CONTRACT AWARDED FOR NEW DRISCOLL BRIDGE WORK
VOTE YES ON PUBLIC QUESTION #3
On Tuesday, November 7th, voters throughout New Jersey will have the opportunity to approve the constitutional dedication of the last remaining 1½ cents of our gas tax monies for transportation purposes. This is something that business, labor and the alliance have long advocated. The Ballot Question also received Bi-partisan support in the Legislature, as well as, strong Editorial support in The Star Ledger.

A YES VOTE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR GAS TAX
. A Yes vote ensures that the entire existing gas tax is used only for transportation purposes. At present, this 1½ cents goes into the State’s general fund where it can be used for other purposes.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
   - Spread, the word about the importance of passing this question to your friends, neighbors and employees.
   - Write a letter to the Editor of your local newspaper.

Alliance President Philip K. Beachem has been working to spread the word by personal appearances urging Yes votes for Public Questions #3. He appeared with State Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri on a special segment of New Jersey Network’s Nightly News and gave an address before the PENJERDEL Council, a business advocacy group in South Jersey.

For more information about Public Questions No. 3 visit www.yeson3nj.com.

ALLIANCE CONSTRUCTION FORECAST SEMINAR WILL PROVIDE CLUES FOR NEW JERSEY’S ECONOMIC FUTURE
If you want a preview of which way New Jersey’s economy may be heading, don’t miss the New Jersey Alliance for Action’s 22nd Annual Construction Forecast Seminar on Thursday, November 9th. This unique program will begin with registration at 8:30 am, and presentations at 9:15 am, at the Lafayette Yard Marriott Conference Center, 1 West Lafayette Street, Trenton.

The two-year construction forecast reports by public agencies and private industry are eagerly awaited as an economic barometer of the state’s future. The information provided at this one-of-a-kind event assists attendees to plan their investments and to develop a labor supply to prepare and compete for anticipated construction projects.

A sell-out audience of 200 top business, labor and government leaders will be there to hear presentations that will include, among others: pharmaceutical and medical technology companies; public and private sector developers; NJ Transit; State Department of Transportation; New Jersey Turnpike Authority; the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; National Association of Industrial Office Properties; the Delaware River Port Authority of Pennsylvania and New Jersey; healthcare institutions, and many more. Click here to register http://www.allianceforaction.com/nov906reg.htm.

BIG TURNOUT AT ALLIANCE-ORGANIZED MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER KOLLURI
At a special meeting organized by the Alliance for Action, more then 40 representatives of organizations and agencies interested in transportation issues convened in Trenton with State Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri.

Kolluri reported on a variety of transportation programs and answered questions from the attendees. He commended Alliance President Philip K. Beachem for taking the initiative in opening the new line of communication with the DOT and described the Alliance as a “great partner.”

Those who accepted the Alliance’s invitation to the meeting represented a major cross-section of New Jersey’s public and economic life from business to labor to government and professional organizations. They included: American Society of Highway Engineers (New Jersey), New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Business & Industry Association, Construction & General Laborers Union Locals 172 and Heavy & General Construction Laborers 472, NJ Laborers’-Employers’ Cooperation & Education Trust (NJLECET), New Jersey Carpenters Union, New Jersey Association of County Engineers, New Jersey League of Municipalities, Transportation Management Council, New Jersey Association of Counties, New Jersey Society of Municipal Engineers, Associated General Contractors of New Jersey, New Jersey Asphalt Pavement Association, Construction Industry Advancement Program of NJ, American Council of Engineering Companies of New Jersey, Newark Regional Business Partnership, HealthCare Institute of NJ, Operating Engineers Local 825, South Jersey Transportation Authority, Utility and Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey, Ironworkers Union Local 68, Mercer/Burlington County Building Trades Council.

REPLACEMENT BRIDGE SET FOR ROUTE 1 IN NORTH BRUNSWICK
The Township of North Brunswick has received a $1.6 million federal grant to replace the bridge on Route 1 between Ryders Lane and Milltown over an abandoned Conrail line. Work will begin in the spring of 2008 and be completed by summer 2009.

The replacement bridge will improve ramps, travel lanes and access lanes to provide an overall easier and safer drive.

GOVERNMENT WHO’S-WHO AT ALLIANCE EAGLE AWARDS DINNER
The usual “who’s-who” of state officials were among the nearly 1,000 persons who attended the Alliance for Action’s 32nd annual Eagle Awards Dinner in October.

Members of Governor Jon Corzine’s Cabinet and top administrators in attendance included State Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri, Commissioner of Environmental Protection Lisa P. Jackson, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development David J. Socolow, CEO and Secretary Virginia S. Bauer of the Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism Commission and Executive Director George Warrington of NJ Transit. Also mingling with the crowd were former Governor Jim Florio and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., D-6th District and many state legislators.

Governor Corzine, after accepting the Eagle Award for Public Service described the Alliance as “a great organization focused on one of the most important things in New Jersey --- growing the economy.” To view pictures from the event Go Here.

PORT AUTHORITY AUTHORIZES $75 MILLION FOR TUNNEL PROPERTY ACQUISITION
Momentum continues for construction of a new trans-Hudson rail tunnel with authorization by commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey of $75 million for property acquisitions.

The $75 million will go to identify and ultimately acquire property and access easements for the tunnel. The Authority in July approved $10 million to begin preliminary planning and engineering work.

The Authority in July also authorized $1 billion for the tunnel and is committed to a total of $2 billion toward the estimated $7.2 billion cost of the project. The anticipated completion date for the project is 2016 at the earliest.

AIRPORT AND SEAPORTS TO GET PORT AUTHORITY IMPROVEMENTS
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey also has approved funding to complete improvements at Newark Liberty International Airport and Ports Newark and Elizabeth.

A $53.2 million contract was awarded to add a third level at Terminal B at the airport, with construction of a new arrivals lobby and baggage claim area on the ground floor.

A $66 million appropriation was authorized for improved rail access to Ports Newark and Elizabeth and Howland Hook Marina Terminal on Staten Island to handle 1.3 million cargo containers a year when work is completed in 2011.

LONG BEACH ISLAND BEACH REPLENISHMENT BEGINS AMID CONTROVERSY
The first phase has begun of a $71 million project to replenish 18 miles of sand and dunes on Long Beach Island. The project has generated lawsuits between supporters of the project and some oceanfront homeowners, who are opposed.

Work this fall is scheduled only for one 15-block stretch of Surf City, expected to take about a month at a cost of $5.8 million --- nearly two-thirds from the federal government. A dredging machine will scrape sand from the bottom of the ocean and pump it onto the beach and dunes.

State officials have asked oceanfront property owners to sign easements to allow sand to be poured onto dunes. Supporters say it is essential to protect from erosion but owners have resisted. See Ocean County Chapter Meeting information below.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
-Rodney Dickens of Franklin Township and John Latka of Franklin Lakes have been promoted by Public Service Electric and Gas. Dickens was named Vice President of Asset Management and Centralized Services and Latka as Vice President of Electric Delivery Operations.
-James Hogan, Gloucester County Clerk, and Susan Atkinson DeLanzo, Middle Township Committeewoman, have been nominated by Governor Corzine to serve on the Delaware River and Bay Authority.

ALLIANCE IN ACTION
OCEAN COUNTY ALLIANCE FOR ACTION MEETING
Attendees at the Alliance for Action’s County chapter meetings during the past eight years have become well acquainted with the Beach Replenishment program. In anticipation of the current $71 million Long Beach Island replenishment project, the Ocean County Alliance for Action chapter will have a presentation by David Rosenblatt, NJDEP Administrator of Engineering & Construction, at the November 17, 2006 meeting being held at the Holiday Inn, Route 37 East and Clinton Avenue, Toms River, starting 8:15 a.m. Also on the same program will be Richard Raczynski, Chief Engineer of the New Jersey Turnpike who will describe the GSP widening program. To register Go Here.

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