New Jersey Turnpike Authority Garden State Parkway Interchange 125 Improvements
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
New Jersey Turnpike Authority Garden State Parkway Interchange 125 Improvements PUBLIC HEARING REPORT Prepared for: New Jersey Turnpike Authority Prepared by: Stantec Consulting Services Inc. March 21, 2016 NJTA Contract P300.229 Improvements to GSP Interchange 125 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Public Hearing Summary ..................................................................................................................................... 1 3. Project Need ............................................................................................................................................................... 1 4. Project Description ................................................................................................................................................... 1 5. Notice of Public Hearing ....................................................................................................................................... 2 6. Public Hearing ............................................................................................................................................................2 7. Written Comments and Responses ..................................................................................................................2 8. Public Hearing Comments and Responses....................................................................................................... 3 APPENDICES A. Notice of Public Hearing B. Letters Sent to Public Officials C. Handouts Distributed at Public Hearing D. Sign‐in Sheets a. Public Officials Sign‐In Sheet b. General Public Sign‐In Sheet E. Transcript of Proceedings of Public Hearing F. Newspaper Articles Regarding Hearing G. Written Comments and Responses NJTA Contract P300.229 Improvements to GSP Interchange 125 1. Introduction On Thursday, December 10, 2015, a Public Hearing (Hearing) was held by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) for the Garden State Parkway (GSP) Improvements to Interchange 125 project located in the Borough of Sayreville, Middlesex County. The Hearing was held pursuant to the New Jersey Executive Order 172 (EO 172). The Hearing was held at the Borough of Sayreville municipal building, 167 Main Street, Sayreville, New Jersey 08872. 2. Public Hearing Summary Project team members in attendance included representatives from the NJTA and the consultant team. Sixteen (16) members of the general public attended and signed the registration sheets (included in Appendix D). The Hearing included displays of the project showing proposed improvements at Interchange 125. Handouts summarizing the project were available at the registration table. Project team members were available to answer questions and discuss comments and concerns of the attendees during the Hearing. Generally, attendees were supportive of the Interchange 125 improvements. Comments, questions and concerns included the following: • Overall intent of the project • Status of Interchange 124 Attendees were given the opportunity to fill out comment sheets and to register for oral testimony during the Hearing. The Hearing portion of the meeting consisted of a presentation by the NJTA and their consultants, followed by oral testimony from the public. Two members of the public presented oral testimony at the Hearing. Comments received during the meeting and the subsequent comment period as well as oral testimony comments, are included in Appendix G. 3. Project Need The purpose of the proposed Project is to service existing and proposed future traffic demand on the local road network and on the Parkway, at Interchange 125; improve local traffic safety; and support the economic role of the Parkway in moving commuting and regional traffic within and throughout this portion of New Jersey in the most efficient manner possible. The proposed Project will also address the operational, maintenance and safety requirements of the Authority in its management of the Parkway, particularly as these requirements relate to the anticipated traffic growth at Interchange 125. 4. Project Description Presently, Interchange 125 is a partial interchange that provides limited access to and from the south via a southbound entrance ramp and a northbound exit ramp at Chevalier Avenue. Due to the missing ramps at the existing Interchange 125, traffic travelling southbound that is destined for local and state operated roadways in the vicinity of Interchange 125 must exit at Interchange 124 approximately one mile to the south and utilize the local roadway network to reach their destination. Similarly, traffic using the local roadways near Interchange 125 that are destined for the northbound Parkway must travel south to Interchange 124 to enter the Parkway, or travel approximately three miles north along Route 9 and use Interchange 129 to 1 | Page NJTA Contract P300.229 Improvements to GSP Interchange 125 access the northbound Parkway. Construction of the interchange improvements will be accomplished in multiple stages with all travel lanes being maintained at all times during construction along the GSP and all ramp movements will also be maintained during peak times. The proposed improvements will require the acquisition of adjacent right‐of‐way parcels in order to construct the new ramps and stormwater management basins. Permits have been obtained or are pending from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), and the Middlesex County Soil Conservation District. The estimated construction cost for the project is $70 to $80 million. 5. Public Notices 5.1 Legal Notice The Legal Notice is included in Appendix A. 5.2 Notice of Public Hearing Invitation letters to local, county, and state public officials sent written notice of the Hearing are included in Appendix B. 6. Public Hearing The Hearing was held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, December 10, 2015, at the Borough of Sayreville municipal building, 167 Main Street, Sayreville, New Jersey 08872. Total attendance was thirty‐four (34) people (including NJTA representatives). The Hearing began at 6:00 pm with a formal presentation, after which the public was given the opportunity to provide comments. The Hearing was closed at 8:00 pm. The presentation and public comments were recorded by a Certified Court Reporter. A copy of the Hearing transcript is included in Appendix E. Copies of the Hearing handouts can be found in Appendix C. 7. Written Comments and Responses Written comments were accepted by the NJTA until December 28, 2015. No written comments were received by NJTA. 2 | Page NJTA Contract P300.229 Improvements to GSP Interchange 125 8. Public Hearing Comments Public Comment #1: Mark Kauffman Borough of Sayreville “I live in the President Park section of town and I just have a concern that the 124 ramps are maintained and stay there. I don’t know if there’s any plans in the future for that.” New Jersey Turnpike Authority Response Provided at the Hearing: They will remain. And they will be maintained as well. 3 | Page APPENDIX A Notice of Public Hearing APPENDIX B Letters Sent to Public Officials APPENDIX C Handouts Distributed at Public Hearing New Jersey Turnpike Authority Public Hearing Project Schedule December 10, 2015 Open New Advertise Construction Award Contract/ Construction Southbound Contract Begin Construction Completion Exit Ramp January 2016 June 2016 Spring 2017 July 2019 Public Hearing Rules The following rules will govern the Public Comment portion of the Public Hearing: 1. Anyone wishing to speak must register at the desk located at the entrance to the meeting room. 2. Speakers will be called in the order in which they registered, except for public offi cials who will be given priority. New Jersey Turnpike Authority 3. Speakers are asked to state their full name and address, and spell their last name. All comments will be Garden State Parkway Improvements to Interchange 125 recorded by the Certifi ed Court Reporter. Construction Contract No. P300.229 4. Oral comments for public offi cials will be limited to 10 minutes. Oral comments for the members of the public will be limited to 5 minutes. Remaining time cannot be assigned to another speaker. There is no limit on the length of written comments. Hearing Location 5. The Public Hearing will end when all those registered to comment have done so. Place: Borough of Sayreville Municipal Building The record shall remain open for fi fteen (15) days after the hearing, until December 28, 2015 and 167 Main Street, Sayreville, NJ 08872 any additional comments must be submitted in writing to: Time: Public Information Center 4:00 - 6:00pm Public Hearing and Presentation 6:00 - 8:00 pm Vincent Mignella, P.E., Hearing Offi cer New Jersey Turnpike Authority, P.O. Box 5042 PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA: Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095 • Introduction of Purpose and Need - Vincent Mignella, P.E., NJTA • Description of Improvements - Stantec • Public Comment - Open All comments will be addressed in a written Final Hearing Report, which will be issued after the close of • Conclusion - NJTA the comment period. Copies of the fi nal hearing report will be provided to the Borough of Sayreville. MAIN STREET MAIN ST. EXTENSION PROPOSED TRAFFIC DRISCOLL EXTENSION PROPOSED SIGNALIZED WIDENING AND SIGNAL BRIDGE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS