Lawmakers in Washington are scheduled
to vote today on a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.
The bill passed in the
Senate last month, and now House members are expected to vote. But Democratic
infighting may prevent a vote today.
This is money that will help get
the Gateway Tunnel project under the Hudson River started, which is designed to
carry Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains to and from New York's Penn Station,
allowing the existing tubes to be closed to repair damage caused by Superstorm
Sandy.
There
also would be $1 billion to tear down or cover highways built through largely
minority communities, such as Interstate 280.
Here’s the breakdown:
• $6.8 billion for
highways.
• $1.1 billion for
bridges.
• $4.1 billion for
public transit.
• $100 million to
improve broadband access.
• $21 billion to clean
up gas wells, Superfund sites, and abandoned mines.
• $55 billion for a
nationwide investment to eliminate lead service lines.
Some specific projects will include
$72 million to help complete the $900 million project connecting I-295, I-76 and
Route 42 in Camden County.
Amtrak would get $12 billion for
new intercity rail service, including plans to connect Scranton, Reading,
and Allentown, Pennsylvania to New York, which could take a lot of cars
off of New Jersey roadways in the future.