Jul 25, 2024
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With the Return of the “Summer of Hell,” Gottheimer Convenes Local Business Leaders, Union Leaders, and Local Elected Officials to Discuss Improving North Jersey’s Crumbling Infrastructure
Aug 08, 2018
Press
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| Above: Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) convenes local business leaders, union leaders, and local elected officials at the IBEW Local 164 Meeting Hall. Left to right: Nat Bottigheimer, Mike Schneider, Congressman Josh Gottheimer, Joseph Sanzari, Lisa Chowansky, Margot Chowansky, Senator Paul Sarlo |
On August 8, 2018, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) convened local business leaders, union leaders, and local elected officials for a roundtable on the problems currently stalling progress on critical infrastructure projects including the Gateway Project and improvements to NJ Transit. Today’s event comes after dozens of train cancellations in recent weeks by NJ Transit due to engineer staff shortages, leaving commuters waiting and costing local businesses.
At the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 164 Meeting Hall in Paramus, the group discussed the Gateway Project, issues they were seeing on the ground, the infrastructure projects in critical need of investment, the factors getting in the way of progress, and the ramifications of this lack of progress for local workers, businesses, and the New Jersey economy.
In Congress, Gottheimer was been focused on improving North Jersey’s roads, rails, bridges, and roads, including through his Fixing the Fifth Infrastructure Repair Plan to boost North Jersey’s return on the tax dollars it already sends to Washington; his bipartisan Get on Board to Fix the Tunnel Act to force the Administration to get involved again with the Gateway Program Development Corporation, his infrastructure plan with his fellow members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus to increase public-private partnerships, and his bipartisan FRA Safety Data Improvement Act, which brings consistency and the power of big data to help improve rail safety and which unanimously passed the House back in April.
“Good infrastructure is at the core of our economy’s success, and infrastructure investment is one of the greatest economic multipliers there is. Nowhere is that more true than in New Jersey, where we are second in the nation, percentage-wise, of commuters who rely on public transit. Yet, over the last year, NJ Transit has had more train breakdowns than any other commuter railroad in American, and we’ve seen projects like the critical Gateway Project suffer bureaucratic barriers, a lack of investment, or delays. If the Hudson River tunnels fail in the next few years and have to come offline, the U.S. economy would lose $100 million per day,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Thank you everyone who joined me today to discuss the importance on breaking through the gridlock to actually make progress and begin investing in our crumbling roads, rails, and bridges. Having all stakeholders at the table is critical to moving forward. If we make these necessary improvements in New Jersey to our roads, bridges, and tunnels, and cut our taxes and unnecessary regulations, we will have the competitive advantage and entice more jobs and businesses to come, not just to our country, but to our state and do business with us.”
“The only way to get things done is by labor, business, and government working together. If we separate ourselves, nothing is going to get done,” said Bergen County BCTC President Rick Sabato.
Attendees discussed how both sides of the aisle can work together to tackle our nation’s infrastructure challenges. At the roundtable, Gottheimer was joined by:
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