FTA 02-03
Wednesday, January 15, 2003
Contact: Kristi Clemens
Tel. (202) 366-4043
Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces $54M in 9/11
Funding for Ferry Facilities in New York and New Jersey
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta today
announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will provide
approximately $54.8 million for ferry-related projects in the New York
City-Northern New Jersey metropolitan area to support the expansion of
interstate ferry services due to the loss of Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH)
train service between New Jersey and Lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001.
This funding for ferry-related projects supplements $100
million that was previously approved by FTA and distributed to the region for
emergency transit capital improvements, and is a part of President Bush’s $20
billion commitment to rebuild and revitalize Lower Manhattan.
“Under President Bush’s leadership, this administration
has made its commitment to the New York metropolitan area abundantly clear.
The delivery of this vital funding continues the recovery effort and
ensures that the resurgence of the New York metropolitan area continues to
progress quickly and effectively,” said Mineta.
“Today we are providing $54.8 million dollars in funding to support the
much needed expansion of interstate ferry services.”
“As a result of September 11th, transit
service was severely impacted, disrupting the daily commute of thousands of
people who lived, worked and visited one
of the largest employment and financial centers in the world. The economic
impact was enormous,” stated FTA Administrator Jennifer L. Dorn. “This
funding will expand and improve ferry service and go a long way towards
restoring the quality of life for all residents and commuters.”
The FTA will administer approximately $32.8 million in
funding for the following projects:
-
$19 million to New Jersey Transit toward the restoration of the historic
Hoboken, New Jersey Intermodal Ferry Terminal.
An interim pier currently serves over 24,000 daily ferry passengers;
-
$2.4 million to New Jersey Department of Transportation for
reconstructing the Sussex St. Pier, at Exchange Place in Jersey City, New
Jersey. A nearby interim pier
currently serves approximately 10,000 daily ferry passengers;
-
$11.4 million to the New York City Department of Transportation and
Economic Development Corporation toward the funding of a new West Midtown
Intermodal Ferry Terminal at West 38th Street in Manhattan.
The existing facility, which currently serves approximately 17,000 daily
ferry passengers, will be replaced.
The Federal Highway Administration will administer
approximately $22 million to assist in the financing of the following projects:
-
$19 million for replacing the Port Imperial Intermodal Ferry Terminal in
Weehawken (NJ), currently serving over 11,000 daily ferry passengers;
-
$3 million for the South Amboy (NJ) Intermodal Ferry Terminal.
A permanent terminal will replace a temporary facility erected shortly
after 9/11 that currently serves approximately 600 daily ferry passengers.
These projects will utilize a portion of the $100 million appropriated to the DOT in the Emergency Supplemental Act of 2002. FTA has been working closely with a bi-state, interagency task force, including the major regional agencies involved in ferry services, to identify and prioritize the funding decisions. The complexity of these projects required substantial coordination with the sponsoring agencies to finalize local decision-making and to ensure effective environmental stewardship. FTA will continue to work with the task force to distribute the remaining $45.2 million in funding for ferry-related projects.
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