SUPREME COURT TO HEAR ARGUMENTS ON NEW FUNDING FOR ABBOTT DISTRICT SCHOOLS
The Education Law Center’s request for additional funds for school construction will be argued before the State Supreme Court on Monday, November 7, 2005.

The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. at the Supreme Court chamber in the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex, 25 Market Street, Trenton. The Education Law Center filed the request for additional funding on behalf of all preschool to K-12 public school children in New Jersey’s 31 urban Abbott communities. The action came after the State halted work on over 200 school construction projects, citing lack of funding.

The ELC wants the Supreme Court to direct the State Commissioner of Education and State Treasurer to seek additional capital funds estimated to complete the stalled projects. The ELC and other groups are pressing the Legislature to also provide capital funds for school construction to suburban and other communities statewide.

ENGINEERING CONTRACTS AWARDED FOR PARKWAY WIDENING
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority approved two engineering contracts for the widening of the Garden State Parkway in Ocean County. Highway officials said the project is expected to be completed within four years when the Parkway would gain an extra lane in each direction from Stafford to Brick.

A $3.9 million contract was awarded to Dewberry-Goodkind, Inc., to design the section from mile marker 70 in Ocean County to marker 75 in Berkeley Township. The RBA Group received a $4.6 million contract for the stretch from milepost 70 to 80 in Brick.

PERTH AMBOY SIGNS AGREEMENT FOR BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT
Perth Amboy has signed an agreement with a developer for a project of $160 million to $175 million to redevelop 85 acres of brownfields at the city’s entrance at Route 35 and Smith Street. The project by developer Victory Center LLC of Elizabeth would contain 170,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, 100,000 square feet for light industrial use, 15,000 square feet of office space and 400 residential units.

AMTRAK NORTHEAST CORRIDOR BREAKUP WORRIES NEW JERSEY
The Alliance for Action and New Jersey railroad advocates are keeping a wary eye on a proposal by Amtrak’s governing board to create a separate division to own and manage the Northeast Corridor. Critics fear it would be the first step toward breaking up and privatizing the railroad.

It could lead to requests by Amtrak for states such as New Jersey to help fund the 450-mile Northeast Corridor line between Washington, D.C. and Boston. An estimated 100,000 New Jersey commuters ride Amtrak each day.

CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE PROJECT STARTS
Camden County College broke ground on its Blackwood campus for the Madison Connector Building, a $22 million project. The building will contain offices, a 244-seat lecture theatre, a 40-seat amphitheatre and a three-story atrium with a skylight and pedestrian bridges. The project is due to be completed in the fall of 2007.

HOLLAND TUNNEL BRIDGES IMPROVEMENTS BEGIN<
A $225 million project to improve two Jersey City bridges approaching the Holland Tunnel has begun by the State Department of Transportation. The rebuilding work involves the 80-year-old 12th Street bridge and the 60-year-old 14th Street bridge, both of which are said to be deteriorating.

Work on the bridges is scheduled for completion in 2008 and the total project, which involves 1.5 miles of roadwork, should be finished by 2010, according to the DOT.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Brian N. Tobin has been appointed as new Executive Director of the Associated General Contractors of New Jersey and the New Jersey Asphalt Pavement Association. He succeeds Richard Forman, the Executive Director for 25 years who retired November 1. Forman will remain on staff as Senior Executive Director, providing counsel and assisting in the transition. Tobin has worked as Industry Relations Director for both associations since July 2001. The AGC and NJAPA also have promoted Carol Fulton to Associate Executive Director.

ALLIANCE IN ACTION
Construction Forecast Scheduled-
A preview of what is ahead for New Jersey’s economy will be provided by the 21st Annual Construction Forecast Seminar in Trenton on Thursday, November 10, sponsored by the New Jersey Alliance for Action.

Representatives of some 25 leading public and private agencies, companies and organizations will announce their two-year construction plans for 2006-2007. The seminar at the Lafayette Yard Marriott Conference Center will begin at 9:15 a.m. following registration at 8:30 a.m.

New Jersey’s construction industry is regarded as an economic barometer for the state. During last year’s seminar, a two-year total of over $26 billion in public and private construction was estimated. This represented a 27 percent increase above the projections made at the previous seminar.

If you would like to register for the event, please visit here.

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