NOTE: This is from Mia Scanga's excellent email notice you can subscribe to by sending Mia an email:

talkingpolitics@comcast.net

NJTPA- The guys who spend our federal tax $$$ on roads/transit

Thursday, April 5th from 5PM to 7:30pm
JC City Hall-Council Chambers, 280 Grove Street

The NJTPA is developing a new Public Involvement Plan to enhance its efforts to give the people of northern and central New Jersey a voice in regional transportation planning and decision-making.

View the plan here or call 973-639-8400 to request a copy. Why is public input important to the NJTPA? Transportation planning is a complex undertaking on its own and as it relates to economic development, the environment and land use. The NJTPA needs input from a broad array of stakeholders and the public in order to make the best decisions for the region.

In 1999, HART stopped the $1.2 million Bergen Arches Highway Only Study to change the study to a review of all options, including lite rail, for that corridor. Six HART members, including myself, spoke up against the original study parameters at the Feb 1999 NJTPA meeting prior to the vote on the contract. You had to be there when the $$$ were being doled out. Not surprising to us, in 2003 when the study concluded, the consultants recommended a highway but then Governor McGreevey canned the idea knowing there was too much public opposition. The $200+ million project required fed financing and the feds had plenty of other un-opposed projects to fund. It was a good move and now lite rail is being considered for that corridor.

Come meet some of the members of the NJTPA and find out their vision for northern NJ. NJTPA defines their goals as: to treat the public as partners in defining and refining a vision for northern and central New Jersey that matches transportation services and facilities with the need for economic growth, environmental protection, growth management and improved quality of life.

To seek public input into decision-making about how to prioritize funding for transportation services and facilities.
Maintain both the letter and spirit of federal and state laws, regulations, and guidelines regarding public participation responsibilities of MPOs..... Promote greater opportunities for the public to access the NJTPA Board members.

BTW, the NJTPA funded the Downtown Circulation Study which is the subject of the current TV show....