U.S. Sens. Bob Menendez and Cory Booker are vowing to fight for billions of dollars
more in funding for infrastructure projects in what's being considered a
historic infrastructure plan for the state.
Their plan is being described as
the nation's largest, single federal infrastructure investment in nearly a
century.
"This is a major moment in
American history,” says Sen. Booker. “You may not see it that way but like days
of old when we had a vision for air travel and the federal government made
massive investments in airports across this country. This is like years
ago."
It's a $17 billion, five-year
capital plan that includes advancing the yearslong Gateway project,
moving to a zero-emissions bus fleet, modernizing old train stations, rail bridges
and more.
"For several generations
now, we have done nothing to improve or build upon or even to a large degree to
maintain that infrastructure and as the chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, I can tell you we cannot compete with countries like China
and succeed in the global economy if we do not start making bold and strategic
investments in our workforce and infrastructure,” says Sen. Menendez.
State Department of
Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti describes the funding as
the one-two punch transportation needs. New Jersey Transit CEO
Kevin Corbett says it's critical.
The $17 billion is hoped to be
more of a long-term solution on top of President Joe Biden's $2 trillion
American Rescue Plan.