LoBiondo: Rt. 55 First Needs State Priority Listing

SWAINTON – Route 55 funding was among topics discussed by U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd) Aug. 18 as part of his annual Legislative Update to the Cape May County Chamber. 
He spoke during the lunch meeting at the Stone Harbor Country Club.
LoBiondo said he is often asked, “Why doesn’t the federal government come in and do this (Route 55)?”
“The federal government does not come into any community and dictate a federal road project,” said LoBiondo. First, it must be listed on the state’s Transportation Improvement Priority (TIP) list. The state must identify Route 55 as one of its top priority issues and must provide funding for engineering, he added.
Of the 18-mile stretch linking Route 55’s terminus in Cumberland County to Cape May County, he said, “There is no unanimity with the route.”
“If that (united decision by the state) were to come together this could be a federal cost share program. I would move heaven and earth, if I’m there. But the reality is we can’t initiate it at the federal level unless the state does its job.”
Next, the congressman noted “good news,” of the completion of the Garden State Parkway overpasses that eliminated traffic signals on that highway. He lauded Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton who maintained pressure at the state and county level for the elimination of those lights.
He noted that when Thornton first approached him with the elimination idea, “He was not the director, but said it should be a priority.”
Joking, LoBiondo said, the “Sun, moon and stars came together, and we got $40 million to get the (engineering) study started.” That action prodded the state, which had been reluctant up to that point, to move.
“What a joy to ride south or north and not have to stop. This is an example of a project that has worked,” said LoBiondo.
Biggest Federal Issues
LoBiondo cited the county’s “biggest federal issues” as beach replenishment funding and back bay dredging.
After the “tragedy of Sandy, because there was a partnership and coalition that came together.” As a result, appropriation packages “happened, and probably won’t happen again, 100 percent federal cost sharing,” said LoBiondo. Thus, to rebuild eroded beaches, no county or municipal funds were used.
“Throughout the county coastline that is good news,” he continued.
He cited some “old timers” in Ocean City’s south end who “didn’t think they would ever see that happen, but because of the coalition we were able to do that.”
Whether the next president will view beach replenishment as important to fund “remains to be seen,” LoBiondo said.
Back bay dredging, important to mariners, has no federal government point position, LoBiondo said.
He continued that he has “been trying to work with the state and Army Corps of Engineers to find a way to move forward,” but to date, there is no momentum on the federal side.
Federal flood insurance will be one of the many topics to face the next round of legislation. That’s because “People in the interior (center of the nation) want to see the program killed. They don’t see why any taxpayer should pay for people to live along the coast,” said LoBiondo.
He termed the effort to reinvigorate the flood insurance program a “monumental effort to get this passed a couple of years ago.” Part of the difficulty, he noted was the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, “Is dead set against this.
“Fortunately, we had a strong enough coalition working group that convinced our colleagues to have it (flood insurance bill) removed from committee, which is very unusual, and brought it to the floor.”
The issue will be “dealt with next year,” said LoBiondo. Again, he added, ‘A lot depends on who the next president is.”
No to Northern Casinos
“I am totally, adamantly, completely against any additional casinos in any other part of the state. I think this would be devastating to Atlantic City,” said LoBiondo. The prospect of casinos in North Jersey will go before voters Nov. 8.
How much money is spent on advertising to convince the voters, especially in that part of the state is unknown, LoBiondo said. If it passes, he predicted another two or three casinos could close in Atlantic City. That, he noted, would have far-ranging effect on the state and the region.
Seismic Testing
Asked about seismic testing for oil offshore, LoBiondo replied, “The threat has not gone away through NOAA and Rutgers, they have seen fit to continue this program,” he said.
An opponent of offshore oil drilling, LoBiondo said there are “millions of acres under federal lease that have proven reserves of gas and oil where they can go tomorrow. Why do we want to take a chance, I’m speaking for me, on the tourism industry if there was any oil to be produced with oil rigs off our coast? It’s insanity.”