HUDSON COUNTY — Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg blasted Congressional Republicans on Friday, saying they had cut over $50 million in federal grants that were marked to come to New Jersey for four transportation and infrastructure projects – including work on a replaced rail bridge in Secaucus, a traffic reduction project in Bergen and Hudson Counties, and a huge redevelopment project in Jersey City.
The cuts came as part of the House of Representatives’ version of the “Continuing Resolution (CR)” to fund the government for Fiscal Year 2011, Lautenberg said. The bill was approved in the House last week, and the Senate is now working on its own version of the budget.
According to a release, four New Jersey projects that have already been awarded federal grants would nonetheless lose their federal funding because it has not been obligated or spent yet. These funds were awarded by the Department of Transportation on a competitive basis.
According to Lautenberg’s office, the funds to be cut are:
“$38.5 Million for Portal Bridge replacement work: The House-passed budget eliminates $38.5 million to help New Jersey complete the final design for a new rail bridge over the Hackensack River between Kearny and Secaucus. The new Portal Bridge is critical to help improve the reliability of Amtrak and NJ Transit trains and reduce wait times for commuters.
$10 Million to Reduce Traffic Congestion in Bergen and Hudson Counties: The House-passed budget eliminates $10 million to improve traffic flows in Bergen and Hudson Counties along U.S. Routes 1&9 and 46 and state Routes 7, 17 and 120.
$2.5 Million for New Jersey Transit to Improve Energy Efficiency: The House-passed budget eliminates $2.5 million for NJ Transit to make capital improvements and install energy-efficient electric rail switch heaters.
$1.9 Million for Jersey City Redevelopment: The House-passed budget cuts $1.9 million from a project to transform a formerly contaminated, industrial 111-acre site with little prospect for redevelopment into a thriving neighborhood. The Canal Crossing redevelopment would better link residents with transportation, housing, and employment.”