NJ moves to replace key N.E. Corridor rail bridge

New Jersey has applied for federal funding to replace the 100-year-old, two track bridge that carries Northeast Corridor trains over the Hackensack River in the Meadowlands.
Nearly 500 Amtrak and NJ Transit trains now use the swing span, known as the Portal Bridge.

Gov. Corzine's office says the application is being made through the federal government's program to advance high-speed passenger rail service.

It also was developed in collaboration with other states in the Northeast Corridor, including Pennsylvania.

The bridge is considered a chokepoint and expanding it could improve speed and increase capacity on the line, said N.J. Transit Executive Director Richard Sarles.

No pricetag was given for replacing the bridge.

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How Much Car Insurance Do You Need?

A growing number of people are dropping their auto insurance to try to save money, according to a recent study by the Insurance Research Council (IRC). If the current rate of unemployment continues, the IRC estimates that the national uninsured rate will climb from 13.8 percent in 2007 to 16.3 percent in 2010. With that many people driving without coverage, it's dangerous to be uninsured. But how much car insurance do you really need?
If you're like many people feeling the pinch, your inclination is to get the bare minimum of insurance coverage required by the law in your state. That's a good place to start, though those minimums may not fully protect you -- or your assets -- if you file a claim. We recommend getting more than the minimum coverage unless you are driving a beater and have no assets to protect.
Every state in the nation, except for New Hampshire and Wisconsin, requires that you have liability insurance, and that mandatory coverage varies according to state.
In the chart below, minimum liability limits are read as follows (in thousands of dollars):

• Bodily injury liability for one person in an accident
• Bodily injury liability for all people injured in an accident
• Property damage liability for one accident

So, for Alabama, the minimum requirements are $25,000 of bodily injury liability for one person, $50,000 bodily injury liability for all people and $25,000 property damage liability.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP), or Medical Payments (MedPay) in some states, pays for your own medical expenses, any lost wages and whatever other costs may arise when you're injured in an accident. It usually pays about 80 percent of your losses, and it also pays a death benefit. PIP is required in: Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Utah.
Some states also require you to purchase car insurance that will cover your own medical expenses, pain and suffering losses and, in some states, car damage in the event that the other motorist is at fault and is either uninsured or underinsured. See the chart below to find out if this applies to you. 


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New York Car Insurance

New York winters drop tons of snow on Buffalo and many of the other northern cities every year. Combined with the brutal traffic that drivers face as they commute to and from work in New York City and the surrounding areas and there’s no question as to why the state requires that all motorists maintain excellent car insurance coverage at all times. To help ease the stress that can be involved in finding low cost car insurance online, CarInsuranceQuotes.com has partnered with reputable companies to help our customers find low cost insurance from companies they can depend on when they need them the most.
New York Car Insurance Minimums
Unlike much of the country, New York is a no-fault state. The no-fault policy was put into effect to help keep insurance costs at a minimum and reduce the number of vehicle-related lawsuits that are filed every year. Because of the no-fault policy, every New York motorist is required to obtain Personal Injury Protection (PIP) that covers the insured driver’s medical expenses, lost wages and funeral expenses regardless of who was at fault in the accident.
There are exceptions to the no-fault policy for the state of New York, however. If the cost of medical expenses exceeds a certain dollar amount or if the accident was found to be too severe, then the driver responsible for the accident will be held liable for the damages. Therefore, every New Yorker is also required to have a minimum liability policy for their vehicle as well. The minimum requirement for the state of New York is 25/50/10 to cover bodily injury and property damages.

• Bodily Injury Liability- Covers damages to the other driver and their passengers when the insured driver is found to be at-fault in an accident. Under the minimum coverage, the insurance will pay $25,000 to a single person and up to a maximum of $50,000 for multiple persons involved in the accident.
• Property Damage Liability- In the event that the other person’s vehicle, public property such as traffic lights and road signs, or private property such as a person’s home is damaged in an accident, a minimum property damage liability policy will pay a maximum of $10,000 for repairs.

With the rising costs of medical treatment and repairs, the minimum coverage required by the state of New York will likely be insufficient to cover the expenses, leaving the insured person covering the rest out of pocket. For this reason, the state of New York strongly recommends that all motorists purchase liability coverage for their vehicles that exceeds the required minimums as well as Comprehensive and Collision insurance to cover damages to their vehicle if they were at fault or the vehicle was damaged by natural events or wildlife.
Even though New York law requires that all motorists have the minimum insurance for their vehicle, many motorists fail to obey these laws. For this reason alone, it is easy to see why New York requires that their motorists also obtain Uninsured Motorist protection for their vehicles. Uninsured Motorist protection pays for damages to the insured’s vehicle if the other driver’s insurance is insufficient or the vehicle is damaged during a hit and run.


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