ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 169

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: NOVEMBER 6, 1997

      The Assembly Transportation and Communications Committee reports favorably Assembly Resolution No. 169.

      This Assembly resolution memorializes the Congress of the United States to approve a project request, as part of the reauthorization of the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991, to support the efforts to enhance trans-harbor rail-freight float-barging operations throughout the Port of New York and New Jersey. The New York Cross Harbor Railroad (NYCHRR) has requested approval and funding of the "Rail Freight Initiative," to enhance the NYCHRR's operational infrastructure and to upgrade its operational equipment, in order to bolster its ability to facilitate interstate commerce in the port district.

      This "Rail Freight Initiative" would include a minimal expenditure of $4.75 million from the ISTEA reauthorization bill, with 80 percent of the estimated project cost coming from the federal government, and with the NYCHRR funding the remaining 20 percent. Of the $4.5 million total, $1.5 million will be used for improvements to the NYCHRR's Greenville Yards facilities in Jersey City, which will allow the NYCHRR to handle much higher volumes of rail freight, without cost to the State of New Jersey or the city of Jersey City. Congressional approval of the "Rail Freight Initiative" will serve to correct the current imbalance between regional truck freight and the use of rail and intermodal freight systems throughout the Port of New York and New Jersey, and promote the development of, and the investment in enhanced rail, intermodal and float-barging systems within the port district.