DEMAND HIGH FOR RESERVATIONS AT STATE CONFERENCE ON CAPITAL NEEDS
Reservations are going fast for the September 24 statewide conference on New Jersey’s current and future capital needs hosted by the Alliance for Action.

Get your reservations in early for a stellar program that will feature a keynote address by Governor Jon Corzine, a graded report card on New Jersey’s infrastructure, a guest appearance by a national expert on the economic of public works and presentations by two Corzine Cabinet members.

The conference will run from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the Lafayette Yard Marriott Conference Center, Trenton. For reservations Go Here.

The report card will announce American Society of Civil Engineers, New Jersey Section, grades for most of New Jersey’s infrastructure systems, including:
               Roads
               Bridges
               Transit
               Dams
               Navigable Waterways
               Aviation
               Wastewater
               Drinking Water
               Public Parks and Recreation
               Energy

The guest speaker will be Nancy Rutledge Connery, associated with Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and former Executive Director of the National Council on Public Works Improvement.

Corzine Administration Cabinet members on the program will be Bradley Abelow, State Treasurer and Chief-of-Staff designee, and State Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri.

COLLEGE PRESIDENTS URGE DEPENDABLE STATE CAPITAL FUNDING
New Jersey college presidents called for the state to develop a consistent and reliable funding stream for capital projects at the state’s public and private institutions of higher education. They said it would help foster economic growth and curb the “brain drain” of New Jersey students leaving New Jersey for other states.

The public and private university and college presidents spoke to an audience of approximately 200 during a special statewide conference sponsored by the New Jersey Alliance for Action.

Susan Cole, President of Montclair State University, said that after “decades of neglect the need for new and renovated facilities has reached crisis proportions.” She reported that the last state capital bond issue for higher education was approved in 1988 and she stressed that 32,000 New Jersey college students leave the state every year while New Jersey imports only 5,600 students. She recalled that the college presidents agreed back in 2005 that a $2.7 billion bond issue was needed --- but that nothing happened in Trenton.

Robert Altenkirch, President of New Jersey Institute of Technology, declared that public and private colleges have made $729 million in recent infrastructure investments, but that the immediate need is for $1.1 billion. What is urgently needed, he added is a continuing and dependable state funding program.

Richard Levao, President of Bloomfield College, reported that there are 65,000 students now attending New Jersey’s 14 independent public institutions. He declared that over the next three years the private colleges plan to spend about $1.3 billion for college facilities.

Kenneth Ender, President of Cumberland County College, said that 350,000 students attend 19 county colleges and that 95 projects costing $361 million are planned across those 19 campuses. He asserted that “education, employment and economic development” are what county colleges should be all about.

Steven Rose, President of Passaic County Community College, said 8,000 students are crammed into facilities intended for 3,500. He noted that initial registration this fall, the college ran out of space for any additional students.

TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND BORROWS $1.25 BILLION
According to press reports, the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority approved borrowing up to $1.25 billion to pay for highway and transit projects for another year.

The new loan to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund is the second of five annual installments of debt that Governor Corzine and the Legislature authorized when they restructured the trust fund last year.

NJ NATURAL GAS WILL SWITCH TO BIODIESEL FUEL FOR PART OF ITS FLEET
New Jersey Natural Gas will use biodiesel fuel for a portion of its utility fleet following an extensive review of ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The company expects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming by 10 percent. Biodiesel fuel will be used by 32 trucks and numerous pieces of construction equipment.

STALLED PAULSBORO REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT SHOWS NEW LIFE
The stalled project to redevelop the Paulsboro Plaza strip mall appeared to revive after the developer, CDIP Corp. of Williamstown, reported that it has fresh financing options. CDIP will seek funding from the New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency, the State Economic Development Authority and a commercial lender.

Plans for the 14-acre site include a mix of age-restricted housing, retail and office space.

TURNPIKE AUTHORITY AWARDS WIDENING DESIGN CONTRACT
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority awarded a $19.2 million contract to Dewberry, Inc., of Bloomfield, to help design the widening of the New Jersey Turnpike. The contract is for a 1.5-mile stretch of the road around Interchange 8 in East Windsor Township.

The Turnpike Authority plans to widen 35 miles between Interchanges 6 and 9 at a cost of about $2 billion. Ten different companies will be hired to design the work.

NEW STADIUM BREAKS GROUND
Last week, the New York Giants and New York Jets football teams formally launched construction of their $1.3 billion new stadium in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. The stadium is scheduled to be ready for the 2010 season. It will host 20 National Football League games each season and seat 82,500 people.

The Giants and Jets are financing the project equally, and each finalized $650 million deals last month with Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.

SOMERVILLE OKS LANDFILL PROJECT
Somerville’s council last week approved a new plan to redevelop a 16 acre landfill and invite bids from developers by the end of the month. The city expects to select a redeveloper by the middle of next year.

The plan calls for a mixed-use project with up to 1,200-multifamily residences, a building to house offices or R&D facilities, a 50-room hotel, a cinema, retail and civic space and parking.

The project is designed to use the city’s train station as a hub. City residents participated in drafting a “vision plan” for the redevelopment project before planning, and real estate consultants Philips Preiss Shapiro Associated filed a draft in July.

ALLIANCE IN ACTION
EAGLE AWARDS DINNER
The New Jersey Alliance for Action’s Eagle Awards Dinner will be held on Wednesday, October 17, at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick.
To register Go Here .

REGISTER NOW FOR THE ANNUAL FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC
The 4th annual Golf Classic of the Foundation of the New Jersey Alliance for Action was postponed on Monday, August 20, due to inclement weather and has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 18 at Eagle Oaks Golf Club, Farmingdale.
To reserve your space, call (732) 225-1180 or to register Go Here .

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