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Online Newsletter - July 28, 2016

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July 28, 2016


In This Issue
DRJTBC HAS PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED 
                
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC)  unveiled a proposed Scudder Falls Replacement Bridge (I-95) toll schedule projected to take effect in 2019, when the first span of the new bridge is expected to open.

If approved in late September by the Commission's board of directors after a slate of public hearings, tolls would be $1.25 for passenger vehicles with E-ZPass; $2.60 for Toll-by-Plate passenger vehicles without E-ZPass; and 75 cents for commuters who make at least 16 tolled trips per month using a Commission-affiliated E-ZPass tag. Tolls will be charged in the southbound direction via an all-electronic toll (AET) collection system of E-ZPass tag readers and high-resolution cameras.

The public hearings will be held as follows:

- Aug. 2, 2016, Holiday Inn Express, 90 Kunkle Dr., Easton, PA. Toll hearing 6 p.m.

- Aug. 4, 2016, Early Childhood Learning Center, 459 Center St., Phillipsburg, NJ. Toll hearing 6 p.m.

- Aug. 9, 2016, High Point Golf Club, 342 Shore Dr., Montague, NJ. Toll hearing 6 p.m.

- Aug. 11, 2016 East Stroudsburg University Innovation Center, 562 Independence Rd., East Stroudsburg, PA. Toll hearing 6 p.m.

Under Commission policy, the public also may provide comment on the proposed toll changes by any of the following, additional methods:
- Email - send to communityaffairs@drjtbc.org

- Commission website - go to the "contact us" portal at www.drjtbc.org (direct URL is www.drjtbc.org/comment.

- US Mail - address to Director of Community Affairs Jodee Inscho, DRJTBC Executive Offices, 2492 River Rd., New Hope, PA. 18938.
Individuals seeking to provide comment should do so no later than August 29, 2016.

For more information click here https://www.drjtbc.org/default.aspx?pageid=3935


UNITED AIRLINES TO MODERNIZE AIRPORT
               
United Airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have announced plans to further modernize the airport security at several of the airline's largest hubs.

United, in collaboration with the TSA, will install state-of-the-art, automated security lanes, add permanent TSA Precheck® enrollment centers at convenient locations and redesign security checkpoints at several of the airline's most-frequented hub airports.


United will debut the automated lanes at Newark Liberty International Airport, the airline's premier Trans-Atlantic gateway, this fall. When United, in collaboration with the TSA, completes the installation, the entire centralized security checkpoint at Terminal C in Newark Liberty will feature 17 automated lanes.


$19.7 M PLAN UNVEILED FOR VISITORS' CENTER AT PATERSON'S GREAT FALLS

Construction plans are moving ahead for the $19.7 million Alexander Hamilton Visitors Center near the lower level of the Passaic River facing the Great Falls in Paterson. Supporters presenting details for the multi level facility to the city's national park advisory committee say the 7,500 square foot facility will increase tourism and boost dollars coming into the region.

NJ BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES APPROVES MERGER OF SOUTHERN COMPANY AND AGL RESOURCES 
                
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (Board) has approved a merger between Southern Company and AGL Resources, the parent company of Elizabethtown Gas.  As a result of the board's approval, a typical residential customer of Elizabethtown Gas will receive a $42 credit on an upcoming bill statement.
      

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

  • Governor Christie announced State Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Harold J. Wirths will step down next month and will be nominated to serve on the State Parole Board.
  • Pennoni announced the promotion of Associate Vice President and Newark, NJ Office Director Todd Hay, PE, CME, to Regional Vice President and the appointment of Senior Business Development Associate Jerry Prevete to Associate Vice President.                         

  • Michael DeVito joined the staff of Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey on July 5, 2016, as Information & Communications Manager.
  • Stokes Creative Group announced Sam Capri as the new Chief Operating Officer.  
$1M BRIDGE PROJECT OK'D FOR ROUTE 202

The state Department of Transportation has approved a $1 million emergency project to replace a Route 202 bridge damaged in heavy rains and flooding on July 10.
The work is taking place despite the suspension of Transportation Trust Fund projects on July 8 that occurred when the state Legislature and the governor could not agree on a plan to provide revenue to the fund, which expired at the end of June.
The state DOT has said the suspension of projects allows there to be enough funds for emergency projects, such as the Route 202 bridge. Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) have reached an agreement on resolving the TTF funding crisis. A vote could come as early as Aug. 1.

FEDERAL AGENCY GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO CONTROVERSIAL PENNEAST PIPELINE 

Federal energy regulators have approved a draft environmental impact statement for the hotly contested 118-mile PennEast Pipeline, which would deliver Marcellus Shale natural gas primarily to utilities in the Lehigh Valley and in New Jersey.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said that construction of the $1 billion pipeline would cause some adverse environmental impacts, but that "most of these impacts would be reduced to less-than-significant levels.

PennEast, which is sponsored by a subsidiary of UGI Corp. of Valley Forge, called the report "a major step forward" and said it anticipates a final decision from FERC in 2017.

FEDERAL FUNDING FOR GATEWAY PROJECT GAINS STEAM

Good news on the project to build a new rail line between New Jersey and New York.  The federal Department of Transportation is starting the  Gateway Project's "project development" phase for the New Starts program.  The project development phase involves environmental review and adopting the program into the DOT's long range transportation plan.  New Starts, along with other federal and loan programs, is expected to comprise a bulk of the federal government's funding commitment to the Gateway project.

PERMIT EXTENSION ACT EXTENDED IN NINE COUNTIES 
  
On June 30, 2016, Governor Christie signed into law a one-year extension of the Permit Extension Act ("PEA") (A3617/S2390) in the nine counties most impacted by Superstorm Sandy. The extension only applies to approvals in Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union Counties. The law will allow the municipal, county, and state permits that were previously extended by the PEA to remain valid in those nine counties for an additional year.

2016 EAGLE AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED 

Six leaders of New Jersey's economic life will receive prized Eagle Awards at the New Jersey Alliance for Action's 42nd  annual dinner on October 24.  The dinner will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick.
             
Alliance Chairman George Laufenberg and President Philip K. Beachem announced the members of Eagle Awards Class of 2016.  They are:

Sigurd Lucassen Labor Award
  • Hon. Stephen Sweeney, NJ Senate President & General Vice President, International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
Dr. John L. Buzzi Engineering Excellence Award
  • James Starace, Chief Engineer, The Port Authority of NY&NJ
Ellis S. Vieser Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Gus Anselmi, Secretary-Treasurer, Anselmi & DeCicco, Inc.
President's Award
  • Jim Fakult, President, JCP&L
Walter Rand South Jersey Award
  • William Varley, President, New Jersey American Water
Richard Hale Chariman's Award
  • Steven M. Rose, President, Passaic County Community College
Click here for more information.