Sussex County Freeholder Susan M. Zellman was elected Chairman of the NJTPA Board of Trustees at the Board’s Jan. 14 meeting. Freeholder Zellman, who replaces Union County Freeholder Daniel P. Sullivan, will serve as Chairman for the 2008-2010 term.
“Transportation is critical to the quality of life in our region,” Chairman Zellman said. “These are challenging times, as we seek to improve and expand travel options, spur sustainable economic growth, and ensure that our road and rail infrastructure is safe and well-maintained. I look forward to meeting these challenges and to leading the NJTPA as it continues to plan for the future.”
The NJTPA Board also selected its Executive Committee at the Jan. 14 meeting. In addition to Chairman Zellman, the elected members of the Executive Committee are: Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney, First Vice-Chairman; Warren County Freeholder John DiMaio, Second Vice- Chairman; and Morris County Freeholder Gene Feyl, Secretary. In accordance with NJTPA By-Laws, Chairman Zellman appointed Hudson County Executive Thomas DeGise to the position of Third Vice-Chairman.
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| Newly elected NJTPA Board Chairman Susan M. Zellman begins her two-year term at the Jan. 14 meeting. |
Chairman Zellman joined the NJTPA Board of Trustees following her initial election as a Sussex County Freeholder in 2000. She served as Chairman of the NJTPA’s Project Prioritization Committee from 2003 to 2007 and has served on the Executive Committee since 2004. In Sussex County, she served as Freeholder Director in 2007 and 2002. She was instrumental in the formation of the Six County Coalition, which coordinates shared resources and initiatives on transportation, human services and safety issues in the six northwest counties. She also is a Trustee on the Board of TransOptions.
Chairman Zellman is Executive Director of the Housing Partnership, a United Way Agency based in Dover. She is a resident of Stanhope, where she served as chairman of the Planning Board for seven years. She also is a representative to the Lake Musconetcong Regional Planning Board, a member of the Sussex County Planning Board, founder of the Sussex County Planning Awards, and a member of the Sussex Strategic Growth Advisory Committee.
Other new members (see below) joining the NJTPA Board at the Jan. 14 meeting were Hunterdon County Freeholder Matthew Holt, Passaic County Freeholder Pasquale “Pat” Lepore, and Governor’s Representative James A. Carey, Jr.
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The NJTPA has recognized an urgent need for additional truck parking in northern and central New Jersey. The NJTPA Board of Trustees, at its Jan. 14 meeting, approved a resolution forwarding a study containing recommendations on new and expanded truck parking locations in the region to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority for further consideration and action.
There are nearly 1,400 truck parking spaces in the region, but there is a projected demand for another 1,300, the study found. “Truck parking presents an enormous challenge for this region, but we must address it,” said Peter S. Palmer, a Somerset County Freeholder who serves as Chairman of the NJTPA’s Freight Initiatives Committee. “The volume of truck traffic in this region is only going to continue to grow with our population and our economy. We need to take action now if we are going to be ready for the future.”
Truck parking is a critical safety issue. Nationally, driver fatigue is believed to be a factor in 30 to 40 percent of all heavy truck accidents. The lack of proper facilities in the region frequently leads truck drivers to park on highway shoulders, presenting a serious safety hazard and a dilemma for law enforcement.
The study looked at truck traffic data and use of existing facilities in an effort to identify the areas where truck parking would best serve the region’s needs. In addition, the study included extensive surveys of the trucking industry and drivers regarding the need for rest stops.
The study examined potential locations for new or expanded truck parking; a total of 52 criteria were considered for each site. Two potential sites were identified:
- NJ Turnpike Vince Lombardi Service Area, Ridgefield, Bergen County
- NJ Turnpike Molly Pitcher Service Area, Cranbury, Middlesex County
In addition, the study calls for further analysis in the area of the interchange between I-78 and I-95 near the Port of Newark/Elizabeth. These recommendations would only meet some of the truck parking demand, and the study calls for ongoing work to identify other locations as well.
“For the safety of motorists and truckers alike – as well as for the region’s economic health – we need to develop appropriate parking for trucks where it is most needed,” said NJTPA Chairman Susan M. Zellman, a Sussex County freeholder.
The NJTPA effort was coordinated with similar examinations of truck parking needs that recently have been or are being conducted in Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania. The complete NJTPA study is available at www.njtpa.org.
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Pasquale "Pat" Lepore, Freeholder Passaic County (left)
Matthew Holt, Freeholder, Hunterdon County (right)
Not shown: James A. Carey, Jr., Governor's Representative
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At a special meeting on Jan. 28, the NJTPA Board of Trustees voted to appoint Mary K. Murphy as Executive Director of the agency.
Murphy was most recently Deputy Executive Director at the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, where she was responsible for operations and planning of the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, as well as interagency coordination.
Prior to working for the Turnpike Authority, Murphy was Director of Planning and Community Development for Union County; she also previously worked as a transportation planning consultant and was Manager of Policy and Intergovernmental Liaison at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Murphy, who resides in Glen Ridge, is a licensed professional planner who holds a Master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas in Austin and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning and Design from Rutgers University.
Murphy replaces longtime Executive Director Joel Weiner, who retired in January. A retirement dinner honoring Weiner’s 25-year career at the NJTPA was held Jan. 7 at NJIT.
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The NJTPA recently published a report, Progress in Planning, highlighting accomplishments in 2006-2007 aimed at implementing the agency's long-range Regional Transportation Plan (RTP).
Organized around the RTP's eight investment principles, the report provides an overview of what the NJTPA has done during the past two years to help meet the challenges of maintaining and improving the region’s transportation system. During that time frame, the NJTPA Board programmed more than $2 billion in federal funds to address the region's transportation needs and goals. The Progress in Planning report also serves as a milepost as the NJTPA gears up for the next update of its RTP in 2009. The report is available at the NJTPA's website, www.njtpa.org.
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The NJTPA’s recently upgraded website, www.njtpa.org, features many practical resources for transportation planning professionals and other users. These include:
NOTIS—The NJTPA Online Transportation Information System (NOTIS) is an easy way to get quick information about funded and planned transportation improvement projects in the region. Look for the NOTIS icon on the NJTPA’s website.
In the News—Central Staff regularly monitors the region's newspapers for articles, editorials, and features related to transportation, planning, land use and similar issues. Links to these articles are posted on the NJTPA’s website.
InTransition blog—To supplement InTransition magazine, a new blog has been launched, offering readers another way to learn about and discuss important issues in the transportation world. To access the blog, visit www.intransitionmag.org.
NJTPA E-list—You can get meeting agendas, newsletters, and announcements from the NJTPA via email. To subscribe, go to
www.njpta.org and click on the “E-list” logo.
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NJ Transit's new Mount Arlington train station was opened on Jan. 20 with a ceremony attended by 300 dignitaries. The $12 million station, with parking for 285 cars, is located near the Route 80/Howard Boulevard interchange. Commuters from throughout north-western New Jersey will use the station as an alternative to driving to work; weekday train service is provided on the Montclair-Boonton and Morris & Essex Lines. |
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The final report of the I-78 Corridor Transit Study has been released and is available www.i-78.org and www.njtpa.org. The study examined the need, impact and feasibility of various transit strategies along the I-78 corridor between Lehigh County, Pennsylvania and Somerset County, New Jersey. The websites will also provide information on the follow-up Central New Jersey/Raritan Valley Transit Study, which is examining new or expanded multi-modal park-and-ride facilities and the potential extension of the Raritan Valley rail line from High Bridge to Phillipsburg.
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The 32nd annual New Jersey State Transportation Conference and Expo, known as TransAction, will take place April 2-4 at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort and Hotel in Atlantic City.
About 1,000 transportation planners and professionals, as well as government officials and consultants, from 20 states and Canada attended last year’s conference. In addition, this year, American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) credits will be offered for selected panel sessions. Overall topics range from freight and goods movement, transit services, and road and bridge issues, to various planning initiatives and programs, paratransit, and aviation, among others.
For more details and registration information, visit www.njcost.com or email Frank Reilly at FTR4444@aol.com.
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North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, Inc.
One Newark Center, 17th Floor. Newark, NJ 07102
(201) 639-8400; Fax 639-1953
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