CORZINE ANNOUNCES $180 MILLION FOR NON-ABBOTT SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION
Governor Jon Corzine announced that more than 130 regular school districts are eligible to receive $180 million for capital maintenance and construction projects. It will be the first round of grants by the Schools Development Authority to non-Abbott districts.

The funds come from legislation signed last July by Corzine authorizing an additional $3.9 billion for schools construction --- of which $1 billion was made available as the state’s share for projects in the non-Abbott districts.

A report on the first round allocations can be found on the School Facilities page of the State Department of Education website at http://nj.gov/education. The report includes the districts, their approved projects, funds they can expect, along with descriptions of the DOE application and evaluation processes and a county-by-county analysis of grants distribution.

NEW AIRLINE TO SERVICE ATLANTIC CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
AirTran Airways will become the newest air link for Atlantic City and the South Jersey region, providing non-stop daily service to and from Atlanta and Atlantic City International Airport beginning June 11, 2009. In the announcement, Governor Jon Corzine said: “This new addition is a real boost for business and tourism in the Garden State.”

The news followed an effort to attract new air service by the South Jersey Transportation Authority. AirTran, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc., also connects to more than 40 other destinations through Atlanta.

A number of enhancement projects are in progress or will be underway at the airport. They include a $23 million Federal Inspection Station for international service, a $30 million Airport Rescue & Fire Fighting Station and a $10 million Airfield/Apron Expansion. The airport recently completed a $26 million parking garage and $10 million in terminal lobby improvements.

NEW JERSEY’S I-295/I-76/ROUTE 42 ‘DIRECT CONNECTION’ PROJECT RECEIVES GREEN LIGHT
Plans for a $900 million upgrade to New Jersey’s I-295/I-76/Route 42 interchange can move forward now that federal officials have given final environmental approval, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced.

“This project will help the people of New Jersey and their economy,” said LaHood. “Infrastructure investment like this creates jobs and helps local businesses.” The record of decision signed by officials from the Federal Highway Administration allows the project’s right-of-way acquisition and construction planning to begin.

The project – dubbed “Direct Connection” – calls for the reconstruction of the interchange to separate drivers on I-295 from local traffic. It will include new roadway and bridges and completes a missing link on I-295 that will allow drivers to continue straight through on the interstate. Currently, I-295 drivers going through the interchange are forced to reduce speed drastically to merge onto 35-mph ramps also used by local traffic. Located in Camden County, N.J., near Bellmawr, Mt. Ephraim and Gloucester City, the interchange is considered one of the busiest in the region. Construction is expected to begin in 2012.

CONGRESSIONAL MEETING HELD BY ALLIANCE FOR ACTION AND HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE
For the second consecutive year, the New Jersey Alliance for Action and the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey sponsored a meeting in Washington, D.C. with the state’s Congressional Delegation and top labor leaders.

Alliance President Philip K. Beachem and Institute President Bob Franks opened a breakfast meeting in the Rayburn Building by stressing the importance of pharmaceutical industry construction to New Jersey’s economy.

In attendance were Congressmen John Adler, Rodney Frelinghuysen, Rush Holt, Frank LoBiondo, Frank Pallone and Donald Payne.

Aaron Fichtner, Director of Research for Rutgers University’s Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, discussed the impact of New Jersey’s life sciences on capital construction.

Labor leaders who spoke were Charles Wowkanech, President of the New Jersey AFL-CIO; Bill Mullen, President of New Jersey Building & Construction Trades; Thomas Manning, President of NJ Pipe Trades, and George Laufenberg, Administrative Manager of New Jersey’s Carpenters Fund and Chairman of the Alliance for Action.

KEARNY RETAIL/RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT MOVING AHEAD
In Kearny, construction is moving ahead with Schuyler Crossing, a mixed-use development of 21,000 square feet of retail and 232 apartment units. This site is a former industrial tract of seven acres at the intersection of Schuyler and Bergen Avenues. Demolition is complete. The developer plans to begin construction on the retail portion by summer of 2009 and break ground on the first of three apartment buildings in early to mid-2010.

NJ TRANSIT TO USE FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS TO ACCELERATE PROJECTS
NJ Transit announced it will allocate $342 million in federal stimulus funds to accelerate a number of Northern and Central New Jersey projects.

The projects include $130 million to advance design of the $8.7 billion construction of the new Trans-Hudson rail tunnel; the $30 million second phase of the rehabilitation of the lower Hackensack Drawbridge between Jersey City and Kearny; a $25 million upgrade of the Morristown Line signal system and $17.3 million to improve traffic circulation around Newark Penn Station Plaza.

SENATE APPROVES BILL FOR LICENSED PROFESSIONALS AT CLEANUP SITES
The State Senate voted final legislative approval of a bill to create a Licensed Site Professional program to expedite cleanups of contaminated properties. The legislation goes to Governor Jon Corzine, who is expected to sign it into law.

Under the program, private sector environmental engineers and consultants would be licensed to clean up contaminated sites without seeking approval of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection at every step. The goal is to reduce the time spent dealing with government and make cleanups more financially feasible to attract private sector investment.

BILL PASSES SENATE FOR MORATORIUM ON COAH DEVELOPMENT FEES
The new 2.5 percent COAH (Coalition of Affordable Housing) fee would not have to be paid by commercial developers and businesses building facilities under a bill passed by the State Senate. The exemption would affect construction projects that receive approvals before July 1, 2010.

Developers who have received those site plan approvals before that date are also exempt. Those who already have paid the 2.5 percent fee would have 120 days from enactment of the bill to apply for reimbursement from the host municipality.

DEP INVITES WRITTEN COMMENTS ON TURNPIKE WIDENING
Alliance for Action Senior Vice President Clifford Heath testified in support of two permit applications for the New Jersey Turnpike widening program at a recent public hearing.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will accept information/comments until April 3, 2009, on two permit applications for the New Jersey Turnpike widening program between Interchanges 6 to 9. The permits are for freshwater wetlands and flood hazard areas.

The written comments should be sent to Priya Sundaram at the following address or e-mail: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Land Use Regulation
P.O. Box 439
Trenton, NJ 08625-0439
Priya.sundaram@dep.state.nj.us

EDISON INNOVATION CLEAN ENERGY FUND ANNOUNCED
The New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities-Office of Clean Energy announced launch of the Edison Innovation Clean Energy Fund. It is a new grant program to commercialize new energy efficiency and renewable technologies.

Companies are invited to apply for awards of $100,000 to $500,000. Applications are available at ww.nj.gov/scitech/entassist/energy. Applications are due by April 17, 2009.

BIDDING OPENS FOR NEW TRANS-HUDSON RAIL TUNNEL
Bidding was opened on construction of the new $8.7 billion rail tunnel under the Hudson River between Northern New Jersey and Manhattan. Officials of NJ Transit and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey released preliminary designs for two of the project’s 24 segments.

The designs are for an underpass near the tunnel mouth in New Jersey and for about four miles of tunneling in Manhattan. The entire new tunnel project is expected to be completed in 2017.

Companies interested must submit descriptions of their qualifications to NJ Transit and the Port Authority. Those passing muster will be allowed to bid on each segment of the projects, which will include final design and construction, according to Art Silber, tunnel project chief.

Winning bidders will be picked and construction is expected to begin in the spring. Once underway, the tunnel will be the largest transit project in the nation.

REDEVELOPMENT APPROVED FOR NEWARK PORT AND AIRPORT TRACTS
The Newark City Council approved redevelopment of two sites in the vicinity of Port Newark and Newark Liberty International Airport. One site is along Frelinghuysen Avenue at McClellan Street and the other on Doremus Avenue, south of Wilson Avenue.

The Council’s action means the city now has legal leverage for relocating businesses that are impeding progress at the port and airport to create new enterprises and jobs. The two approved redevelopment sites include vacant and contaminated land as well as businesses and industrial properties with junk, scrap metal and heavy equipment.

RESERVATIONS GOING FAST FOR FEDERAL STIMULUS CONFERENCE
Reservations are going fast and a capacity crowd is expected for a special conference on Thursday, April 2, sponsored by the New Jersey Alliance for Action on the theme: “Federal Stimulus Funds --- How to Get In on the Action.”

Top state and federal officials will provide the latest information on how federal stimulus dollars to New Jersey could be allocated and what capital construction projects will be funded.

The conference will be at the Lafayette Yard Marriott Conference Center, with registration at 8 a.m. followed by the program at 9 a.m. The presenters will include:
Jerry Zaro, Chief of the Governor’s Office of Economic Growth; State Transportation Commissioner Stephen Dilts; CEO Kris Kolluri of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority; Dennis Merida, Division Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, Gary Sondermeyer, Chief of Staff/Director of Operations of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Dennis Hart, Executive Director of the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust; Mary K. Murphy, Executive Director of North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority; Timothy Chelius, Executive Director of South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization and Barry Seymour, Executive Director of Delaware Valley Regional Planning Authority.
To register Go Here.

PHARMACEUTICAL/MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY LEADERS TO REPORT ON CONSTRUCTION IN CHALLENGING TIMES
Leaders of New Jersey’s pharmaceutical and medical technology industry will report on “Construction in Challenging Times” on Monday, March 30, in Trenton.

The conference will be hosted by the New Jersey Alliance for Action and the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey at the Lafayette Yard Marriott Conference Center with registration at 8 a.m. followed by the program at 9:00 a.m.

The program also will include state government representatives, academia and organized labor. Bob Franks, President of the HealthCare Institute will open the conference. Speakers will be:
-James Breen, Vice President of Project Management, WW Engineering for Johnson & Johnson, will report on the company’s construction plans in New Jersey.
-Louis Fedele, Vice President, Facility Operations for Bristol-Myers Squibb, will discuss his firm’s capital projects.
-Aris Gennadios, Vice President & General Manager for Catalent Pharma Solutions, will outline expansion work in Southern New Jersey.
-Jack Donnelly, Deputy Chief of the Governor’s Office of Economic Growth, will represent state government.

A panel will focus on the impacts of the industry’s capital construction, moderated by Bill Healey, Executive Vice President of the HealthCare Institute. Panelists include Plainsboro Mayor Peter Cantu, Ridgeley Hutchinson, Business Representative of Carpenters Local Union #781, Dr. Aaron Fichtner of Rutgers University’s Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Thomas Manning, President of the New Jersey Pipe Trades Union, Donnelly and a spokesperson from the State Treasurer to report on sales tax revenues.
To register Go Here.

CLEARWATER WILL BE HONORED BY PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
John L. Clearwater, P.E., Managing Director of the Construction Industry Advancement Program of New Jersey, will be honored by the Professional Engineers in Construction of New Jersey, a practice division of the New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers.

Clearwater will be recognized at the 35th annual Bonhag Awards dinner-dance on April 3 at the Chanticler, Short Hills.

BURLINGTON COUNTY ALLIANCE SETS MARCH 27 MEETING
Burlington County Freeholder Director Joseph B. Donnelly and Burlington County College President Dr. Robert C. Messina, Jr., will speak at a meeting of the Burlington County Alliance for Action on Friday, March 27.

Burlington business, labor and government representatives are expected to attend the meeting at Double Tree Guest Suites, Fellowship Road North, Mount Laurel. Registration will be at 8:15 a.m. and the program at 9 a.m.

New Jersey Alliance for Action President Philip K. Beachem also will make a special presentation on federal stimulus funding for the state. Burlington is one of 13 county affiliates of the Alliance.

Director Donnelly will speak on “Gateway of Opportunity” --- the story of 12 Burlington County river towns banding together.

Dr. Messina will talk about delivering workforce training to meet infrastructure funding demands.

Co-Chairs of the Burlington Alliance are Freeholder Director Joseph B. Donnelly, Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo, President of the Mercer-Burlington Building Trades Council and Richard A. Alaimo, P.E., President of Alaimo Group Engineers.
To register Go Here.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
-Robert Corrales was appointed by Governor Jon Corzine as his new Press Secretary, after having served as Deputy Press Secretary.

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