Long-Delayed Portal Bridge Now Eligible for Fed Funding

TRENTON, NJ—New Jersey federal lawmakers, as well as Gov. Phil Murphy and others hailed the US Department of Transportation’s announcement that the long-delayed Portal Bridge replacement project is now eligible for federal funding in the FY2021 budget.

The USDOT raised the rating of the Portal Bridge project to “medium-high,” which now makes the $1.7-billion project eligible for federal funding. The improved ranking, while praised by local officials, does not change the Trump administration’s stance on the stalled $11-billion Gateway Tunnel program, however.

The existing Portal North Bridge is more than a century old, is badly in need of repair and a major source of delays for New Jersey Transit and Amtrak trains running between New Jersey and New York. Trains crossing the bridge must slow down due to its weak structural integrity, and when it opens to allow boats to pass it sometimes fails to close, disrupting rail traffic up and down the northeast corridor.

“Since coming to Congress, I have had no higher priority than delivering the Portal North Bridge for my constituents,” said US Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ). “Relentless pressure from Congress has produced a major win for New Jersey commuters and I look forward to seeing work started soon.”

The House Democratic majority ensured that sufficient funding was included in the FY 2019 and 2020 appropriations bills to cover the first stage of the Portal North project.

“From day one, my administration has worked closely with our congressional delegation and Secretary Chao’s team to enhance this critical project that cannot wait another day—we have committed the entirety of New Jersey’s local share in the form of $600 million in EDA bonds, completed critical early construction work and developed shovel-ready plans for major construction,” said New Jersey Gov. Murphy. “Today’s decision by USDOT puts us one step closer toward our ultimate goal: replacing this unreliable, century-old bridge and reducing delays for NJ TRANSIT customers.”

Others that offered positive comments on the new FTA rating included chief officials with Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT. However, many officials also called for the federal government to commit to funding the much-needed Gateway Tunnel project.

Gateway Program Development Corporation Chairman Steven M. Cohen said, “We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Transportation has taken this major action toward funding the Portal North Bridge Project. Along with the Hudson Tunnel Project, the Portal North Bridge is a critical part of replacing a 109-year-old unreliable system. Now we need the new tunnel to also move forward to finally provide 21st Century rail transportation into and out of the nation’s economic heart.”

In 2019, GDC released a study that reported almost 2,000 hours of lost time for passengers due to major delays at Portal and the existing Hudson Tunnel.

“It’s long past time to replace these antiquated workhorses,” Cohen said.