EXPANSION FOR RAIL SERVICE TO SEAPORTS
A $460 million program to expand rail capabilities at the region’s seaports, including Newark and Elizabeth, is being fast-tracked by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The program will accommodate nearly a million more freight cargo containers by rail. It is expected to be completed by 2009.

MAJOR SOUTH JERSEY TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission wants your comments on a draft Fiscal Year 2006 Transportation Improvement Program for Camden, Burlington, Mercer and Gloucester counties. The plan contains nearly 130 projects totaling $1.1 billion for phases over the next three years. For information, call the Commission’s public affairs office at (215) 238-2875.

DEP GRANTS AWARDED FOR CLEAN WATER PROJECTS
The NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded $3.6 million in grants to eleven projects to reduce stormwater non-point pollution and restore water quality. The projects are in Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Hunterdon and Salem counties. The federal EPA provided the funding. Among the largest grants were $844,500 to the Lake Hopatcong Commission, $408,586 to William Paterson University and $393,994 to Mount Olive Township. For the full list, contact the DEP in Trenton at (609) 633-1179.

MERRILL LYNCH OFFICE PARK PLANS ADVANCE
In Hopewell Township, Merrill Lynch’s proposed office park development plans have been deemed complete by a planning review committee and ready for a full Planning Board hearing. Merrill Lynch plans to bring its application to the Board on June 28. The application is for approval of a general development plan for an office park on 200 acres across Scotch Road from the company’s existing corporate campus. Details of the project, which calls for up to 1 million square feet of office space, were hammered out in an out-of-court settlement between Merrill Lynch and the Township Committee last fall.

MEDIA OPPOSITION RISING TO TOLL ROAD PRIVATIZATION
Media opposition is mounting to proposals to privatize one of the state’s toll roads to raise money to finance the Transportation Trust Fund. Strongly worded editorials have been published in The Record of Bergen County and The Home News Tribune of Middlesex County. The headline in The Home News Tribune declared: “Privatizing Toll Roads is a Really Bad Idea.”

IT IS TIME TO APPLY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Applications are now being accepted for the 2005 Environmental Excellence Awards by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for outstanding environmental performance, programs and projects. The deadline to submit applications is September 16, 2005. The awards will be presented at the annual League of Municipalities Conference in November in Atlantic City. For information, contact Marybeth Brenner at (609) 292-2885.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Shawn Laurenti has left the Governor’s office to serve as Director of Government and Community Affairs for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Laurenti joins a former Trenton colleague, Jamie Fox, who is Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority.

Stephen D. Williams of Galloway has been named Director of Airport Operations by the Delaware River and Bay Authority. He will be responsible for development, operation and administration of the DRBA’s five aviation facilities.

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