FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SCARE GETS INTERIM SOLUTION
After a scare that $1 billion in federal funds could be cut off sent Trenton transportation officials rushing to Washington, D.C., a temporary reprieve was announced--- but questions still remain.

At a high-level meeting with Acting Administrator J. Richard Capka of the Federal Highway Administration, State Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere said he assured Capka that New Jersey would come up with money to replenish the State Transportation Trust Fund. A brief federal statement said: “Our priority remains to help the state provide highway and transit projects that keep traffic and people moving in a fiscally responsible manner.”

However, state officials noted that the federal government still has not approved New Jersey’s 2006-08 capital highway and transit plan. Without approval, state officials said they are not sure they can use federal dollars for projects on the 2006-08 list or only for projects previously approved. Meanwhile, New Jersey will continue to receive federal funds to advance projects through September 30, 2006.

QUESTIONS ABOUT TOLL ROAD DEAL ARE RAISED
The Star-Ledger, New Jersey’s largest newspaper, has called for early consideration of what it calls “huge issues” on the proposed sale or lease of the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. Declaring editorially that “it is time to get real about the toll road debate,” the Star-Ledger raised three questions:
          Would Turnpike or Parkway maintenance suffer if the roads were privatized?
          Could drivers be protected from rapid and punishing toll hikes?
          Could Trenton leaders be prevented from hijacking some of a toll road deal’s
          billions to pump up the general state budget?

“These are not questions to be left until the day after the November gubernatorial election. They deserve exploration and debate now…”

The Trenton Times also attacked the proposal as “an outlandish-sounding scheme to sell the Turnpike and the Parkway to private investors, a concept that is fraught with long-term adverse implications for the state.”

MARINE RAIL WORK AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
The rail program at the Port Newark and Elizabeth-Port Authority marine terminals is two years ahead of original projections, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The Authority Board has authorized an additional $141 million for the project, which will allow for three new components.
          Final design and construction of a second lead track to ExpressRail
          Elizabeth.
          Completion of ExpressRail Elizabeth’s on-dock rail terminal, which ultimately
          will have 18 tracks.
          Construction of the ExpressRail Corbin Street rail support facility.

This work, which will be completed between 2007 and 2009, will complement previously authorized projects for on-dock terminals at Port Newark, Elizabeth and Howland Hook Container Terminal on Staten Island. When completed, they will allow 1 million containers a year to be handled by rail.

MCCARTER & ENGLISH COMMITMENT BOOSTS NEWARK WATERFRONT PROJECT
A major project on Newark’s waterfront received a big boost when the city’s oldest law firm, McCarter & English, made a commitment to move into the office tower to be constructed by Matrix Development. McCarter & English will move from the Gateway Complex with a long-term lease for as much as 250,000 square feet of the office tower.

This will allow Matrix to finance a 400,000 square foot building and begin working on up to 500 residential units, a 150-room hotel and retail space. The project, valued at $400 million, would be the largest private development in Newark in more than a decade.

EXTENSION GRANTED ON OLD BRIDGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The Old Bridge Township Zoning Board has granted a 90-day extension beyond the September 5 deadline on a general development plan for Metropark South, a project proposed by Edison developer, Michael Alfieri.

Esplanade, the first phase of the project, would include three office buildings--- an eight-story building and two seven-story buildings with 77 parking spaces each. Two three-story parking garages with a total of 847 spaces also are included. The second phase, Canterbury Cove, would include 83 single-family homes and retail space.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Lucille Davy has been appointed Acting Commissioner of the Department of Education. Mrs. Davy has served as Special Counsel to the Governor for Education Policy since January 2002. Her new appointment took effect September 12, 2005.

Victor Fortkiewicz, a former president of Elizabethtown Gas, has been named executive director of the state Board of Public Utilities.

Roy Little has resigned as Vice President at Gannett Fleming and has accepted a position as Senior Program Manager with the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

Curtis Bashaw has announced that he will resign as executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) effective at the end of September.

ALLIANCE IN ACTION
Somerset County Chapter Meeting- Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club, Bedminster, NJ
The program will feature Dennis Bone, President of Verizon New Jersey presenting future plans in the Garden State, including Verizon’s new home in the former AT&T World headquarters building located in Basking Ridge.

Also on the program will be Joseph Fiordaliso, NJDOT Chief of Staff with a presentation on “Transportation Perspectives” followed by Richard Roberts, NJ Transit’s Chief Planner, with a progress update on the third rail tunnel to New York City, known as “Access to the Region’s Core” (ARC). Go Here to register.

To tell us what you think of our on-line news Go Here.

Back to Online News Home Page