City of Elizabeth Wins A $5 Million Federal

Transportation Grant

The federal Department of Transportation released the full list of Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program grant recipients on Aug. 11. Of the $2.2 billion the program had available this year, transit specific projects account for $476 million, or 22 percent of the 166 projects awarded funds. Congratulations to the City of Elizabeth for winning a $5 million dollar grant under this program.

These program’s grants will help urban and rural communities move forward on projects that modernize roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports and inter modal transportation and make our transportation systems safer, more accessible, more affordable, and more sustainable.

Proposed projects were evaluated based several criteria including safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, economic competitiveness and opportunity, partnership and collaboration, innovation, state of good repair and mobility and community connectivity.  Consideration was also given to how projects would improve accessibility for all travelers, improve supply chain efficiency, support racial equity and economic growth.

The City of Elizabeth will use these funds to pay for a planning study that will examine, identify and assess the feasibility of construction of a ferry terminal and incorporation of a ferry service from Elizabeth, NJ to Manhattan. The study will explore viable service locations along the waterfront, required infrastructure and supportive services. It will also include alternatives to promote energy efficiency and effectiveness.  The project will develop transportation options for commuters by providing a new ferry service connecting NYC and New Jersey. The project will also include electric vehicle infrastructure to assist in reducing emissions and congestion as a result of this new transportation option

Sincerely,

Larry Penner

Retired

Former Director

Federal Transit Administration

NY Region

Office of Operations and Program Management

(Larry Penner — transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office.  This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for NJ Transit, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, NYC Transit bus, subway and Staten Island Railway, Long Island and Metro North Rail Roads, MTA Bus, NYCDOT Staten Island Ferry along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ.).