July 20, 2010
NJ TRANSIT APPROVES $1.35 BILLION CAPITAL PROGRAM
The Board of Directors for NJ Transit approved a $1.79 billion operating budget and a $1.35 billion capital plan for the fiscal year that began July 1.
The Board also approved acquisitions for new equipment for Fiscal 2011, including purchase of 100 multi-level railcars and 10 dual-mode locomotives to replace older equipment and increase passenger service.
The capital program includes enhancements to the Portal Bridge, extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to eighth street in Bayonne, continuation of construction of the trans-Hudson rail tunnel, repairs for bus and light rail, $72 million for new bus purchases and improvements at Newark Penn Station.
COMMISSIONER DISCUSSES PRIORITIES FOR NEW JERSEY DEP
Commissioner Robert Martin of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection reported on changes to transform the DEP at a “Meet the Players” program hosted by the Alliance for Action on July 8th.
Martin said a new vision and transformational plan will be unveiled soon. He stressed that, while the focus will be to protect the environment and natural resources, the DEP will recognize that permit applications can mean economic growth and jobs.
“The days of two-year delays on applications for permits are no longer acceptable,” Martin declared. He outlined his “key priorities” for the DEP.
Change the culture with a focus on customer service and measures of performance.
- Regulatory reform
- Cleanups of contaminated sites
- Clean water and oceans, with no offshore drilling
- Clean energy
- Parks and wildlife animals
NOVARTIS ANNOUNCES MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN EAST HANOVER
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. announced a major construction project to accommodate the transfer of some 1,200 oncology and other department associates in Florham Park to its East Hanover campus. The plan will enable Novartis to end leases of off-campus buildings and produce long-term cost savings.
The project includes three new five-story office buildings, an adjacent parking garage and reconstruction of two entry gates to the campus at Ridgedale Avenue and Route 10. The company said it anticipates construction to begin late in 2010 and to be complete in about three years.
NEW MEDICAL BUILDING TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN BAYONNE
The Municipal Planning Board approved plans by the Bayonne Medical Center for construction of a new medical building next year on its campus in the city. The project will be developed by William Procida, Inc., a real estate and investment banking firm located in Englewood Cliffs.
The medical center will own the 53.000-square-foot building, half of which will be occupied by the hospital. Procida said the other half will be leased to doctors, physical therapists and other medical professionals. Groundbreaking is set for next spring with construction time estimated at about a year.
HOUSING GRANTS TOTALING $5.3 MILLION AWARDED
Grants totaling $5.3 million were awarded by the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York to create more than 450 units of affordable housing in five New Jersey communities.
The loans were approved for nonprofit housing developers in Camden, Glassboro, Woodbury, Wildwood and Lafayette. The biggest grants include $1.1 million to build low-income housing units in Camden and $1.9 million to rehabilitate age-restricted units in Woodbury.
$12-$14 MILLION RENOVATION SET FOR HAMILTON PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER
A major renovation of the Hamilton Square Plaza Shopping was announced for the 184,272-square-foot retail property in Hamilton.
Levin Management Corp of North Plainfield announced that the project will feature a new facade, new signage, a reconfigured parking lot and redesigned landscaping. Levin said construction will begin this month on the $12 million to $14 million program.
Hamilton Plaza's anchor tenant, ShopRite, will undertake its own renovation to expand the market to 80,000 square feet.
STATE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is accepting applications for the 2010 Governor's Environmental Awards through September 16.
The awards established by the DEP recognize individuals, businesses, communities, schools, organizations and local governments that have made significant contributions to protect the environment in New Jersey.
To learn more about the awards, to download applications, or to review past winners and descriptions of their projects, visit the awards website at www.nj.gov/dep/eeawards. For questions, please contact DEP representative Dean Anderson at (609) 777-1949 or at Dean.Anderson@dep.state.nj.us.
REPORTS ON NJIT, THE BAYONNE BRIDGE AND ONE THEATER SQUARE TO HIGHLIGHT ESSEX MEETING
An update on the Bayonne Bridge, reports on new developments at New Jersey Institute of Technology and "One Theater Square" - 44 Story Residential Tower will feature a meeting of the Essex County Alliance for Action on Thursday, July 29.
The meeting will be held at the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, 17th Floor, One Newark Center, Newark. Registration will start at 8:15 a.m. and the program at 9:00 a.m.
The presentations will be:
- Dr. Robert A. Altenkirch, President of New Jersey Institute of Technology, on "New Developments at NJIT."
- Joseph Curto, President of the New York Shipping Association, on "Bayonne Bridge --- Update on the Status."
- Bobbie Arbesfeld, Executive Vice President and COO, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, on "One Theater Square -- a 44-story mixed-use residential tower."
The Essex County Alliance for Action is one of 13 county affiliates of the New Jersey Alliance for Action. The Co-Chairs are Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin, Business Manager of Local 68, International Union of Operating Engineers, and Ciro Scalera, Director-Public Affairs, Verizon New Jersey.
To register, Go Here.
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
- Michael J. Bryan, a tax and accounting professional with more than 20 years of private and public sector experience, was sworn in as Director of the State Division of Taxation. He recently served at Comcast Corp. in Philadelphia as senior director for tax audits and international tax.
UPCOMING EVENTS
7/29/10 - Essex County Alliance for Action to register, Go Here.
9/17/10 - Atlantic County Alliance for Action to register, Go Here.
10/1/10 - Somerset County Alliance for Action to register, Go Here.
10/13/10 - 36th Annual Eagle Awards Dinner to register, Go Here.
10/22/10 - Mercer County Alliance for Action to register, Go Here.
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