Stimulus Discussed at Transportation Conference

CREST HAVEN — Expect lane closings as county officials plan several road and bridge improvement projects.
A full room attended the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders fifth annual Transportation Infrastructure Conference Feb. 24.
Conference included discussion concerning the Beesley’s Point Bridge, Garden State Parkway improvements, updates from the Delaware River and Bay Authority and an overview of regional projects. Officials agreed projects must move quickly in order to gain funds from state and federal stimulus packages.
Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) said he is supportive of rehabbing Beesley’s Point Bridge because in the interest of public safety. He said fiscally it is a “wash” because the County Bridge Commission will run the bridge with a 60/40 split among the state and county with the state paying more. He said the revenue would come back to the taxpayers through tolls.
Van Drew noted Cape May County is the sixth most vulnerable area in the U.S.
“We’re probably a B grade, better than Louisiana, but I want to get an A,” he said.
With some opposing the county’s decision to purchase the bridge, Van Drew said it is a wet bridge that will have water on it in the case of a category three hurricane but he said it is needed to bring in supplies.
On an everyday level, he said, Beesley’s Point Bridge is needed as a backup to Great Egg Harbor Bridge in the event it must be closed for vehicle accidents or structural repairs.
Van Drew admitted neither bridge is ideal, which brought a visible chuckle from County Engineer Dale Foster.
“At first blush it may seem unnecessary, but it’s an investment for public safety,” he said.
Richard Hammer, assistant commissioner of state Department of Transportation (DOT) spoke about the impact of economic stimulus package on the state’s bridges and roadways.
He said the state spends about $300 million annually on road paving and bridges.
Hammer said 53 percent of roads in the state are considered deficient, based on smoothness and structural integrity, and 11 percent of state bridges are structurally deficient, which equates to 300 out of the 2,500 state bridges.
Expenditures have increased from $300 million to 650 million statewide but $1 billion is needed annually for maintenance, he said.
The state is working on a project to place guardrails in the medians of 110 miles of the Garden State Parkway to provide crossover protection from exit 0 to exit 125. This project will create jobs with help from stimulus funds, he said.
Hamer said the state stimulus package would bring $469 million to NJDOT with an additional $150 million from the federal government for a broad range of infrastructure projects including the following:
• Rebuild Route 52 causeway and replace two bridges in Ocean City and Somers Point at a cost of $300 million on a three-year schedule to be complete by summer 2012.
• Design Tuckahoe River Bridge to Corbin City Bridge on Route 50 by spring 2011.
• Route 49 Bridge complete by this summer.
• Create T intersections on Route 9 at Breakwater Road and Bennett’s Crossing by 2010.
“Department of Transportation is enthusiastic, ready, willing and able to provide sound infrastructure,” he said.
Cape May Deputy Mayor Linda Steenrod asked if railways would be considered to aid tourism. Van Drew said there are discussions on a regional level to aid Atlantic City with trains from Manhattan however, he said “it is a matter of dollars and cents” and must be planned to ensure the investment brings a favorable return.
Freeholder Director Daniel Beyel said it was a “dead issue” because of user and funding issues therefore it is “not seen as favorable as other projects.”
Supervising Engineer of Highways and Buildings of the Turnpike Authority John Withers gave an update on improvements to the Garden State Parkway, particularly eliminating traffic signals at exits 9, 10 and 11 to reduce congestion and improve capacity. He said the project is now in its preliminary design stage and final designs will be ready in early 2010.
An attorney representing the Highland Motor Inn at exit 10 expressed interest in presenting an alternative design he said is less expensive.
Executive Director of the Delaware River Bay Authority James Johnston, Jr. said toll adjustments at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and the Delaware Memorial Bridge will provide much needed revenue increases.
He said the 58-year-old bridge has been kept up but needs $300 million for rehabilitation and replacement. He said $100 million is needed to rebuild the 35-year-old ferry fleet. Last year traffic at the bridge was down 4 percent and has lost about $5.2 million. He said the bridge is 70 percent of the authority’s total revenue.
Though it is not the best economy to raise tolls and fares, he said it is appropriate.
Assemblyman Matthew Milam (D-1st) said Route 55 needs to be complete and “can’t die.”
He said he, Van Drew and Assemblyman Nelson Albano (D-1st) are sponsoring legislation to allocate funds for design, impact, tourism and environmental studies. He admitted the project is not “shovel ready” as so many currently aim to be, but he said it is important.
Executive Director of South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization Tim Chelius said there are $25 million worth of shovel-ready projects that may not require permits, like bridge painting, signal upgrades and resurfacing.