A “Transportation Summit” held by the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce last Friday apprised the business community of upcoming transportation changes in the Meadowlands including Rt. 3, the Turnpike, Routes 1/9, and the Meadowlands Parkway.
The meeting focused on a nine-page document called “Meadowlands Mobility: an Economic Imperative” which contains short-term transportation plans proposed by the Chamber’s executive staff, as well as notes on government projects that are already underway.
“Every 18 months or so, we revise our white paper and try to bring the policy-making entities to the summit,” said Jim Kirkos, chief executive officer of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber. “These are our priorities, our focus and our recommendations.”
At the summit, several transportation entities were asked to give an update on what exactly their groups were doing to accomplish the transportation goals set forth by the Chamber, particularly alleviating congestion.
“These are very, very exciting times,” said guest speaker Bob Ceberio, the executive director of the NJ Meadowlands Commission, a board that oversees zoning and development in the Meadowlands.
Ceberio’s main focus for his discussion was the Meadowlands Commission’s long-term document, Meadowlands Mobility 2030. This document, created in 2004, was made with the intention of establishing the “framework of an operational strategy – an intergovernmental and multi-agency initiative – whereby investments will be made, new rail tracks laid, bridges replaced, new connections and links fostered, programs implemented, and resources provided,” as the document states.
That document is slated to go to a public hearing before the state later this month.
Widening Route 3
According to the document distributed by the Chamber, several proposed projects involve the widening of Route 3 to ease congestion.
There is also a mention of extending the Meadowlands so that it connects to New County Road, opening up a direct pathway from Route 3 to Harmon Cove.
John Keller, the project manager for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority Secaucus Interchange Program, stated that starting in the late fall, Turnpike exits 18E and 16W will undergo reconstruction, gaining two more lanes. There will be new roads coming from both exits to allow easier access to the $1.3-billion Xanadu recreational/retail development in East Rutherford.
Park it at Secaucus Junction
Currently, there are no parking facilities at the Secaucus Junction. Original projections indicated that many of the commuters would originate from other areas and merely use the junction as a layover.
But in the authors of the document suggested that parking become a priority.
“Examining the situation today, it is clear that providing parking at the station is critical, and that the lack of it frustrates the optimal utilization of Secaucus Junction,” the document states.
The addition of a parking area would also mean that bus traffic could now be accepted into the station. This would alleviate traffic because people could take buses to the station rather than all the way into New York City.
Words from across the pond
The keynote speaker of the meeting was Stephen Rutherford, Managing Director of the UK Transport Practice of Jacobs Consultancy based out of London, England, where they have recently implemented “congestion pricing,” or forcing people to pay to use high-traffic streets.
A proposal has been floated by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to use that sort of pricing in the city’s business district, most of which is in lower Manhattan.
Although New Jersey is still far from introducing the idea of congestion pricing, the possible extra charge for driving in New York City will undoubtedly have some effect on travel in Hudson County.
“The Chamber is neither endorsing nor condoning congestion charging,” said Kirkos.