In his latest op-ed in NJ.com, NJBIA Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer Ray Cantor wrote of the importance of improving and increasing freight rail transportation for the good of New Jersey’s economy.
Cantor’s comments came after recently joining rail advocates in Washington, D.C. for Railroad Day on Capitol Hill.
"For a state as small as New Jersey, rail plays an outsized role in our economy," Cantor wrote. "We are the most densely rail-connected state in the nation, served by 19 freight railroads that connect our ports, manufacturers, warehouses, and distribution centers to markets across North America.
"Those connections are not just convenient — they are critical to how goods move efficiently in and out of the Garden State.
"When freight can move efficiently by train—whether it’s construction materials, consumer goods or food products—transportation costs remain lower throughout the supply chain. That helps stabilize prices for businesses and consumers," Cantor wrote.
The most recent surface transportation was included in the broad Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. However, it expires on Sept. 30.
Cantor recommended rail to be an important component of these reauthorizations to provide states with long-term certainty needed to plan and execute surface transportation infrastructure projects.
"As Congress prepares the next surface transportation reauthorization policymakers should recognize these differences and adopt policies that strengthen rail’s role in the freight network," Cantor wrote.
"That means modernizing permitting processes so rail infrastructure improvements can move forward more efficiently. It also means encouraging innovation—allowing railroads to deploy advanced inspection technology, automation, and data-driven tools that enhance both safety and efficiency."
To see Cantor's full op-ed, click here.
