[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 170 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S16348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1996

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, the Transportation appropriations bill 
for fiscal year 1996 which the Senate will consider and pass today is 
of vital importance to the State of New Jersey. As the most populated 
State in the Nation, efficient and effective transportation is critical 
to the economic well-being of my State.
  This year's Transportation appropriations bill provides more than 
$650 million in transportation investment to my State. This investment 
provides good paying jobs in the short term and in the long term will 
create and maintain the infrastructure that New Jersey needs to attract 
and keep a strong work force.
  Mr. President, I would like to highlight some of the important 
provisions in this year's bill which I was able to secure for the 
Garden State.
  Transit is an intricate part of northern New Jersey's transportation 
plan. The single largest component of New Jersey's transit initiatives 
is the urban core. I appreciate the cooperation that I received from 
Chairman Hatfield on funding the Secaucus transfer portion of New 
Jersey's urban core at $80.25 million. Once completed the Secaucus 
transfer will link the Bergen and Mainlines to the northeast corridor, 
providing access to Newark and midtown Manhattan for Bergen County 
residents. To date I have secured a total of $436 million for urban 
core projects.
  In addition to the urban core and transit formula assistance, New 
Jersey will be receiving $12.5 million to begin construction of the 
Hamilton Intermodal Facility, $1.15 million to develop a park-n-ride 
facility on the Garden State Parkway at interchange 165 and $3 million 
to support the National Transit Institute at Rutgers.
  While this bill will provide New Jersey drivers with transit 
alternatives, it also recognizes that cars will continue to play a 
major role in travel within the State. Total highway program spending 
in the bill amounts to $19.9 billion, an increase of $454 million over 
last year, and nearly 96 percent of the ISTEA authorization. New Jersey 
should expect to receive some $500 million in formula highway 
assistance as a result of this funding level.
  To make roads in New Jersey as productive as possible this year's 
bill includes $1.5 million for TRANSCOM. TRANSCOM is a consortium of 15 
transportation and public safety agencies in New Jersey, New York, and 
Connecticut. Over half of the congestion on my region's roadways is due 
to traffic incidents and it is TRANSCOM's mission to improve 
interagency response to such incidents. The funding will be used by 
TRANSCOM to build upon existing programs to provide the region's 
transportation agencies with the tools necessary to strengthen their 
transportation management activities and their delivery of services to 
the traveling public.
  Mr. President, on March 23, 1994, shortly before midnight, a 36-inch-
diameter pipeline ruptured catastrophically in Edison Township, NJ. The 
explosion and fire eventually destroyed eight buildings in the Durham 
Woods apartment complex. An estimated 2,000 residents were displaced 
due to the explosion. It was only through the diligent and heroic 
efforts on the part of numerous local and State agencies that the 
pipeline explosion did not cause numerous fatalities. This year's bill 
includes $28.75 million to allow the office of pipeline safety to 
aggressively prevent another Edison from ever happening again.
  In addition to the funding this bill provides to New Jersey, it also 
includes other bill and report language of interest to my constituents.
  The legislation before us today honors one of the great statesmen of 
New Jersey, former Congressman Bill Hughes. Renaming the FAA Tech 
Center the William J. Hughes Technical Center is a deserved tribute to 
Bill. It is a fitting show of appreciation for his hard work on behalf 
of the people of the Second District and the State of New Jersey.
  Mr. President, included in this year's committee report is language 
which continues to direct the FAA to withhold Federal funding from 
runaway expansion at Princeton Airport until an environmental 
assessment is completed, and community involvement is certified by 
Secretary of Transportation Pena. This is not just an air noise issue. 
It is a quality of life issue. I am hopeful that we can continue to 
operate the Princeton Airport in a manner that is compatible with 
community needs.
  The coast of New Jersey is the State's recreational and economic 
jewel. A provision in this year's bill prohibits the Coast Guard from 
closing any multimission small boat units. The Coast Guard had 
recommended closing a number of its rescue stations, including four in 
New Jersey-Shark River, Townsend Inlet, Salem, and Great Egg.
  Mr. President, having better, more efficient transit systems and 
roads will improve the quality of life for thousands of commuter on a 
daily basis. I am glad that as ranking minority member of this 
Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee I was able to secure this 
funding, as well as the bill and report language for New Jersey.

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