MENENDEZ ANNOUNCES FEDERAL FUNDING FOR LIBERTY CORRIDOR
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, D-NJ, announced that the Federal Highway Administration has approved up to $88 million in funding for the Liberty Corridor projects to improve the flow of freight and delivery of goods and services. The FHA made immediately available $48 million and plans to deliver up to another $40 million by FY 2009.

Liberty Corridor is a multifaceted economic development strategy championed by Menendez that combines road, harbor, and terminal improvements, including projects to keep Ports Newark and Elizabeth as the top seaport on the east coast.

Phase I projects funded by the FHA include:
Whittpen Bridge replacement: North Jersey Doublestack Clearance/National Docks; Port Reading Junction; Tremley Point Connector Road; North Avenue Corridor; Routes 35 and 36 in Eatontown; Route 1 north of Ryders Lane to south of Milltown Road, and Route 18-Interstate 287 Connection.

DEVELOPER WILL SEEK PUBLIC INPUT ON EDISON SITE
In an unusual move, the owners of an industrial property near the Edison Train Station are asking the public what they believe should be built on the site. Using the Edison Smart Growth Initiative as a framework, Intercap Holdings, a Princeton-based developer, will hold a series of public meetings regarding the future of their property.

The Edison Exchange Community Design Workshops will schedule round-table meetings to include community leaders, members of the public and government representatives. They will discuss with planners their ideas and review consulting plans.

SUPREME COURT SETS HEARING DATE ON SCHOOL FUNDING
The New Jersey Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday, January 23, on the need for more school construction funding. The session will begin at 10 a.m. in the Supreme Court’s courtroom, 8th floor, Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex, Trenton.

The hearing will be on a motion filed by the Education Law Center asking the High Court to set a firm deadline for the State Treasurer and Commissioner of Education to secure additional funding to restart over 100 stalled school construction projects in urban communities.

ROUTE 17 TRAFFIC RELIEF PLANS ANNOUNCED BY GOVERNOR
Plans to reduce congestion on a 7.6-mile section of Route 17 in Bergen County were announced by Governor Corzine. The New Jersey Department of Transportation will widen Route 17 to a consistent six lanes from Williams Avenue in Hasbrouck Heights to south of Route 4 in Paramus.

The Route 17 project will cost an estimated $305 million and will be part of the DOT’s first-ever Ten Year Transportation Capital Program which will be released in Spring 2008.

STATE DEP APPROVES OYSTER CREEK REACTOR LICENSE RENEWAL
Exelon Corporation’s coastal land use management plan for the Oyster Creek nuclear power reactor has been determined by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to be consistent with the state plan. This was the last step needed before the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission decides whether to relicense Oyster Creek for another 20 years.

The New Jersey Affordable, Clean, Reliable Energy Coalition, which supports renewal, said that without a license extension Exelon would have to shut Oyster Creek, the oldest operating reactor in the nation, in 2009. The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board ruled recently that the Oyster Creek plant is physically safe for another 20 years of operation.

GOVERNOR NAMES CABINET AND SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS
Governor Jon Corzine nominated Deputy State Treasurer David Rousseau as New Jersey’s next State Treasurer and announced appointments of senior staff members.

Rousseau has served as the Governor’s senior advisor for budget and fiscal policy in developing and implementing the state budget and fiscal policy. Previously, he oversaw operations of the Office of Management and Budget.

Corzine appointed Javier Inclan as Deputy Chief of Staff, Michellene Davis as Special Senior Counsel and Adam Zellner as Director of Policy.

Inclan will oversee the Governor’s Office of Constituent and Intergovernmental Relations. Davis will have oversight over all gubernatorial appointments. Zellner, who was Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Legislative Affairs at the State Department of Environmental Protection, will be charged with overseeing a team of experts to focus on implementing many of the Governor’s policies.

ALLIANCE EXPRESSES SORROW AT DEATH OF SENATOR KAVANAUGH
The Alliance for Action expressed its sadness over the recent death of State Senator Walter J. Kavanaugh whose 32-year legislative career ended when the New Jersey Legislature took office on January 8, 2008.

The Alliance noted that Senator Kavanaugh was the seventh longest serving legislator in New Jersey history and that he was a key sponsor of legislation creating the State Transportation Trust Fund.

NK ARCHITECTS FIRM OF THE YEAR
Morristown based NK Architects has been named firm of the year by the New Jersey Society of Architects.

ALLIANCE IN ACTION
GLOUCESTER ALLIANCE TO HEAR REPORTS ON TWO PARKS AND THE FUTURE
The Gloucester County Alliance for Action will open the county chapters series of meetings for the new year on Friday, February 8, at Riverwinds Community Center, Thorfare. Business, labor and government leaders will hear reports on the county’s future and two projects --- a technology park and a motorsports park.

The speakers will be State Senator Stephen M. Sweeney, Financial Secretary/Treasurer and Business Representative of Ironworkers Local 399; Thomas Drury, Chief Executive Officer of the South Jersey Technology Park at Rowan University; and Donald L. Fauerbach, Founder of the New Jersey Motorsports Park Green Flag Committee.

Following registration at 8:15 a.m., the program will begin at 9 a.m. To make a reservation Go Here . Sweeney and Freeholder Joseph A. Brigandi, Jr., are co-chairs of the Gloucester Alliance.

BUSINESS LEADERS ELECTED TRUSTEES OF ALLIANCE FOUNDATION
Dennis M. Bone, President-Verizon New Jersey; Edward J. Graham, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of South Jersey Industries, and John L. Clearwater, P.E., Managing Director of the Construction Industry Advancement Program of New Jersey (CIAP), have been elected to the Board of Trustees of The Foundation of the New Jersey Alliance for Action.

The Foundation is the research and public education arm of the Alliance for Action and has sponsored highly acclaimed studies on infrastructure, transportation and public policy issues.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
-Sussex County Freeholder Susan M. Zellman has been elected Chairman of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.
- Jeffrey A. Horn has been appointed by BOMI International as President and CEO. He formerly was president and CEO of the Somerset County Business Partnership.

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