ALLIANCE FOR ACTION TO SALUTE NJ COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITIES
Join the members of the New Jersey Alliance for Action as they salute the work of New Jersey’s County Improvement Authorities.

In recognition of their work the New Jersey Alliance for Action will be presenting special recognition awards to each of New Jersey’s 16 County Improvement Authorities. The breakfast will be held on Tuesday, September 27 with registration beginning at 8:15 a.m. and the program at 9:00 a.m. at the PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ. Click here to register, http://www.allianceforaction.com/sep2711reg.htm.

FUNDING COMING FOR STATE AND LOCAL ROAD/BRIDGE PROJECTS
Funding for local roads and bridges will get a boost from $1.25 billion redirected by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to the transportation trust fund.

In another transportation action, Governor Christie made $7.5 million in local aid infrastructure funding available to help cover repairs to local roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Irene. The $7.5 million will be used toward county and municipal matches of Federal Emergency Agency (FEMA) grants that require a 25 percent local contribution.

NEW JERSEY TO GET $450 MILLION TO IMPROVE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR RAIL
The U.S. Department of Transportation released nearly a half billion dollars for electrical upgrades on the Northeast Corridor rail line in New Jersey.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said he has obligated $450 million to replace overhead train wires and upgrade the electric system and signals on the Northeast Corridor, America’s most traveled rail line.

The Corridor from New Brunswick to just south of Trenton is to be improved by 2017 to allow speeds of 160 miles per hour --- up from 135 mph --- and faster overall reliability. New Jersey’s U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez had urged LaHood to release the money from high-speed rail funding rejected by Florida.

MONTCLAIR STATE OPENS NEW DORM FUNDED BY PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
Montclair State University’s new $211 million residents hall complex was dedicated. Named “The Heights,” it is the first campus construction project built as a public-private partnership under the New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009.

The dormitory complex is expected to house 2,000 students, nearly doubling the number of beds at one of New Jersey’s largest public universities. The project includes two high-rise buildings with eight residence hall wings and a new 24,000-square-foot dining hall.

NEWARK PENN STATION TO GET $3.1 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS
NJ Transit Board of Directors approved $3.1 million to install a new roof and drainage system for Newark’s Penn Station. The contract with G&M Eastern Contracting, Inc. in Neptune City calls for the project to be completed by early next year. The station, built in 1935, serves about 45,000 riders each day on NJ Transit trains, buses and light rail, plus 30,000 PATH customers who board or alight there.

U.S. HOUSE APPROVES SIX MONTH EXTENSION OF FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM
The U.S. House of Representatives approved another extension of the nation’s surface transportation construction program known as SAFETEA-LU. Now running on its seventh extension, scheduled to expire at the end of September, the House’s action would allow the Highway Trust Fund Program to be funded for an additional six months at the annual $41 billion level. Without reauthorization of the Act, the White House said nearly 2,000 highway and transit projects in New Jersey would stop, putting some 23,000 people out of work.

NEW JERSEY AIRPORTS TO GET $27 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS
New Jersey airports will receive $27 million in federal grants, mostly for safety improvements at Teterboro and Trenton-Mercer Airports. As announced by U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez: Trenton-Mercer Airport will get $13.4 million to improve its runway safety area. Teterboro will receive $10.6 million for similar safety improvements. Newark Liberty International Airport will use a $3.2 million grant to rehabilitate its taxiways. The grant to Morristown Municipal Airport is $190,475 to improve its runway approach.

MACHINE TOOLS FIRM OPENS NEW HEADQUARTERS IN CARLSTADT
Hyundia-Wia Machine America Corp., a machine tools manufacturer, held a grand opening of its new U.S. headquarters in Carlstadt for its North and South America operations. The company had been based out of temporary headquarters in East Rutherford. The new 88,000-square-foot headquarters and technical center include 21,500-square-feet of office space and 66,500-square-feet showroom and warehouse.

SHORE MEDICAL CENTER UNVEILS $125 MILLION MAKEOVER
Shore Medical Center of Somers Point unveiled its new $125 million surgical pavilion and expansion. The 138,000-square-foot surgical pavilion has nine operating suites, cardiac catherization labs, an endoscopy center and an outpatients testing and admissions center. The expansion also includes a new three-story medical office building and a four-story, 640-space self-park garage.

$142 MILLION TEACHERS VILLAGE IN NEWARK MOVES AHEAD
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved a package of financial incentives for a major urban renewal project in Newark called the Teachers Village. The $142 million complex will transform part of the Central Ward into a mini-city with three charter schools, 242 units of housing for teachers, a day-care center and a new retail corridor for businesses and restaurants. Completion is scheduled for 2014. Developers are anticipating a broad array of public financing tools, including tax grants and breaks. Departing Newark Deputy Mayor Stefan Pryor declared that commitments have been made and the monies are ready to be deployed.

GROUND BROKEN FOR PORT IMPERIAL WATERFRONT GARAGE
Ground was broken for a new 820-space waterfront garage at Port Imperial, Weehawken. The project is designed for ferry commuters and customers of local retail establishments. The parking garage, which will create 250 to 350 construction jobs, also will include 17,000 square-feet of first floor retail space. Construction is funded by a $9 million grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, a $12.5 million loan from Hudson County and financing through Wells Fargo.

ALLIANCE FOR ACTION APPOINTS NEW MEMBERS TO BOARD
The Board of Directors of the New Jersey Alliance for Action approved two new members of its board. The new members are:

• Anthony S. Bartolomeo, President & CEO, Pennoni Associates, Inc.
• Monica Slater Stokes, Managing Director, Corporate and Government Affairs, Eastern Region, Continental/United Airlines.

Presentations will be:

• Somerset County’s Renewable Energy Panel moderated by Freeholder Director Robert Zaborowski.
• Frank McArdle, Commissioner of the Green Brook Flood Control Commission, on whether Green Brook flooding has been tamed.
• David A. Kuhn, P.E., Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, on the DOT’s future plans for
• Somerset County.

To register, Go Here.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

• Mark S. Lohbauer of Pennsauken was appointed by Governor Christie as the new Chairman of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission.
• John F. Palmieri has been named the new Executive Director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.
• Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti is the new Executive Director and CEO at Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, Florida Department of Transportation. She is the former Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
• J. Fletcher Creamer, Jr., CEO of J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc. will be honored by the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce at its awards gala on Friday, October 21, at the Palisadium, Cliffside Park. He is a member of the Alliance for Action Board of Directors.
• Robert “Bob” Ulrich was named Managing Director for the Americas Region by Halcrow. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, he has focused on infrastructure development, operations and maintenance.

9/30/11 - Somerset County Chapter Meeting - Go Here

10/12/11 - Eagle Awards Dinner - Go Here

10/21/11 – Mercer County Chapter Meeting - Go Here

11/3/11 – Construction Forecast Seminar - Go Here

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