SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES TRANSPORTATION FUNDING BILL
The US Senate Appropriations Committee has agreed with the House Appropriations Committee in approving the funding program of the US Department of Transportation for Fiscal Year 2008. Both bills fully fund the SAFETEALU guarantee of $40.2 billion for the highway program --- a $1.1 billion increase over Fiscal Year 2007.

Other approved transportation spending includes $9.7 billion in the House and $9.6 billion in the Senate for transit. Both amounts represent increases over the $9 billion in Fiscal Year 2007.

TURNPIKE AWARDS DESIGN CONTRACT FOR WIDENING PROJECT
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority began the process of final design of its widening project by awarding a $16 million contract to the Louis Berger Group, Inc., of East Orange for the section that includes Interchange 7A. Over the next three months, the Authority is expected to approve engineering contracts for final design of the entire widening. Construction is expected to take until 2013.

STATE ECONOMIC GROWTH CHIEF REPORTS TO ALLIANCE ON PRIORITIES
Gary Rose, Chief of the State Office of Economic Growth, laid out six principles that will guide the Corzine Administration’s economic growth strategies. He gave his report to Alliance for Action members at a recent session of the Alliance’s popular “Meet the Players” series.

The priorities presented by Rose were local strategic planning, brownfields, urban initiatives, ports particularly in the southwest part of the state, an energy master plan and pharmaceuticals, particularly in research facilities.

NJTPA APPROVES FOUR YEARS OF CAPITAL PROJECTS IN 13 COUNTIES
The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority approved the largest capital program in its history --- more than $9.74 billion. For fiscal years 2008-2011 of the Authority’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the approved investments would be in 13 counties in Northern and Central New Jersey.

The four-year program, beginning October 1, will improve road, bridge, rail, bus, pedestrian, bicycle and passenger ferry projects in the targeted counties.

SCHERING-PLOUGH BREAKS GROUND FOR $300 MILLION RESEARCH CENTER
Schering-Plough Corp. broke ground for a $300 million pharmaceutical sciences research center in Summit. At the same time, the event included a ribbon-cutting for a 1,350-vehicle parking deck.

The new 200,000 square-foot facility will be called the Schering-Plough Research Institute. It will contain a pilot plant where medicines for clinical trials will be produced. There also will be space for offices and warehousing operations.

NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK IN SECURITY PARTNERSHIP WITH RAILROAD
New Jersey and New York have entered into a freight rail security partnership with CSXT Transportation (CSXT) of Jacksonville, FL, to strengthen protection of residents and critical infrastructure of both states. CSXT operates the largest railroad in the eastern United States and owns the tracks on which New Jersey Transit trains travel.

The partnership is the first of its kind between the public sector and the rail industry to share information and resources. Under the agreement, CSXT will make its Network Operations Workstation available to New Jersey and New York security and law enforcement officials.

ATLANTIC CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PASSENGERS INCREASE
During the first six months of 2007, scheduled commercial passenger traffic at Atlantic City International Airport soared to new heights, with total passengers increasing from 352,293 through June 30, 2006 to 495,029 for the same time period this year, an increase of more than 40 percent. The increase is a result of new flight frequencies, better connectivity and the addition of new destinations and direct non-stop service.

“These numbers put us on track to break the 1 million passengers mark again this year,” said Bart Mueller, Executive Director of the South Jersey Transportation Authority, which owns and operates the airport and the Atlantic City Expressway.

EPA SAYS TWO NEW JERSEY SUPERFUND SITES ARE CLEANED UP
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has cleaned up two New Jersey superfund sites and proposes to take them off the National Priorities List. The Grand Street Mercury site in Hoboken and Mannheim Avenue dump site in Galloway Township have been on the list since 1997 and 1998, respectively.

The EPA proposals to delist the two sites were subject to public comment periods that ended July 30. New Jersey currently has 115 superfund sites, the highest number in the nation, according to the EPA.

ALLIANCE IN ACTION
REGISTER NOW FOR THE ANNUAL FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC
The 4th annual Golf Classic of the Foundation of the New Jersey Alliance for Action will be held on Monday, August 20, at Eagle Oaks Golf Club, Farmingdale. To reserve places, call (732) 225-1180 or to register Go Here .

CASINO ASSOCIATION HEAD TO SPEAK TO ATLANTIC COUNTY ALLIANCE
Joe Corbo, President of the Casino Association of New Jersey, will be a featured speaker at a meeting of the Atlantic County Alliance for Action on Friday, August 10. The meeting at the Ram’s Head Inn, Absecon, will begin with registration and networking at 8:15 a.m., followed by the program at 9 a.m.

Corbo’s topic will be “Issues and Concerns of Atlantic City Casinos.” Other speakers will include Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson and Egg Harbor Township Mayor James J. McCullough, who also is a State Senator representing the 2nd District. To register Go Here .

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
-Wayne DeAngelo has been named President of the Mercer/Burlington County Building Trades Council.
-Kiran Patel has been chosen by the New Jersey Department of Transportation as the next Director of the Division of Construction Services and Materials. He had been Manager of Design Services.

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