Gov. Phil Murphy, during his COVID-19 briefing Monday, said the bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed late Friday night can be summed up in two words, “Game. Changer.”
Murphy said the bill sets up the long-awaited construction of the full Gateway Program of rail improvements leading to and from New York City, including the tunnel under the Hudson River, and that New Jersey will receive more than $12 billion for the state’s roads, bridges, tunnels and so much more.
Every member of New Jersey’s congressional delegation voted in support of the measure. The bipartisan legislation includes $110 billion for roads and bridges, $39 billion for public transit, $12.5 billion for electric vehicles and related infrastructure, $25 billion for airports, $55 billion for water and wastewater infrastructure, $65 billion for broadband internet, $65 billion for the electric grid and more.
There is no lack of need for roads or bridges under repair, mass transit networks, EV charging stations, improved internet connectivity and on and on. All of this is covered in this bill. In New Jersey, 502 bridges and nearly 4,000 miles of highway are in poor condition.
“These projects will create good jobs now and support good jobs for years to come. For a state like ours — which relies upon solid infrastructure like few others — this is fuel for our continued economic growth and security,” Murphy said.
The Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act includes historic investments for New Jersey, including:
- $7.9 billion to repair highways and roads;
- $4.1 billion to improve public transit infrastructure;
- $1 billion to improve water infrastructure, including ensuring drinking water is clean and safe;
- $727 million to improve airport infrastructure;
- $104 million to support the expansion of an EV charging network;
- $100 million to help provide broadband coverage;
- $17 million to protect against cyberattacks against vital infrastructure; and
- $15 million to protect against wildfires.
