Congressman Sires Leads a Letter from the New Jersey House Delegation to the Department of Transportation on Infrastructure Projects

(Washington, D.C.) – On Friday, Representative Albio Sires (D-NJ) led a letter from the New Jersey Delegation in the House of Representatives to Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao regarding infrastructure project grant applications. The letter asks after projects which have received funding from DOT in the past three years after being previously denied funding, and what the projects did to receive a DOT award.

“The Gateway Project, which is the most important infrastructure project on the East Coast, has spent years applying for federal grants. This important project is so massive and expensive that, without federal financial assistance, it is not possible for the State of New Jersey to complete it,” said Congressman Sires. “We have seen that previously-denied projects have been awarded grants by DOT after making changes to their applications. The New Jersey Delegation has taken notice and we would like to know what changes these project proposals made to ultimately get DOT grant approval. It is our hope that a timely response will help us refine our efforts to secure funding for the Gateway Project.”

“Gateway—the nation’s most pressing infrastructure project—should not be stuck languishing on a desk at the Department of Transportation. I am proud to stand with the New Jersey delegation in demanding answers from the Administration about its grant programs, and I will continue to fight for this critical project,” said Congressman Tom Malinowski (D-NJ).

“In New Jersey and across the country, critical infrastructure projects like Gateway are awaiting federal funding to move forward. These grants are vital to the communities they touch, jumpstarting local economies and creating jobs. We need transparency to ensure award winners are selected fairly and not based on political considerations,” said Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ).

“The Gateway Tunnel is essential to the economic vitality of the United States,” Congressman Pallone (D-NJ) said. “Further delay of funding that has already been allotted to modernize and repair the tunnel puts the safety of millions of commuters at risk. New Jerseyans deserve to know why the Trump Administration continues to delay this long overdue infrastructure project. It’s time the President uphold his financial commitment to this important project and allow the funding to move forward.”

“As a central economic artery for the Eastern Seaboard and by extension the entire United States, infrastructure projects are of the utmost importance to New Jersey, and first among them is Gateway,” said Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ). “Our economic future, and generations of millions of constituents now and in the future depend on the Gateway Tunnel getting built. Secretary Chao should provide us with this information so we can assess from prior successful project approvals exactly what can get USDOT moving and shovels into the dirt. Our future is in the balance.”

“The Hudson River Tunnel is a chokepoint for the financial center – and most productive region – of the United States,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ). “It is the most heavily trafficked piece of rail in the entire country and even a partial closure will suffocate our nation’s economy. It is astonishing, in light of the news and the urgent need for action, that the Department of Transportation is not doing more for the good of our entire country to move forward on the Gateway Project.”

The New Jersey Delegation to the House is dedicated to advancing the Gateway Project and will continue seeking ways to get the Project advanced. The Department of Transportation, which ultimately decides if and how federal grants are distributed for transit infrastructure projects, has a responsibility to work with Congress to get this done.