Van Drew Bill Urges Local Turnpike Meetings; Region Lacks Authority Representation

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) aimed at providing South Jersey with a stronger voice in decisions made by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which operates the Garden State Parkway – a main artery in the southern part of the state – was approved Feb. 1 by the Senate. 
“The Garden State Parkway is a major roadway in South Jersey, but unfortunately meetings are held clear across the state. This limits our residents’ ability to weigh in on projects that are being undertaken in our area and their ability to provide input on transportation issues that affect them locally,” stated Van Drew in a release. “Requiring that board meetings be held locally will provide improved access to residents in our region, who will have the ability to air any concerns they have before decisions are made on regional projects. I expect that it will mean additional transparency and, in my experience, that often leads to more efficient use of public dollars.”
The bill (S-246) would improve local public access to New Jersey Turnpike Authority meetings by requiring that at least two regular monthly meetings each year be held in Cape May, Atlantic, or Ocean counties.
Under the bill, meetings held locally would rotate among the three counties. The bill would also require that one meeting each year be held in the area comprising Salem, Gloucester, and Camden counties and that the meetings rotate among the counties, and one meeting be held in Bergen County.
Under the current structure, meetings are held on a monthly basis in Woodbridge, Middlesex County.
The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 40-0. It next heads to the Assembly for consideration.
The Authority
A review of the NJTA website revealed there is a vacancy among the eight commissioners. None of those presently on the authority are from South Jersey.
The chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti was appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy in January. She is serving in an acting capacity until confirmed by the state Senate. She will head the state Department of Transportation.
Vice Chairman Ronald Gravino is a resident of Edison.
Treasurer Michael DuPont is a resident of Red Bank.
Commissioner Raymond M. Pocino is a Lawrenceville resident.
Commissioner Ulises E. Diaz is a Rutherford resident.
Commissioner John D. Minella is a Bayonne resident.
Commissioner Raphael Salermo is a Warren Township resident.
Older History
Before the Garden State Parkway was assumed into the Turnpike Authority, Cape May County had representation. Holders of those commissioner positions included Republican Jerry Licata and Democrat Charles Leusner at various times.
Through Leusner’s urging, one of the agency’s meetings, generally in the summer, was held in Court House in the Middle Township Municipal Building.
Authority meetings held in Woodbridge begin at 9 a.m. When the yearly meetings were held in Court House they began at 11 a.m.
It has been stated that the Garden State Parkway winds through miles of Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May counties, yet none of those counties has representation on the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.