Governor Corzine, Commissioner Dilts applaud transportation project approval

NJTPA action will enable New Jersey to expedite infrastructure improvement

(Trenton)—Governor Jon S. Corzine and Transportation Commissioner Stephen Dilts today applauded the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) for its approval of the State of New Jersey’s use of $628 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for highway, bridge and transit improvements throughout northern New Jersey. NJTPA also approved the use of $124 million for county and municipal projects located in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties.

“Today’s action will enable New Jersey to expedite the delivery of critical northern New Jersey transportation projects, thus improving the condition of our aging infrastructure while creating and supporting jobs for New Jersey residents,” said Governor Jon S. Corzine. "I commend the NJTPA for quickly approving the State of New Jersey’s plans to mitigate the impacts of the national recovery by committing stimulus funding to accelerated highway, bridge and transit projects.”

Governor Corzine on March 6 released a list of proposed New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and NJ TRANSIT projects to be funded through the ARRA. NJTPA today approved the proposed projects located in the State’s 13 northern counties. The approval of the projects will enable the State of New Jersey to move forward on the delivery of 46 highway, bridge and transit projects in northern New Jersey.

“The State of New Jersey is ready to start these critical transportation projects, which will create jobs and improve our infrastructure,” said Commissioner Dilts, who is a member of the NJTPA Board. “I commend the NJTPA for its swift action on this issue. We look forward to working with our federal partners and the NJTPA to quickly move forward on these infrastructure improvements.”

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 statewide transportation allocation includes $652 million for highways and bridges and approximately $424 million for transit. That total includes approximately $162 million for county and local transportation priorities and approximately $19.5 million for transportation enhancement projects.

NJDOT selected these projects based on regional balance as well as each project's readiness to start construction, design or right-of-way acquisition. The projects were required to be within the federal highway aid system. NJDOT plans to obligate all of this funding by early summer 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.

The list of transportation projects that NJTPA approved today.

For more information on ARRA, visit Governor Corzine’s Economic Recovery Web Site at www.recovery.nj.gov