NJ TRANSIT APPROVES FUNDING TO REPLACE THE PORTAL BRIDGE
The NJ Transit Board of Directors has approved funding for the final phase of environmental work affecting Portal Bridge, a nearly 100-year-old span that carries Northeast Corridor train traffic over the Hackensack River just west of Secaucus Junction. The action would complete the Final Environmental Impact Study (FEIS) to coordinate the bridge replacement with the Access to the Region’s Core Project.

The new crossing would reduce the number of times it would need to be opened and decrease the time needed for an open-and-close sequence for marine traffic, while trains are forced to wait. The NJ Transit Board amended the contract with AKRF, Inc., and authorized the firm to prepare the environmental study for a total of $5.3 million.

NINE FIRMS COMPETING TO MANAGE MERCER COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION
Nine companies have submitted proposals to manage construction of the new Mercer County Criminal Courthouse estimated to cost $80 million. County officials are reviewing the proposals and plan to name a construction manager by the end of August.

The nine firms competing are Hunter Roberts, Hunt Construction Group, CCMS Corp., Jacobs, Hill International, Bovis Lend Lease, Epic Management, Joseph Jingoli & Son, Inc., and Turner. The four-story, 111,000 square-foot courthouse would be built at South Warren and Market Street in Trenton, behind the current South Broad Street courthouse.

NJ TRANSIT SETS RIDERSHIP RECORDS
NJ Transit set a new ridership record with a 4.1 percent gain in passengers for the 2007 Fiscal Year. The agency reported 250.9 million trips on its trains, buses and light rail for the year, up from the 241.1 million trips the previous fiscal year.

Rail ridership increased 6 percent overall, with the greatest gains on commuter routes to New York and Northern New Jersey. Bus travel rose 1.4 percent, with commuter routes showing the highest gain.

The NJ Transit Board approved a $1.3 billion capital budget. It provides money for new buses and rail cars, expanded park-and-ride facilities and rail and light rail services, and major track, bridge and station improvements. About half the money will come from the Transportation Trust Fund and most of the rest from federal sources.

PROGRESS REPORTS ON TRANS-HUDSON RAIL TUNNEL
Construction of the massive $7 billion Trans-Hudson rail tunnel is expected to begin in 2009, with completion scheduled for 2016. That was the report given to members of the Monmouth County Alliance for Action by Thomas Schulze, Project Manager for NJ Transit.

Schulze said the project is moving ahead steadily, with preliminary engineering now under way and final engineering set for 2008. In discussing the project’s benefits, he noted that the 23 trains per hour now accommodated by the existing tunnel will be increased to 48 trains. A result, he stressed, is that auto trips will be reduced by 35,000 a day, thus easing traffic congestion.

PORT AUTHORITY APPROVES SALE OF MAHER TERMINALS
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has approved a change-of-ownership agreement for New Jersey’s largest shipping terminal operation. Maher Terminal in Elizabeth was sold to RREEF Alternative Investments, an affiliate of Deutsche Bank. Under the deal both private companies will provide a total of $136 million to improve the terminal and docks, which handle the state’s largest amount of ocean-going containerized cargo.

Maher Terminals has been owned by the Maher family for 60 years and the Maher management team will continue to run the day-to-day operations. The Port Authority owns the property on which the terminal operates.

STATE ECONOMIC GROWTH CHIEF TO MEET WITH THE ALLIANCE
Gary Rose, Chief of New Jersey’s Office of Economic Growth, will discuss with New Jersey Alliance for Action members and friends the prospects for the state’s economy on Thursday, July 19. His appearance at the Alliance office in Edison will be part of the Alliance’s popular “Meet the Players” series. Rose has been entrusted by Governor Corzine to grow New Jersey’s economy, create jobs and expand business opportunities. He will translate for the Alliance what this means for transportation, schools construction, utilities, higher education and private investment.
Registration will begin at 9:15 a.m. and the program at 10 a.m.

JERSEY CITY PLANS JOURNAL SQUARE REVITALIZATION
Jersey City plans to revitalize the Journal Square area as an entertainment and retail district, using the city’s PATH station’s mass transit links as a boost. To initiate the program, the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency has received a $100,000 grant from the State Department of Community Affairs.

The Journal Square plan will integrate existing initiatives, including a $1.2 million program by local developer, Harwood Properties, to improve facades in the area, expand Hudson Community College and Loews Cineplex and two new residential buildings.

FOLEY INC CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Foley Inc. celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 7 with more than 1,000 friends and customers with an open house at its Piscataway headquarters. A highlight of the evening inside a big top tent came when Kim Foley, CEO and Chairman of the Board, traced the history of the firm from its unofficial beginnings when his grandfather, Ed Foley Sr. opened a motor car dealership in Newark. The evening also featured demonstrations of antique and new equipment.

PATERSON WILL BUILD CONDOS IN CITY’S HISTORIC DISTRICT
Paterson is introducing the first market-rate condos to be built in the city’s historic district, thanks to a $4.3 million loan from the Community Preservation Corporation.

The project will renovate the historic Cooke Administration Building, a three-story brick structure that was a manufacturing center of the U.S. locomotive industry.

PSE&G WILL REPLACE 1,300 FLEET VEHICLES WITH HYBRIDS
Public Service Electric & Gas Company will replace 1,300 vehicles with hybrids and make changes in other parts of its corporate fleet. The company estimates that this will reduce its carbon emissions by more than 81,000 tons.

Public Service reports that it will begin its vehicle replacement program this year. It also will expedite installation of electric drive units in its 450 traditional aerial lifts, which will be battery power rather than keeping engines running.

ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO HEADLINE ESSEX COUNTY ALLIANCE FOR ACTION MEETING
Honorable Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Essex County Executive will kick-off the Essex County Alliance for Action meeting on Friday, July 27th.  Following on the program will be invited speaker Honorable Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, and then the morning wrap up featuring Honorable   John Wisniewski, Assemblyman, 19th Legislative District.

The meeting at the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. One Newark Center, 17th Floor, Newark, N.J. gets under way at 8:15 a.m. with networking & continental breakfast, followed by the great program at 9:00 a.m. To register Go Here .

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
-George R. Laufenberg, Administrative Manager of the New Jersey Carpenter Funds and Chairman of the Alliance for Action Board of Directors, has been selected as Construction Man of the Year by the Building Contractors Association of New Jersey. He will be honored at the BCANJ annual Gala Dinner on October 26, 2007, at the Westmount Country Club, West Paterson.
- Anthony Verrelli is the new business agent for Carpenters LU 31.

ALLIANCE IN ACTION
The Essex County Alliance for Action will meet on Friday, July 27, in Newark at the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. Newark Mayor Cory Booker has been invited to report on his first year in office. To register Go Here .

The Atlantic County Alliance for Action will meet on Friday, August 10, at the Ram’s Head Inn, Absecon. To register Go Here .

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.

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