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The Source for Public Transportation News and Analysis June 14, 2013
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Public Transit Pays Final Respects to the Late Sen. Lautenberg

Public transit leaders nationwide paid a final tribute to the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), one of the country’s strongest advocates for public transportation, at a special ceremony June 5 at the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) commuter rail station in Secaucus, NJ, that bears his name. Lautenberg died June 3 at the age of 89.

New Jersey political and public transit leaders gathered at the Frank R. Lautenberg Rail Station at Secaucus Junction, a major hub and transfer point for NJ Transit trains, to honor the senator’s transportation legacy. The station was named in the senator’s honor in 2003 after he helped secure its funding.

Following the ceremony, Lautenberg’s casket was transferred to an Amtrak train to Washington, DC, where his body lay in repose inside the U.S. Senate Chamber. Lautenberg, the last surviving veteran of World War II in the Senate, was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

“Sen. Frank Lautenberg was a strong advocate for public transportation, not only in New Jersey, but nationwide,” said APTA Chair Flora Castillo, NJ Transit board member. “We mourn the passing of a great leader. His leadership in advancing public transportation and intercity rail will be sorely missed,” she added.

“On behalf of the 1,500 APTA members and the millions of Americans who take public transportation in the United States, I want to express our deep appreciation for Sen. Lautenberg’s contributions to public transportation,” said APTA President & CEO Michael
Melaniphy. “Public transit and passenger rail has not had a stronger champion in Congress over the past 30 years.” APTA honored Lautenberg in 1994 with its National Distinguished Service Award.

James Weinstein, NJ Transit executive director and former state transportation commissioner, said: “It’s appropriate that his last trip is a trip from a station that he helped get funding for. This is a testament to what a giant he was.”

Bud Wright, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, said Lautenberg will be missed on Capitol Hill. “His tireless work on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Environment and Public
Works committees will be missed,” he noted.

Lautenberg is credited with writing legislation that created the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, boosted rail safety, and rescued Amtrak. He was a member of transportation-related subcommittees of the both the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee and chaired the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) will replace Lautenberg as chair of the subcommittee, announced Sen. Jay Rockefeller
(D-WV), committee chair. The subcommittee focuses on safety, security, and infrastructure on roads, rail lines, and ports.

“This subcommittee chairmanship will provide access to additional expertise and resources so we can move forward on a responsible plan to leverage private investment in building out our road and rail networks, ports, and other
public infrastructure priorities,” Warner said.

Photo courtesy of NJ Transit
The NJ Transit Police Color Guard and other public transit police officers and dignitaries escorted the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s casket to a waiting Amtrak train bound for Washington, DC, where his body lay in  repose before burial in Arlington National Cemetery.

 

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