July 18, 2022

STATE INFRASTRUCTURE DETAILS AT UPCOMING ALLIANCE FOR ACTION EVENTS

The recently approved FY 2023 State Budget includes new monies for public education and transportation infrastructure.

Alliance for Action members can hear about specifics of both at the July 27 Transportation Conference and the August 12 Inside Scoop with Schools Development Authority CEO Manny DaSilva

$1.9 billion is coming to SDA for urban districts and $350 million elsewhere. $814 million will go to NJ TRANSIT and the Department of Transportation. Among those projects are the Walter Rand Transportation Center, Newark’s Penn Station and the Reading Terminal in Hoboken.

$1.8 billion is also included for water infrastructure. This will help replace lead pipelines around the state. 

OCEAN WIND 1 D.E.I.S.

IS RELEASED

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has announced the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for

Ocean Wind 1.

The DEIS marks a crucial step in the project’s federal review. The Alliance for Action testified in support at recent public hearings and will continue to do so. This project is a joint venture of Ørsted and PSEG. 

N.J. GIVES $600M BOOST TO TTF

The Transportation Trust Fund has a new funding boost. Highway, bridge, and transit projects are set to get a $600 million funding infusion for FY 2024. This is to replace the extra $600M investment made during FY2021 that accelerated construction during the pandemic’s peak, when traffic was very low.

PSEG GRID MODERNIZATION DETAILS TAKE SHAPE

PSE&G is planning to invest $511 million on modernizing electric circuits, upgrading five electric substations, along with four natural gas metering and regulating stations. Also included is $234 million of “last mile” improvements to provide residential areas with greater reliability. The plan puts priority on the expected switch to more electric vehicles and chargers in households. The plan gained BPU approval in late June and was supported by the Alliance for Action.

ARMY CORPS PROJECT TO BEGIN IN UNION BEACH

The US Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $50 Million contract to begin a flood control project in Union Beach. It will include a new beach berm and a terminal groin to protect against erosion. The next phase of the project includes a flood gate and other flood control structures for the area.

Originally authorized in 2007, the project was one of many discussed by the Corps during the Alliance for Action’s recent program on USACE work in New Jersey.

HOBOKEN CONNECT APPROVED

Hoboken Connect, a long-stalled redevelopment plan that will bring apartments, office space, retail and infrastructure and streetscape improvements to the area near Hoboken’s historic train station, now has been approved by Hoboken’s Council.

The plan includes:

• A total of 389 apartments, with 20% dedicated as affordable housing 

• a 20-story Class A office building 

• 5,000 square feet of retail space 

• and public open space investments, including additional pedestrian, vehicular and bicycle improvements

Upcoming Events

7/27/22 - 20th Annual New Jersey Statewide Transportation Conference. Click here to register. 

8/4/22 - Offshore Wind Energy – New Jersey Is Leading The Way. Click here to register. 

10/17/22 - Foundation of the New Jersey Alliance for Action Golf Classic. Click here to register. 

11/4/22 - Eagle Awards Breakfast Gala. Click here to register. 

GATEWAY FUNDING AGREEMENTS SETS STAGE FOR NEXT STEPS

ANJ and NY agreement equally divides the local share to build the Portal North Bridge at $386.2 million per state. Funding amounts by each state for the Hudson River Tunnels should be announced shortly. It is another critical step in moving the projects forward as Portal North Bridge preliminary work has already begun.

SJG INFRASTRUCTURE PLANS MOVE FORWARD

South Jersey Gas is moving forward after getting BPU approval to spend $200 million to upgrade its distribution system. It will begin by replacing 250 miles of aging pipeline and mains, among other improvements. The Alliance for Action supported the infrastructure plan before the BPU.

NEW BRIDGE OVER MCCARTER HIGHWAY LINKS NEWARK NEIGHBORHOODS

A new pedestrian bridge over McCarter Highway will start construction later this year. The $110 million structure will tie in the Mulberry Commons, Newark Penn Station and the Ironbound neighborhood, linking three areas for great potential economic activity. Newark Penn is also due for substantial improvements.   

MERCER AIRPORT EXPANSION GETS FAA OK

The Federal Aviation Administration has given the OK to Mercer County to begin the design phase and then the construction of a new airport terminal by later 2023. A new 125,000 square foot terminal will replace a 28,000 sq. ft. structure from the 1970’s.

FEDERAL GRANT TO ASSIST WITH REDESIGN EFFORTS

NJ TRANSIT was one of 50 mass transit agencies from 24 states selected to share $25 million from the Federal Transit Administration to help reassess and improve service that has been affected by the pandemic. NJ TRANSIT will get nearly $520,000 to conduct a modernization study for Newark’s light rail system.

HOLY NAME MEDICAL CENTER EXPANSION APPROVED BY COUNCIL



Holy Name Medical Center will make major changes to its current Teaneck campus under plans approved by the township council. Plans call for new medical office buildings to be attached to the hospital and also add buildings on the east end of the campus. Workers will also build a new day care center and upgrade the hospital’s main entrance.

PEOPLE AND COMPANIES ON THE MOVE

Long-time Newark Regional Business Partnership EVP Barbara Kaufmann has announced she will be stepping back from full-time duties with the organization for which she has worked since 1988. She will remain at NRBP part-time.

Justin Braz has been named the new Assistant Commissioner for Transportation Policy and Chief of Staff at the New Jersey Department of Transportation. He had served as Governor Murphy’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs and had also worked for Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic). 

Veteran political strategist Kevin Drennan has joined the New Jersey team of Mercury Public Affairs as NJ managing director. Drennan previously served as executive director of the New Jersey Senate Majority Office and as chief of staff to former Senate President Steve Sweeney.

Rowan University President Ali A. Houshmand has been recognized as a 2022 Philadelphia Titan 100 by Wipfli LLP. 



Professor Jeffrey Robinson has been named the new Provost for Rutgers University’s Newark Campus