Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Online News Now - May 1, 2018


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May 1, 2018

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NORTH BERGEN LIBERTY GENERATING POWER PLANT

Alliance for Action President Phil Beachem stood side by side with the Building Trades and other New Jersey leaders to announce plans to build a $1.8 billion natural gas-powered electrical plant  in North Bergen.  Construction of the North Bergen Liberty Generating power plant on a 15 acre site will create over a thousand jobs.  Company leaders say construction can begin soon and be completed by the end of 2022.


PANY/NJ CHIEF ENGINEER JIM STARACE TO BE HONORED BY BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA 

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Chief Engineer Jim Starace will be honored by the Boy Scouts of America at the 2018 Construction Industry Awards Dinner on Tuesday May 8 at Maritime Parc in Jersey City.  To register online click here.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

5/11/18 -  Meet Kevin Corbett - New NJ Transit Executive Director, click here to register. 

5/18/18 - Burlington County Chapter Meeting, click here to register. 

6/1/18 - "Health Care for the Economy" Hospital Construction and Expansion, click here to register. 

6/5/18 - Middlesex County Chapter Meeting, click here to register. 

6/8/18 - Water Infrastructure Symposium, click here to register. 

6/12/18 - NJ DOT Acting Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti Meeting, click here to register. 

6/15/18 - Bergen County Chapter Meeting, click here to register. 

6/22/18 -  Investing in SJ...Where the Action Is!, click here to register. 

NJ TRANSIT HEAD TO ADDRESS ALLIANCE MEMBERS  

The NJ Alliance for Action will host a meeting with Kevin Corbett, Executive Director of NJ TRANSIT on May 11th at Forsgate Country Club, click here to attend. 

GOVERNOR MURPHY BUDGET PROVIDES RELIEF FOR NJ TRANSIT BUS CUSTOMERS  

Governor Phil Murphy has announced plans to increase NJ Transit funding by more than $240 million.  The extra money will fund additional bus operators and improvements in on-time performance, such as increasing flexibility to mitigate road construction factors.

PLANS FOR NJIT REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT ANNOUNCED 

NJIT President Joel Bloom and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka have announced plans to build the Gateway MLK redevelopment project.  The existing  building at 240 Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd. contains asbestos and will be abated and dismantled to make room for a new development, which will house 99 market-rate apartment units. The project will include adding 1,300 square feet of ground floor retail space and 100 parking spaces.

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION BOND ACT

New Jersey voters will get the chance to vote for a $750 million bond act to fund construction at county vocational school and county college projects if a bill passed by the State Senate moves on and receives the signature of Governor Murphy.  The Career and Technical Education Bond Act, sponsored by State Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senator Steve Oroho, passed the  Senate by a 36-1 vote. 

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
  • Richard Mroz, immediate past President of the NJ Board of Public Utilities has started a consulting firm, Resolute Strategies, LLC, where he is Managing Director. 
  • Steven H. Santoro, Former NJ TRANSIT Executive Director, joins Dewberry as Director of Rail and Transit.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Online News Now - April 13, 2018

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April 13, 2018

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NUCLEAR ENERGY BILL PASSES SENATE AND ASSEMBLY 

This week both the NJ Senate and General Assembly passed S-2313 sponsored by Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and A-3724 sponsored by Assemblyman John F. McKeon, establishing a zero emission certificate program for nuclear power plants.  The measure will now be sent to NJ Governor Phil Murphy.   The bill provides a $300 million per year subsidy for two nuclear power plants operated by PSE&G - Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station and the Salem Nuclear Power Plant.  The two nuclear plants provide the state with approximately 40% of its electricity, and are an economic engine for the entire region.

NJ Alliance for Action President Phil Beachem testified before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee in support of the bill. 
Similarly Alliance for Action Vice President Chris Hartman testified before the Assembly Appropriations Committee.   Beachem in his testimony noted, "This is the most important economic development legislation for South Jersey. It would be devastating to the region, and the rest of the state, if these plants closed." 


Beachem testifying at Senate hearing. 


PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
  • Dr. Louis Manzione accepted the position of President of AICUNJ and ICFNJ effective July 1, 2018.  The AICUNJ is a state-wide organization representing New Jersey's private colleges and universities. Currently Dr. Manzione is dean of the engineering school at the University of Hartford.
  • Governor Murphy announced  the appointment of Jerry Zaro to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Gateway Program Development Corporation.
  • Former Utility Transportation Contractors Association Executive Director Anthony Attanasio has recently joined AECOM.  George Lobman has accepted the position of Executive Director of the Utility Transportation Contractors Association.
  •  Advanced Infrastructure Design, Inc. (AID) is proud to announce that Richard T. Hammer former NJ DOT Commissioner will be joining the firm as Senior Vice President.
  • The College of New Jersey Board of Trustees has selected New Jersey native Kathryn A. Foster as the 16th president of the College. 
  • NJM Insurance Group has selected Mitch Livingston as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of NJM. 
  • Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ announced Kevin P. Conlin as their new Chairman of the Board. 
  • Amy Mansue was recently installed as Chair of the Board of the NJ Hospital Association. 
  • Merodie A. Hancock, Ph.D, was appointed the fourth President of Thomas Edison State University. 
  • NJBIA has announced Christine Biteas as its new Chief Government Affairs Officer. 
  • Roy Denmark, Jr. is the Chair of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. 

TRANSACTION - MOVING GATEWAY FORWARD

New Jersey Alliance for Action President Phil Beachem will be moderating a panel at TransAction Conference on April 18th in Atlantic City. 
This panel will include a planning overview of the entire Gateway Program, update on governance, status of funding/ financing, construction packaging, and next steps for planning the elements of the Gateway Program.
Panelists include:    
  • Marie Corrado, Senior Director, Gateway Program, Amtrak
  • Drew Galloway, Vice President, Director Planning and Service Development, WSP
  • Francis Sacr, Interim Finance Director, Gateway Program Development Corporation

GOVERNOR MURPHY ANNOUNCES NEW VISION FOR NJ'S ECONOMIC FUTURE

Governor Phil Murphy outlined his vision for the Hub, a pivotal redevelopment site in downtown New Brunswick that will support New Jersey's economic future as the state's home for research and start-up incubation.

The site, owned by the city of New Brunswick and being managed by DevCo, is approved for up to four million square feet of commercial development that can complement the recent residential, retail, and entertainment growth and development in New Brunswick. The site, which will be adjacent to the New Brunswick train station, provides a strong proximity to existing corporate, medical, and academic research activity and extraordinary public transportation assets.
While development of the Hub is in the earliest stages of a years-long process that will require engagement from multiple partners, Governor Murphy announced that the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) will immediately begin a planning and implementation study. He also stated that there will be plans for the EDA to identify potential partners for the Hub.

EARLY WORK BEGINS ON PORTAL BRIDGE

Work has begun on the Portal Bridge component of the Gateway regional rail project.  The work is being funded via a $6 million federal grant secured by NJ TRANSIT and $4 million of NJ TRANSIT'S money.

Work under way includes preparing the site for future major construction by relocating utilities, access roads and building an in river pier to receive construction materials. 

NEW MEMBERS JOIN ALLIANCE FOR ACTION BOARD 

The New Jersey Alliance for Action  announced the following individuals have joined the Board: 

  • Joseph Demark, Jr., President & Business Manager, Sheet Metal Works Local No. 25
  • Don DiZuzio, Senior Vice President, T&M Associates
  • Rochelle Hendricks former Secretary of Higher Education
  • Robert Peake, Director, Facilities Construction & Real Estate, Atlantic Health
  • Donald Shields, Vice President & Director of Engineering, NJ American Water Company, Inc. 
  • Mark McKoy, Vice President & General Manager - New Jersey Operations, Suez 

GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL OUTLINES $242 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR NJTRANSIT

Governor Phil Murphy reinforced his commitment to establishing a safer, fairer, more customer-friendly transit system for New Jerseyans, outlining plans for the additional $242 million state investment in NJTRANSIT announced in his budget address. The 172 percent funding increase for Fiscal Year 2019 will begin putting NJTRANSIT back on track - without a fare hike.
For more information click here

NJ LSRP PROGRAM

NJ City University and Connell Foley are hosting a program on NJ LSRP: Implications for Legal & Environmental Insurance Professionals on April 24, 2018.

Click here for more information. 
UPCOMING MEETINGS


4/16/18 - City of Camden....A Growing Economic Force, click here to register. 

4/30/17 - Golf Classic, click here
to register. ONLY THREE FOURSOMES LEFT!

Online News Now - March 16, 2018

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March 16, 2018

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GOVERNOR MURPHY LOOKS TO FUND NJ TRANSIT 
Governor Murphy's first budget calls for an additional $242 million in operating funds for NJ Transit.  He says the extra funding will help NJ Transit stop using capital funds for operational needs.
GOVERNOR MURPHY ESTABLISHES JOBS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL 

Governor Phil Murphy has signed an executive order establishing the Jobs and Economic Opportunity Council.

The Council will provide economic advice and recommendations for stimulating job growth and workforce development in New Jersey.

JCP&L INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS 
Jersey Central Power & Light is investing $357 million to upgrade substation equipment.  JCP&L says the projects come after the company spent $308 million in 2017 to build new transmission lines, install voltage-regulating equipment and automated controls.  

FOLEY, INC. ACQUIRES GILES & RANSOME

Foley, Inc. of Piscataway, NJ, has acquired Giles & Ransome, Inc., headquartered in Bensalem, PA.  The transaction was the result of a mutual agreement between both dealerships and Caterpillar.
As a result of the acquisition, Foley CAT's territory expands from northern New Jersey to the Delaware Valley, southern New Jersey and northern Delaware. Foley will continue to operate out of its headquarters in Piscataway, N.J., and will now also operate out of Bensalem, Pa., (Ransome CAT's former headquarters); Whitehall, Pa.; Bear, Del.; and Hammonton, N.J.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
  • Cooper University Health Care has reorganized its leadership by promoting Kevin O'Dowd and Anthony Mazzarellito Co-Presidents, CEO Adrienne Kirbywill also take on the title of Executive Chair.
  • Stephen Dilts has been promoted to Senior Vice President, New York Office Leader of HNTB and Gary Hullfish, PE is now Vice President and New Jersey Leader.
UPCOMING MEETINGS


3/27/18 - Newark Terminal A Redevelopment, click here to register. 

4/4/18 - Meeting with Port Authority Chief Engineer Jim Starace, click here to register. 

4/16/18 - City of Camden....A Growing Economic Force, click here to register. 

4/30/17 - Golf Classic, click here to register. 

VOTERS APPROVE $105.7M FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION
Voters approved school construction proposals totaling nearly $105.7 million in five districts. Most projects were eligible for state funding to cover part of the cost. Approved projects include:

BERGEN COUNTY

Fair Lawn
Additions and renovations to middle schools and upgrade of the HVAC system at the high
school auditorium.

Total project cost: $25,000,000
State funds: $4,509,071

Park Ridge
Two proposals addressing heating and ventilation/air conditioning in the high school

Proposal 1
Conversion of steam heat to hot water heat in the older portion of the high school.

Total project cost: $2,800,000
State funds: $1,120,000

Proposal 2
Replacement of unit ventilators and installation of air conditioning in the high school's A-Wing.

Total project cost: $798,466
State funds: $319,386

BURLINGTON COUNTY

Northern Burlington County Regional 
Improvements including construction of an addition connecting "east" and "west" buildings of the high school complex; renovations and improvements to instructional space; new science labs, technology labs, agriculture and media instructional space; and other improvements.

Total project cost: $39,760,000
State funds: $10,378,491

CAMDEN COUNTY

Pennsauken
New classroom additions, window and door replacements, construction of new field house,
and new main entrance and security vestibule at high school; other renovations and
improvements.

Total project cost: $35,669,908
State funds: $10,452,942


SUSSEX COUNTY

Green Township
Two-part proposal for work at Green Hills School

Proposal I
Roof replacement at Green Hills School.

Total project cost: $1,091,000
State funds: $436,382

Proposal 2
Acquisition and installation of ventilators, air conditioners and ADA improvements at Green
Hills School.

Total project cost: $568,000
State funds: $227,178