Washington D.C. – Yesterday, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) convened a bipartisan group of leaders from across New Jersey to urge the reinstatement of funding for the Gateway Project.

Participants of the conversation included:

• Congressman Robert Menendez (NJ-08) 
• Congresswoman Nellie Pou (NJ-09) 
• Mayor Jason Cilento, Dunnellen 
• Mayor Janice Kovach, Clinton 
• Mayor Colleen Mahr, Fanwood 
• Mayor Nick Carra, Raritan  
• Mayor Kathleen Prunty, Cranford 
• Somerset Commissioner and Deputy Director, Melanie Marano
• Mike Hellstrom, International Vice President & Eastern Regional Manager, LiUNA

“This isn’t a Democratic or Republican project, it’s one that helps all New Jerseyans, and it’s why we’ve come together to call for this funding to be reinstated immediately,” said Senator Andy Kim. “The consequences of canceling this project are bigger than partisanship; and we’ll keep fighting together to get people back to work and fix our broken transit systems.”

“We have made real progress on Gateway, with major milestones reached on schedule and on budget,” said Congressman Rob Menendez. “Yet the Trump Administration wants to terminate good-paying jobs and turn back the clock on our region’s growth. We won’t let that happen. I’m proud to stand with Senator Kim, Congresswoman Pou, and our local leaders to defend this bipartisan project and deliver the safe, reliable, modern transit our communities deserve.”

“Gateway isn’t just a tunnel, but a lifeline for New Jersey,” said Congresswoman Nellie Pou. “The project will increase safety, it will reduce congestion, and it will solidify the economic backbone of the entire Northeast region. Gateway will also provide good-paying jobs, including for our building trades. We will keep fighting to move this project forward toward completion.”

“The potential termination of the Gateway Tunnel project directly harms Raritan Boro’s economic development efforts. Years of planning have focused on building up the area around our train station and the town has been working to connect the station to our main street to help support our family-owned small businesses,” said Raritan Mayor, Nicolas Carra. “This also harms our ability to attract new young families who look to purchase a home or rent in Raritan and may work across the Hudson River. Lastly, being in my late 20’s I have seen family and friends in my age group who are choosing to live closer to the city and leave their childhood town because of the inconvenience of traveling four hours round trip for work.”

“The Gateway Tunnel is a critical artery for New Jersey, connecting communities like Clinton to opportunity and growth. Delays in this project stifle economic progress, prolong commuter hardships, and hinder job creation, threatening the prosperity and connectivity our region desperately needs,” said Clinton Mayor, Janice Kovach.

“Republican, Democrat, or Independent, mayors have to be pragmatic leaders. We don’t have time for partisan politics when our residents expect us to get the job done,” said Dunellen Mayor, Jason Cilento. “Our communities deserve clarity on the future of the Gateway Tunnel. In Dunellen, a designated Transit Village, more than $270 million has been invested in housing, mixed-use, and commercial projects around our train station because the Raritan Valley Line is one of our greatest assets. That investment represents hope and confidence in the line’s future. Delaying or denying support for Gateway and regional rail threatens not only that progress, but the economic revival of Main Streets across towns like ours, and the property values that so many families have invested their life savings in.”

“We stand united in our opposition to any attempt to defund, delay or terminate the Gateway Program. Gateway is not just a Manhattan project, it’s a New Jersey project, it’s a Raritan Valley Line project and it’s the single most important investment we can make to secure the future of our communities. Our residents are the actual backbone of this region’s workforce who already pay the price with the constant stress of aging, fragile system of rail tunnels beneath the Hudson River. Gateway is not just a construction project it’s a promise of safety, economic stability and basic dignity for millions who rely on this critical corridor to get to work, care for their families and keep our regional economy moving,” said the RVLMA in a joint statement.

“Now is not the time to play around with the 200,000 rail passengers who rely on our Trans-Hudson rail tunnel each day. It is not the time to risk our safety and our economic health by relying on a 114-year old piece of aging infrastructure. And, most certainly, now is not the time to play around with people’s livelihoods and the ability to put food on the table and care for their families,” said Michael E. Hellstrom, International Vice President & Eastern Regional Manager, LiUNA. “The Gateway Program needs neither new funding nor approvals. It is a job in progress and should not be stopped for political gamesmanship. We need to put more Americans to work building the safe, modern, and efficient transportation system that this country needs and deserves.”

This meeting comes after the recent surprise announcement by President Trump officially terminating the $18 billion in funding needed forThe Gateway Project, a long-term transit development project that was set to modernize the Tri-State area’s transit infrastructure. Senator Kim lead a joint statement opposing this announcement, as this would cancel all improvements and upgrades, as well as cancel the plans to create a new tunnel that would have added another commuter option into Manhattan for New Jersey commuters and would ease the burden and commute times of those traveling in and out of New Jersey. Senator Kim also put out a joint statement with Senator Cory Booker(D-NJ).

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