U.S. commits $500 million to light rail The second phase of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit System will get a major boost in President Clinton's budget message today with a "full-funding commitment" for some $500 million.
At the same time, the budget message will also include $121 million for completion of the first phase, the largest single federally-funded transportation project in the budget, according to Rep. Robert Menendez, D-Union City. He is the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation Committee.
While the full-funding commitement for the second phase is short of an absolute guarantee of funding, it puts the light-rail project among one of only a dozen or so nationwide in a priority position, Menendez said.
"We still have to fight for annual appropriations," Menendez said, "but this will prioritize the project."
The first phase, running from 34th Street in Bayonne, through Jersey City to the Hoboken railroad terminal, is set to start operations soon. It cost $1.2 billion.
The second phase would go from Hoboken to the Vince Lombardi rest area on the New Jersey Turnpike in Ridgefield.
Menendez said a major reason the second phase of the light rail project is getting a funding commitement is that construction of the first phase has gone so well.
"We have the model for the country," he said. "We've been on time, under budget and, considering the scope of the project, it's been done with as little disruption as possible."
Also, he said, federal officials have been impressed with the ripple effect on the economy already being seen. Menendez said his discussions with financial firms indicate that several thousand jobs have been relocated or created in Hudson County in anticipation of light rail service.
The second phase of light rail can only expand the Hudson economic boom, he said. "It connects all of North Hudson and much of Bergen County to these opportunities."