Sens. Lautenberg, Menendez Announce $4.3 Million In Federal Funding to Improve Highway Safety, Conduct Transportation Researc

Grants Can Help Reduce Highway Deaths, Improve Access to Mass Transit

May 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded more than $4.3 million in new federal funding to both the City of Trenton and Rutgers University for highway safety programs and new research on public transportation. The City of Trenton’s funding will support highway safety programs in Trenton and Mercer County and Rutgers’ funding will support mass transit research, including studies of rail station access shuttles, transit-supportive residential development and the impact of low-cost bus service.

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“This funding helps keep people safe on our roads while improving mass transit options,” Sen. Lautenberg said. “These grants can help us reduce injuries and deaths on the highways while enhancing our public transportation systems.”

“Safe, efficient and modern transportation systems are crucial to our families’ well-being and our economic competitiveness,” Sen. Menendez said. “Highway safety is an important family safety issue, and investments like this can help save lives. Public transportation in our state helps commuters save time and money, and it also helps lay the foundation for a stronger 21st Century economy, which is why this investment is crucial.”

The $4,352,904 in grant funding is allocated as follows:

City of Trenton

* $3,090,568 for targeted highway safety programs

* $737,186 for research to reduce death and injury among unrestrained or improperly restrained motorists

There were more than 263,000 accidents on New Jersey interstate highways and toll roads in 2007, with 645 fatalities and nearly 66,000 resulting in injury, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Rutgers

* $525,150 to continue funding for research into public transportation

In 2008, Americans took 10.7 billion trips on public transportation, the highest level of ridership in 52 years.

Source: Senator Frank R. Lautenberg