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On Line News Now - February 21, 2017

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February 21, 2017

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NJ's Leading Infrastructure Projects 


On February 10th we held our 6th Annual NJ's Leading Infrastructure Projects Awards Breakfast, click here to view the photo gallery. 
In This Issue
ALLIANCE MOURNS TWO FRIENDS 

Alliance for Action members and friends are grieving yesterday's passing of Jamie Fox.  The long-time political leader's career spanned four decades.  He was Governor McGreevey's Chief of Staff and Transportation Commissioner and came back years later to work as DOT Commissioner under Governor Christie.  Fox also worked for Senators Frank Lautenberg, Jon Corzine and Bob Torricelli.  Alliance for Action President Phil Beachem said Fox was "One of the guys you could always count on to be fair and give you a straight answer.  And despite the importance of the issues he was working on, he never took himself too seriously."

Caren Franzini who was a leader in economic development for public and private programs for two decades, passed away in late January.  She headed the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) from 1994 to 2012.

Alliance President Philip K. Beachem, noted that Franzini was a member of the Alliance for Action Board of Directors and said she was in the forefront of helping to finance and encourage development projects in New Jersey's cities as well as small businesses and communities. 

Beachem went on to say that she worked cooperatively with the Alliance to bring her competency  and experience to infrastructure projects that served the economy and quality of life for the state's residents. 


NEW JERSEY'S LEADING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TAKE CENTER STAGE

The Alliance for Action honored nineteen innovative, pioneering and landmark construction initiatives at its sixth annual New Jersey's Leading Infrastructure Projects awards program.  Alliance President Philip K. Beachem said the awarded projects included transportation, healthcare, utility, beach nourishment, education and retail initiatives, including: 

Absecon Island Beach Nourishment Project

Atlantic City Electric's High Street Substation & Transmission Improvement Project

JCP&L's Englishtown-Wyckoff Street Transmission Line Project

Middlesex County Utilities Authority's Sayreville Pump Station Storm Damage Project

Hahne & Company Building Development Project in Newark

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New Jersey American Water's Oak Glen Water Treatment Plant

NJIT's Wellness and Events Center Project

One Theater Square in Newark Project

Port Newark Berth 14 Reconstruction Project

PSE&G's Gas System Modernization Program

PSEG  Power Sewaren Generating Station Project

Middlesex County Utilities Authority's Edison Pump Station Storm Damage Project

Route 280 & Route 21 Interchange Project 

Rowan Boulevard Phase A-3 Project

Rutgers University's Camden Nursing & Science Building Project

Stevens Institute Academic Gateway Project

Stockton University - Atlantic City Gateway Project

Trenton Central High School Project

LG BREAKS GROUND FOR $300 MILLION HEADQUARTERS CAMPUS 

LG Electronics North America has broken ground on its much anticipated $300 million new North American headquarters in Englewood Cliffs.

LG says the 350,000 square foot campus project will feature four and five story wings, create 2,000 construction jobs and allow the firm to double its local employment by more than 1,000 people by 2019.  

NJ AMERICAN WATER INVESTS $5.8M IN MORRIS, SOMERSET AND UNION COUNTIES 

New Jersey American Water said it will invest $5.8 million in new water mains in Morris, Somerset and Union counties.

Some of the soon-to-be-replaced pipes were installed more than 90 years ago.  

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
  • American Water announced it has named Robert MacLean President of New Jersey American Water and Senior Vice President of its Eastern division, effective March 1.  MacLean will replace William Varley, who was recently appointed Senior Vice President of American Water's Midwest division.
  • KyuJung Whang, has been named Princeton University's next Vice President for Facilities.
  • Gannett Fleming has named Paul D. Nowicki, PE, as president and chief operating officer.
  • Boswell Engineering has promoted Joseph A. Pomante, P.E. to Vice President and Chief Operations Officer.
  • Armand Corporation, a construction management firm celebrating its 25th year in business, has moved its New Jersey headquarters to the City of Camden.
  • David Shulkin, former President of Morristown Medical Center and former Vice President of Atlantic Health System, has been named Secretary of Veterans Affairs by President Trump.
  • Stokes Creative Group, Inc. has announced that five employees have been awarded partial ownership of the South Jersey public relations firm: Diane Konopka, Operations and Personnel Manager; Matthew Touhey, Production Manager; Patty Egan, Business Development Manager; Qiao Wu, Project Manager for the Tappan Zee Bridge project; and Sam Capri, Chief Operations Officer.

UPCOMING EVENTS 

2/28/17 - Hudson County Alliance for Action, click here to register. 

3/9/17 - Getting The Work Out with NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Steven Santoro, click here to register.

3/24/17 - Where the Work Is!, click here to register.  
PORT AUTHORITY BOARD APPROVES LARGEST EVER $32.2 BILLION 10-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN

The Port Authority Board of Commissioners have approved the agency's largest ever $32.2 billion 2017-2026 Capital Plan, which is expected to generate hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in overall economic activity for the region.

The plan calls for $11.6 billion in major redevelopment airport projects, $10 billion in tunnel (including the Gateway Tunnel), bridges and terminal work, money to begin planning for a new bus terminal, funds for a PATH extension and other critical upgrades.

The plan's multi-billion investment is expected to result in the creation of 235,400 job years, $20 billion in total wages and $56 billion in overall economic activity.   

HOLTEC BEGINS MOVING STAFF FROM MARLTON TO CAMDEN WATERFRONT  

Holtec International, the energy technology company, announced it will begin relocating staff from its Marlton location to a new $312 million campus on the Camden waterfront.  

The company reported the new location will have a 600,000-square-foot manufacturing and technology center that will house nearly 400 employees.  In 2014, Holtec received approval from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for up to $200 million in incentives for the move. 

SUPPORT PENNEAST

The PennEast Pipeline project has received a key water quality certification from the state of Pennsylvania. This is the second government agency to find that PennEast Pipeline can be constructed with minimal impacts on the environment. You can read the news by visiting this link.
While we await federal approval of the project to deliver lower-cost, cleaner-burning and more reliable natural gas to local families and businesses, it's imperative that your elected officials hear from Alliance for Action members. Click here for more information. 

VOTERS APPROVE $85M FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION 

On January 24, 2017, voters approved school construction proposals totaling nearly $85 million in four districts, 100% of the proposed projects. All were eligible for state funding to cover part of the cost. The projects are in Weehawken, East Amwell Township, Manasquan and Pinelands Regional School District. 

NEWARK TO REDEVELOP AROUND PRU CENTER DOWNTOWN AREA

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka announced a plan to redevelop a downtown 22-acre site at the foot of the Prudential Center.  

The project will include a park, retail and commercial space.  Through reuse of a warehouse along McCarter Highway, it will connect the popular Ironbound area to Newark Penn Station. 

Baraka reported that Mulberry Commons has received more than $100 million from private investors and expects to receive an additional $10 million in public funding 

NJ TRANSIT APPROVES ADDITIONAL $32.5M FOR RAIL SAFETY SYSTEM 

Implementation of a Positive Train Control, a federally funded rail safety system, cleared another hurdle when NJ Transit officials approved a new $32 million expenditure. 

The additional funding will help Parsons Transportation Group run a second shift order to install the $320 million system by the December 2018 deadline. 

Positive Train Control is a computer and radio system that slows or stops a train if the operator fails to obey signals or speed limits. Some of the costs will be reimbursed by Metro North and freight railroads, which use NJ Transit tracks.

BPU REPORT ON 2016 RESULTS AND 2017 CHALLENGES ISSUED

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has issued its report on major accomplishments of 2016 and the challenges of 2017.  The reports on 2016 overview and 2017 focus were issued by BPU President Richard Mroz.

Mroz reported that progress in 2016 continued on the New Jersey Energy Master Plan and the decrease in retail electric prices.  He said natural gas prices have dropped and stated that 2016 included infrastructure improvement programs, energy efficiency and renewable energy investments.  He stressed that future challenges include a busy docket of rate cases and financial viability of our utility companies.

For additional information click here.

BLUE APRON BUILDING FULFILLMENT CENTER IN LINDEN 

Blue Apron, a leading fresh meal kit delivery company based in New York City, announced plans to expand its operations and employ over 2,000 people in New Jersey, with the construction and opening of a new 495,000-square-foot fulfillment center in Linden later this year.

BARNABAS AND RUTGERS PARTNER ON SPORTS MEDICINE FACILITY 

Ground was broken for the RWJBarnabas Athletic Performance Center that will provide Rutgers' over 625 NCAA Intercollegiate athletes with an extensive array of health care services.  The new facility will be adjacent to the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) in Piscataway.
                
Barnabas Health President and CEO Barry Ostrowsky and Rutgers President Robert Barchi led the ceremony. The facility is scheduled for completion by July 2019.

$47M AWARDED TO RENOVATE HISTORIC TRAIN STATION IN PERTH AMBOY

NJ Transit has committed nearly $47 million for renovations and improvements to the Perth Amboy station, located on the North Jersey Coast Line.  Many of the improvements will focus on improving accessibility to people with disabilities.