Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2012

SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND URGE DEPT. OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND U.S. DOT TO EXPEDITIE BAYONNE BRIDGE ENIVORMENTAL REVIEW SO CONSTRUCTION CAN BEGIN

Bayonne Bridge Currently Too Low to Allow New Large Ships to Access the Port and Howland Hook; Port Authority Has Allocated Funds To Raise The Bridge But Can’t Proceed Until Environmental Review is Complete

Schumer, Gillibrand Today Urge Dept of Homeland Security and DOT To Expedite Review as Part of President Obama’s Recent Executive Order to Expedite Infrastructure Projects So Project May Get Under Away ASAP

Schumer and Gillibrand: Raising The Bayonne Bridge Is Essential For Staten Island Jobs and NY’s Port And We Need to Get Work Started Immediately

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand today urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to expedite the environmental review of Bayonne Bridge “Raise the Roadway Project” to allow the project to begin. Currently, the height of the bridge makes it difficult for larger ships to access the port, and to accommodate these larger ships, the Port Authority has been working to raise the Bayonne Bridge. While the Port Authority is ready to move forward with the project and has committed $1 billion in funding, work cannot begin until the environmental review process is complete. Schumer and Gillibrand today urged the DHS and the DOT to expedite review of the project under President Obama’s March 22^nd Executive Order on Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects so work can get under way ASAP.

“Raising the Bayonne Bridge is a perfect candidate for the fast-track approval process announced by President Obama. We know what we have to do and why we have to do it so let’s approve it ASAP, and let the workers roll-up their sleeves and get this essential project off the drawing board and into reality. Raising the Bayonne Bridge is essential if we are to keep the New York port the largest and busiest port on the East Coast,” said Schumer. “The port supports thousands of jobs on Staten Island at Howland Hook and beyond, and a quarter of a million throughout the region. That’s why I’m pushing for an expedited federal review of the bridge so construction can get underway as soon as possible.”

“It is critical that we move forward with the ‘Raise the Roadway Project’ in order to maintain New York as a global shipping hub. We must ensure that the container terminal remains a top employer on Staten Island and continues to support the many small businesses in the region,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

The Port of New York and New Jersey is a powerful economic engine for the region and especially for Staten Island, which hosts the Howland Hook terminal and a variety of related businesses. The New York Container Terminal(NYCT) at Howland Hook is one of the largest employers on Staten Island with over 500 jobs and over $170 million in annual revenue. Over the last six years, the PA has invested heavily in the facility, expanding the pier by 500 feet and dredging the approach channels to 41 feet. The PA investment in NYCT exceeds $250 million. Staten Island’s North Shore is also home to a vibrant maritime support industry including tugboat, drydock and supply companies whose livelihood depends on the timely completion of this project. As a whole, the Port of New York and New Jersey is the largest port on the East Coast, serving more than 35 percent of the country. It also supports more than 250,000 jobs in the region and nearly $37 billion in annual business income. While more than 12 percent of U.S. container traffic travels under the Bayonne Bridge, the current height of bridge prevents larger ships, including so-called “supertankers”, from travelling under it, and access will become even more difficult with the opening of the Panama Canal in 2014, which will allow larger ships to reach East Coast ports.

To accommodate these larger ships, the Port Authority has been working to raise the Bayonne Bridge. The Port Authority is ready to move forward with the project, and has committed $1 billion in funding. The Senate Commerce Committee recognized the importance of advancing this process in November 2011, when it approved Coast Guard authorization legislation for FY 2012 and 2013 that included language requiring the completion of a U.S. Coast Guard interagency administrative review of the project. But the project cannot progress until the environmental review process by the DHS and DOT is complete.

Senators Schumer and Gillibrand joined New Jersey Senators Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez today and called on the DHS and the DOT to approve the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s request for consideration of the Bayonne Bridge “Raise the Roadway” project for expedited review under President Obama’s March 22^nd Executive Order on Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects. That executive order requires agencies to make faster permitting and review decisions for vital infrastructure projects. Schumer said that this project should fall under the executive order so that this crucial project can begin as quickly as possible.

A copy of Schumer and Gillibrand’s letter is below.

The Honorable Janet Napolitano The Honorable Ray LaHood

Secretary Secretary

U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Transportation

Washington, D.C. 20528 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE

Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Secretary Napolitano and Secretary LaHood:

We write in strong support of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s request for consideration of the Bayonne Bridge “Raise the Roadway” project for expedited review under President Obama’s March 22^nd Executive Order on Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects. This project is of critical importance to the economy of our region and merits your consideration for inclusion on the Federal Infrastructure Dashboard.

The Port of New York and New Jersey is a powerful economic engine for the region. It is the largest port on the East Coast, serving more than 35 percent of the country. It also supports more than 250,000 jobs in the region and nearly $37 billion in annual business income.

However, the height of the Bayonne Bridge impedes access to the port. While more than 12 percent of U.S. container traffic travels under the Bayonne Bridge, the height of the bridge makes it difficult for larger ships to access the port. This access will become even more difficult with the opening of the Panama Canal in 2014, which will allow larger ships to reach East Coast ports.

To accommodate these larger ships, the Port Authority has been working to raise the Bayonne Bridge. The Port Authority is ready to move forward with the project, and has committed $1 billion in funding, but cannot progress until the environmental review process is complete. The Senate Commerce Committee recognized the importance of advancing this process in November 2011, when it approved Coast Guard authorization legislation for FY 2012 and 2013 that included language requiring the completion of a U.S. Coast Guard interagency administrative review of the project.

We believe that every effort should be made to ensure the environmental soundness of this project while expediting administrative review. Accordingly, we ask that you include the nationally and regionally significant Bayonne Bridge project in the Federal Infrastructure Dashboard pursuant to the Executive Order.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

###

Resource Center