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Online News Now - August 15, 2017

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August 15, 2017

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PORTAL BRIDGE REPLACEMENT MOVES AHEAD 
Replacement of the century-old Portal Bridge advanced a significant step with approval by the Federal Transit Administration. It was an important mark toward obtaining federal funding for the $1.6 billion project. 

Replacing the old bridge over the Hackensack River in Kearny is part of the planned Gateway Rail Tunnel program under the Hudson River. 

PLANNING FOR TRANS-HUDSON TUNNEL MOVES AHEAD WITH RELEASE OF DRAFT EIS
The Planning process for a proposed new trans-Hudson rail tunnel is moving forward this month with public review of the latest draft of the tunnel's alignment and its potential impact on the environment.
A series of public hearings on the proposed tunnel's draft environmental impact statement has been completed.  Alliance for Action Vice President Chris Hartman testified at the August 3rd hearing in Secaucus, NJ stressing the economic benefits of a new Rail Tunnel to the entire region, while noting the degradation of the current rail tubes.  Federal and state officials are also collecting public comments on the tunnel, which would be built as part of the larger Gateway transportation project, through August 21.
The public hearings and the collection of public comments are important steps in the tunnel project's planning process, which currently calls for a final environmental impact statement to be issued next spring to allow for construction to get underway in 2019.
The new tunnel between North Bergen and New York's Penn Station is the most significant feature of the Gateway initiative, which also involves other infrastructure improvements in the region, including the planned replacement of a key rail bridge spanning the Hackensack River near Secaucus Junction.
The current trans-Hudson tunnel that's utilized by both Amtrak and New Jersey Transit supports an estimated 200,000 daily train passengers, but it is already more than a century old. The existing tunnel, which features two tubes that allow for traffic in each direction, was also damaged by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and is in need of repair. Transportation officials have warned that if just one of the two tubes were to go out of service for emergency work, there would be a reduction in overall rail capacity of 75 percent.
EDA OFFERS $32 MILLION TO BROOKLYN TECH TO MOVE TO STATE

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) offered $32 million over ten years in incentives to a Brooklyn based tech company to move its headquarters to the 11-acre former Hoffman-LaRoche site on the boarder of Nutley and Clifton.  Modern Meadows move would create 263 new jobs and invest more than $20 million to construct a 120,000-square-foot facility. 

The EDA wants to entice the company to move to New Jersey instead of Farmingdale, New York.  The EDA estimated the gross benefit to New Jersey to be $63 million. 

UPCOMING EVENTS 


9/8/17 - Atlantic County Alliance for Action, click here to register. 

9/27/17 - Somerset County Alliance for Action, click here to register. 

10/5/17 - Eagle Awards Dinner, click here to register. 

ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO CONTINUE 

Atlantic City Electric PowerAhead Infrastructure program continues with approval by the BPU as park of strong improvements in New Jersey by the state's utility industry. 

BPU President Richard S. Mroz said the $57 million five-year program is designed to address vulnerable areas of the electric system that experience extended outages during recent storms.  Park of the work will increase system automation for faster and safer restoration. 

NJEDA HEADQUARTERS RENAMED TO HONOR THE LATE CAREN FRANZINI
              
Legislation to rename the New Jersey Economic Development Authority headquarters in Trenton to the "Caren Franzini Memorial Building" was signed into law recently by Gov. Chris Christie.
Franzini led the EDA for nearly two decades and has made significant contributions toward improving the Garden State's business climate. Franzini was a member of the New Jersey Alliance for Action Board of Directors.
Franzini joined the EDA in 1991 as its deputy director, and became head of the agency from 1994 to 2012 before founding her own firm, Franzini Consulting LLC in Lambertville.
Franzini died on January 25.
HOWARD HUGHES CORP. PROPOSES CONCEPT PLAN FOR WEST WINDSOR 

The Howard Hughes Corporation submitted a concept plan earlier this year to redevelop the 653-acre area formerly occupied by American Cyanamid in West Windsor Township. The concept plan proposes developing the site into a mixed-use complex of retail, office, hotel, residential and community spaces, with easier access to the Princeton Junction rail station. 

The site was bought by The Rouse Co. in 2004. Rouse then merged with General Growth Properties, which later restructured and spun off Howard Hughes Corp. in 2010.


In the proposed concept plan, over 240 acres have been designated for open space and preserved areas.  The proposal also includes 32 acres for a potential school and community recreation within a walkable live-work-play environment featuring a mix of housing options, office buildings, a hotel and a Village Center with shops, restaurants and public spaces for socializing and gathering
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
  • Kevin O'Toole has been names Chairman of the Port Authority of NY & NJ  and Rick Cotton will serve as the Authority's Executive Director.  
  • CB&I Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc. has changed its name to APTIM, Inc.