Gottheimer says he is eager to work with U.S. Secretary of Transportation-designee Pete Buttigieg

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement on President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination of Pete Buttigieg to be U.S. Secretary of Transportation:

“Congratulations to Pete Buttigieg for his nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation. Through his past experience as a city mayor and his work to transform South Bend, Indiana, he knows how vital investment in improving infrastructure and transportation can be for regional economies.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the Department of Transportation to push the Gateway Project forward — our nation’s most critical infrastructure project. While the current Administration upgraded the rating of the Portal Bridge, the Department of Transportation has refused to update their rating on the Gateway plan to replace the century-old tunnels beneath the Hudson River, which has stopped this part of the project from moving forward.

“We know that infrastructure investment can provide one of the best returns on investment. We know that many commuters depend on these tunnels to get to work, so they can provide for their families. We know that if one of the tunnels were to crumble, it could cost the regional economy $100 million a day.

“Here in the greatest country in the world, every level of government has the responsibility to do whatever we can to invest in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. I look forward to working alongside the Department of Transportation to address these issues and help make New Jersey an even greater and safer place to live and do business.”