Platform Update

September 27 , 2007

ACTION ITEMS

NEW PLATFORM AGENDA: At the conclusion of the last Platform for Progress Transportation Initiative meeting, the Chamber was charged with meeting with representatives of the Corzine Administration to identify areas of agreement on the guiding principals relating to financing the long-term transportation needs of the state. Governor Corzine, State Treasurer Bradley Abelow, Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri, and Deputy Chief of Staff Maggie Moran were briefed on the P4P Transportation Initiative and reacted positively to a majority of the guiding principles developed by Platform Transportation Initiative members. Representing the Platform Coalition at the meeting were Initiative Chair Hazel Gluck and Tom Bracken.

We will continue to keep you updated on the latest developments as specific plans are released and the Administration's outreach program is developed. The Administration recognizes the importance of involving the Platform Coalition.

Increasing vitally needed transportation infrastructure investment is the primary long-term goal of the Transportation Initiative.

DOT COMMISSIONER SPEAKS AT SEPT. 21 MEETING: DOT Commissioner Kris Kolluri spoke to representatives from business and labor on Sept. 21 at Forsgate Country Club. He thanked Hazel Gluck, the chair of the Platform Transportation Initiative, for her leadership, guidance and for the P4P Coalition’s development of its own guiding principles. He also expressed appreciation that Platform leaders have not jumped to any conclusions prior to the Administration releasing a final plan. There is no specific timetable as to when the Administration’s plan will be released, but the Commissioner said he is committed to keeping the Platform Coalition updated.

Commissioner Kolluri expressed concerns that other countries, such as China and India, are quickly outpacing the U.S. in several areas – particularly in maintaining and adding infrastructure. He warned that we are in jeopardy of losing our competitive edge. In order for New Jersey to continue to be attractive to business, there needs to be a long-term transportation strategy that will help grow and attract new businesses. He said the key to a successful economy is linked to the ability of having a viable infrastructure.

GENERAL AVIATION COALITION FORMED: Many local airports in New Jersey operate as “reliever” airports for major overflows at Newark and Philadelphia airports. These general aviation airports represent a $1.8 billion industry and are often relied upon during times of crisis to provide fast access to emergency equipment and supplies. This week, representatives from the State Chamber, NJBIA, the NJ Aviation Association, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association met at Mercer County Airport to formerly organize as a united coalition.

The goal of the group is to address the importance of educating, promoting, protecting and highlighting the positive economic contributions of New Jersey’s general aviation industry. Several coalition members also met with State Assembly Transportation Committee Chairman John Wisniewski to discuss convening legislative hearings on general aviation to gather information and address the concerns of various stakeholders. Assemblyman Wisniewski expressed his support to hold hearings later in the fall and instructed his staff to coordinate scheduling with the coalition.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT CARD: At a recent event held at the Trenton Marriott by the NJ Alliance for Action, the American Society of Civil Engineers released an infrastructure report card, which presents letter grades in nine broad categories of infrastructure. A committee of eight civil engineers from throughout the state assembled to collect data, such as funding availability and inspection ratings, and they developed the grades and recommendations.

New Jersey received an overall grade of a C-minus. Bridges, highways, airports and sewers all received grades of D, the lowest ones on the report. The highest grade – a C-plus – was given to the energy infrastructure. The report card noted that 36 percent of the state's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete and that current funding levels are not enough to keep pace with the deterioration. The engineering group suggested NJ would have to increase the state-funded portion of its capital improvement program for bridges from at least $266 million to $675 million.

Phil Beachem, President of the Alliance, said the report card reflects decades of neglect and the old ways of funding these infrastructure programs need to be revisited and revised.

NJ BRIDGE STATUS: Recognizing the tragic events in Minneapolis, Governor Corzine issued a directive calling on the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to prepare a report describing the safety status of all bridges in the state. In response, NJDOT Commissioner Kris Kolluri has released the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)’s Interim Report on Bridges. The report details the number of bridges located in the state and each bridge’s jurisdiction of control and structural condition. In addition, it provides the dates of each bridge’s most recent and upcoming inspections. NJDOT will issue a formal report on Oct. 1 that will include a capital investment strategy to ensure all public bridges are in a state of good repair. For a state-by-state analysis that details how many bridges are structurally deficient or obsolete in their state go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20093413/?GT1=10252.

7TH ANNUAL PORT OF NY-NJ INDUSTRY DAY: The 7th Annual Port of NY-NJ Port Industry Day is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Railroad Terminal at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. The enormous growth of cargo coming into our marine terminals has had a major effect on all our infrastructure resulting in major changes in facilities, services and the way we do business. Various speakers will address how we are responding as a nation and as a Port to these new developments. For additional information, contact Dorothy Rosciszewski at (201) 437-1891 or by email at PortIndustryDay@yahoo.com.

HUDSON-BERGEN LIGHT RAIL: U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg recently announced that the HBLR system would receive $100 million in U.S. Department of Transportation grants for construction costs. According to Lautenberg, more than $500 million in federal funds have been secured for the line.

When the HBLR system opened in 2000, the line ran only between Bayonne and the Jersey City Financial Center. It now connects Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City and North Bergen. This past April, NJ Transit officials announced that the number of riders on the line jumped in the past year - with a 52.6 percent system-wide increase between January 2006 and January 2007. As development increases in the North Jersey region, the pressing need for more mobility in that region of the state will continue. The HBLR will help alleviate congestion and give commuters another option to getting to their workplace.

MONMOUTH-OCEAN-MIDDLESEX RAIL LINE: U.S. Reps. Jim Saxton and Chris Smith were successful in adding $1 million to the 2008 U.S. Department of Transportation budget for an environmental impact study for the proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) rail line. The funding bill still needs approval from the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Currently, three routes are being studied. All would begin in Lakewood Township and run north to connect to either the North Jersey Coast Line in Red Bank or Matawan, or to the Northeast Corridor line in the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick.

Officials in Monmouth and Ocean counties support the Monmouth Junction route, contending it will attract the most riders and contribute the most to relieve congested highways. Middlesex County officials have opposed that route, contending that it will be intrusive on the municipalities of Monroe, Jamesburg and South Brunswick.

P4P Transportation members have endorsed the MOM rail line as a way of providing long overdue congestion relief to one of the fastest growing areas in New Jersey. In addition, MOM will improve the local economy by attracting new jobs and economic development.

EXTENDING THE PATCO RAIL LINE: Under the approved NJ Transit capital budget, funding was included to study the possible extension of the PATCO high-speed line through Camden and Gloucester counties. A second phase of the extension could run the line farther east into Cumberland County. The study would examine several possible extension routes, including one that would involve the use of existing rail lines and another option that would involve running PATCO trains down the median of Route 55. PATCO's high-speed line runs between Philadelphia and Lindenwold in Camden County. The extension proposal being considered is not only viewed as a way to bring more rail service through Camden, Gloucester and Cumberland counties, but also as a way to improve rail service between Atlantic City and Philadelphia.

CONGESTION PRICING: A NY City Commission will be formed to examine congestion and then report back on how to implement their findings by the end of the year. The deal requires that both the NY State Legislature and NY City Council approve the recommendations. NY City was under pressure to come up with a last-minute plan in order to qualify as a federal pilot program and receive as much as $500 million in federal funds to improve mass transit. Governor Corzine has expressed concerns about how the plan would impact New Jersey commuters. The Governor said New Jersey does not have the capacity to handle dramatic surges in additional riders on its mass transit system, which would be the inevitable result of congestion pricing.

Congestion pricing is the practice of charging motorists more to use a roadway, bridge or tunnel during periods of the heaviest use. Its purpose is to reduce automobile use during peak hours, thereby easing traffic and encouraging commuters to walk, bike or take mass transit as an alternative. Mayor Bloomberg's long-term sustainability plan called for imposing fees of $8 on cars and $21 on trucks that enter Manhattan below 86th Street during the workday.

EARLIER COMMUTES: According to census data, more Americans are leaving home earlier and earlier to beat the rush hour and get to work on time. In 2000, one worker in nine was out the door by 6 a.m. – the new 2006 data shows it is now one in eight. Although that might not seem like a big change, it has put more than 2.7 million additional drivers — for a total of 15 million — on pre-dawn patrol. In a 2005 study of congestion, the Texas Transportation Institute stated that American drivers spend 3.7 billion hours a year stuck in traffic delays. Much of the gridlock is caused by unexpected incidents for which drivers cannot plan.

Michael Egenton
Vice President , Environment & Transportation
New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
216 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: (609)989-7888 Ext. 119
Fax: (609)989-9696
Michael.Egenton@njchamber.com