NJBIA Statement on Federal Funding for Portal Bridge Replacement

NJBIA President and CEO Michele N. Siekerka, Esq., issued the following statement in response to today’s press conference in Secaucus discussing funding for the Portal Bridge replacement.

“NJBIA echoes the calls from Governor Murphy and our Congressional and Legislative leadership today for federal funding for the Portal Bridge replacement.

“This 110-year-old structure carries some 450 trains a day as part of the busiest rail hub in the Western Hemisphere. Its frequent closures and crippling delays only serve as a daunting reminder that the clock is ticking on this critical piece of infrastructure.

“We have long maintained that the bridge, as part of the Gateway Tunnel system, is a federal asset, not just a local project serving local transit riders. The bridge and the entire tunnel system represent the most crucial viaduct in the Northeast Corridor, which represents 30% of all jobs in the United States and contributes $3 trillion to our nation’s economy every year.

“The demands on this transportation system will only expand with the growth of Hudson, Bergen and Union counties and the entire New York metropolitan region. It is incumbent upon our federal leadership to recognize that safe, reliable and modern infrastructure is available to our commuters, residents and travelers to live up to those demands.”