FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FEBRUARY, 6 2019
CONTACT: BRIAN FRITSCH
(212) 420-6609, brian@rpa.org
LAUREN TSUBOYAMA (917) 546-4327 lauren@rpa.org
NEW YORK – The leaders of the Build Gateway Now Coalition today announced the addition of the Raritan Valley Line (RVL) Mayors Alliance to the Coalition. Formed in 2018, the Alliance is a bipartisan group of 30 mayors representing more than 23,500 daily commuters along the RVL, spanning four counties in New Jersey.
“We are thrilled to welcome the RVL Mayors Alliance to the Build Gateway Now Coalition. It is imperative that we continue to advocate for a positive Record of Decision on the Hudson Tunnel Project Environmental Impact Statement and full funding for Gateway from the Federal Government. Having the support of these 30 mayors is an incredible to boost to the Coalition, because they know what the impacts will be if we fail to get this done.” said Build Gateway Now Campaign Manager Brian Fritsch.
“The RVL Mayors Alliance has been very vocal in its support of Gateway, including both the Hudson Tunnel and Portal North Bridge projects,” said Alliance Co-chair Mayor Colleen Mahr of Fanwood, NJ. “There is no question about the urgency to fund and build these projects. The economy, safety and quality of life for millions of people are at risk. Service on the RVL is already difficult but the delays and cancellations caused by these antiquated tunnels and bridges make it worse.”
“There is tremendous transit-oriented development in towns on the RVL in anticipation of a 1-seat ride and efficient train service,” said Alliance Co-chair Mayor Robert Fazen of Bound Brook, NJ. “Without the improvements included in the Gateway program, the momentum we currently have would be destroyed.”
“Commuters cannot wait any longer for efficient and safe train service,” said Alliance Co-chair Mayor Shelley Brindle of Westfield, NJ. “The need for building a new trans-Hudson tunnel and Portal North Bridge are no longer open for debate. It is unreasonable to expect people to accept the current level of train service, especially RVL riders who don’t even have direct train service into New York Penn.”
The RVL Mayors Alliance is the 38th organization to join the Build Gateway Now Coalition, which was founded in 2018. The coalition is currently running a public petition to encourage relevant stakeholders to support the project.
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ABOUT BUILD GATEWAY NOW Build Gateway Now is a coalition of over 35 civic, labor and business leaders who know Gateway is a critical priority for the region and the nation’s economy. Learn more at www.buildgateway.org or follow us on Twitter @build_gateway.
Coalition members include: Regional Plan Association; ALM Consulting Group; Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU); Association for a Better New York (ABNY); Brookfield Properties; Central Jersey Transportation Forum; Duane Morris LLP; ELEC825; Environmental Defense Fund (EDF); Environment NJ; General Contractors Association (GCA); Housing Community Development Network of NJ; Lotus Equity Group; Menlo Realty Ventures; NAIOP New Jersey; Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC); New Jersey Future; New Jersey League of Conservation Voters (NJLCV); New Jersey Policy Perspective; New York Building Congress; New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV); Newark Alliance; NEWARK Community Economic Development Corporation; Newark Regional Business Partnership; Partnership for NYC; Princeton University; Riders Alliance; Siemens; Straphangers Campaign; Tantum Real Estate; The Durst Organization; The Related Companies; Tri-State Transportation Campaign; Two Trees; Utility & Transportation Contractors Association NJ (UTCA of NJ); Vornado Realty Trust; Yale University
ABOUT THE RARITAN VALLEY LINE MAYORS ALLIANCE
Raritan Valley Line Mayors Alliance is a bipartisan alliance of 30 mayors representing towns and commuters using the RVL. The alliance, first organized in 2018, spans four New Jersey counties and represents 23,500 daily commuters. The Alliance’s stated mission is to provide a 1-seat ride on RVL into NY Penn Station during peak, off peak hours and weekends. The alliance can be reached at rvlmayors@gmail.com or on Twitter @mayorsrvl.
Robert Fazen, Bound Brook; Anna Columbus, Branchburg; Daniel Hayes, Bridgewater; John Higgins, Clinton Township; Janice Kovach, Clinton; Patrick Giblin, Cranford; Robert Seader, Dunellen; Colleen Mahr, Fanwood; Sara Todisco, Garwood; Patrick Boccio, Green Brook Township; Michele Lee, High Bridge; Gloria McCauley, Hillsborough; Anthony DeLuca, Kenilworth; James Pittinger, Lebanon Borough; Mike Schmidt, Lebanon Township; Richard Oderko, Manville; Ron DiMura, Middlesex Borough; Brian Wahler, Piscataway; Adrian Mapp, Plainfield; Charles McMullin, Raritan Borough; Jeff Kuhl, Raritan Township; Betty Ann Fort, Readington; Joseph Signorello, Roselle Park; Al Smith, Scotch Plains; Dennis Sullivan, Somerville; Caryl Shoffner, South Bound Brook; Michele Delisfort, Union; Gary DiNardo, Warren; Keith Balla, Watchung; Shelley Brindle, Westfield
