lay the foundation for a new economy in which middle class families are able to thrive.”

The New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) $469 million in ARRA funding will address the needs of aging bridges by replacing movable bridges, rehabilitating bridge decks and beams, and other bridge maintenance. In addition, NJDOT will use federal stimulus funding to reconstruct and resurface highways and improve drainage systems and highway safety.

NJDOT selected these projects based on regional balance as well as each project's readiness to start construction, design or right-of-way acquisition, and were required to be within the federal highway aid system. NJDOT plans to obligate all of this funding in the next 120 days and to complete most of its stimulus-funded work within one year.

NJ TRANSIT is prepared to advance or accelerate $424 million in key capital projects throughout the state with ARRA funding. These projects include key maintenance initiatives as well as long-term improvements. Stimulus funds will be devoted to signal and track improvement projects, park and rides and station facilities, and the Mass Transit Tunnel.

New Jersey will receive an estimated $17.4 billion in total benefit from the federal stimulus program, including $7.2 billion in tax cuts that will provide relief to more than 3.5 million taxpayers in New Jersey. The stimulus package also contains much-needed assistance for the growing burden on state Unemployment Insurance funds as well as other social safety net programs. In order to ensure accountability and transparency in the allocation of the federal stimulus, Governor Corzine recently created a group that will oversee the execution and implementation of the $787 billion in ARRA funds in New Jersey.

A complete list of NJDOT projects (pdf 59k) selected for ARRA funding is available for viewing.

A complete list of NJ TRANSIT projects (pdf 57k) selected for ARRA funding is available for viewing.

For additional information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, visit the following sites: