Menendez Reacts to Trump Admin’s Latest Arbitrary, Irrational Attack on Gateway

NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, the ranking member of the Senate’s transit subcommittee, today reacted to the latest Federal Transit Administration (FTA) report giving the Portal Bridge and the Hudson River rail tunnel Gateway projects medium-low ratings, once again denying each federal funding:

“Today’s ludicrous decision by the FTA is as tied to reality as President Trump is tied to the truth.

“In fact, it’s just the latest Trumped-up excuse for this Administration to deny our region the vital funding we need to ensure the safety and reliability of a transportation lifeline for one-fifth of the entire U.S. economy.

“Let me be very clear: This President is playing politics with a transportation ticking time bomb.

“We will get Gateway done.  The commitment and resolve from our federal delegation and local partners are unwavering.  But we can get it done faster, cheaper and better for everyone with this President on board.  If President Trump wants to risk the century-old Portal Bridge someday never closing or one of the Hudson River rail tunnels failing due to another bad storm like Sandy—he alone will own it.”