New Jersey

New Jersey Parks Get Partially Privatized

A new plan from Governor Christie involves the state retaining control over the parks but contract with non-profit and business partners for services.

November 3, 2011 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Camden Employers Incentivizing Middle-Class Homeownership

Last week, local officials announced that the troubled city's largest employers, including three hospitals and a university, will begin offering incentives to lure workers into buying homes in the area. Geoff Mulvihill reports.

October 30, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

Transferring Issue is 7 Line Extension's Downfall

According to Alon Levy, the 7 line extension from New York City to Secaucus, NJ will get workers "almost to their jobs," but not quite. It may seem trivial, but literature on the penalty of certain transfers may be pointing to failure.

October 28, 2011 - Pedestrian Observations

New Jersey Governor Wants to Kill Smart Growth in the State

An overhaul of the New Jersey State Plan proposed by the Governor's office would eliminate the State Plan Policy Map, which designated growth areas and conservation in the state.

October 21, 2011 - NJ Spotlight

Reduced Toll Increase Continues NJ Bus Dead-Heading Problem

Because the Port Authority Bus Terminal lacks a garage, empty buses shuttle off to New Jersey for storage between the AM and PM commutes. The garage would have been funded by a higher toll, which NJ and NY governors rejected.

October 17, 2011 - NorthJersey.com

Controversial Bridge & Tunnel Toll Increases Take Effect

Over the vociferous objections of AAA, cash tolls on all Port Authority of NY & NJ bridges and tunnels jumped $4 on Sept. 18 to $12. However, discounts for electronic toll collection, low emission vehicles, and off-peak travel are considerable.

September 19, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

Struggles and Success in Two Neighboring Stadium Towns

Two neighboring towns -- one with a bustling soccer stadium and the other with a struggling minor league baseball stadium -- offer a story of changing times in the U.S.

August 23, 2011 - The New York Times

Railroads Made Atlantic City a Reality

As a Northeast Corridor connection to Atlantic City goes beyond the planning stage, historian Dennis Niceler reminds locals that the existed solely because of the railroads.

July 18, 2011 - The Press of Atlantic City

New Jersey Gov. Scraps Rail, Invests in Mega-Mall Instead

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie defunded the construction of the ARC Tunnel (connecting NJ to NY via increased rail service), claiming that it was fiscally irresponsible. Now, Christie is using state funds to finance the construction of a mega-mall.

June 1, 2011 - Sustainable Cities Collective

Transit-Oriented Tax Credits Nudge Company to Relocate

By relocating to a transit-adjacent building in New Jersey, electronics maker Panasonic has qualified for more than $100 million in tax credits from the state.

June 1, 2011 - Marketplace

Development Authority Seizes Control of Boardwalk

Is Park Place next? In Atlantic City, the newly-created Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) has taken control of the city's casino district.

May 24, 2011 - The Architect's Newspaper

"The Ugliest Damn Building in New Jersey"

"...and maybe America," added Gov. Christie. The building in question is Xanadu, a brightly-colord mall that was scheduled to open in 2007 and with almost $2 billion spent ran into financing problems. New investment may turn the project around.

May 6, 2011 - The Record

Can A Failed Mega-Mall Un-Fail?

Officials in New Jersey are planning to revive a stalled megamall project called Xanadu. The New York Times asks a panel of experts whether the plan should move forward.

May 5, 2011 - The New York Times

NJ Gov. Christie on the Hook for $271 Million

New Jersey owes the Feds $271 million for canceling the infamous, $9 billion Hudson River rail tunnel. The state was ordered to pay up in not-so-subtle terms by DOT Secretary LaHood.

April 30, 2011 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

A Parking Lot is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Smart growth proponents are fighting a New Jersey transit agency plan that would lease out dozens of parking facilities to private operators for 30 to 50 years.

April 26, 2011 - New Urban Network

Is Jersey City a Suburb? Joel Kotkin Thinks So.

Joel Kotkin recently argued that America is becoming more suburban. Tim Evans says that it's easy to draw that conclusion "when you define 'suburb' so loosely that it includes just about everything."

March 3, 2011 - Garden State Smart Growth

Resuscitating the Hudson River Tunnel

One plan to build a tunnel under the Hudson River from New Jersey to New York was killed by Governor Chris Christie, but New Jersey's senators have gotten behind a new plan to do the same thing.

February 11, 2011 - The New York Times

Abandoned ARC Tunnel May Become Amtrak Gateway

NJ's two U.S. Senators collaborated with Amtrak to propose an alternative to the Access to the Region's Core tunnel that N.J. Gov. Chris Christie canceled in Oct. 7. Unlike ARC, the Gateway tunnel will lead directly into Penn Station.

February 8, 2011 - The Star-Ledger (New Jersey)

New Jersey Stiffs FTA on ARC Expenses

Governor Chris Christie announced the state would not repay the $271 million the Federal Transit Administration claims it is owed for the canceled trans-Hudson rail tunnel, reports Jim O'Grady.

January 29, 2011 - WNYC

The Noisy, Quiet Car From/To Jersey

Can you talk to a fellow passenger, quietly, in the New Jersey Transit quiet car? On Jan. 3, NJ Transit designated the first and last cars on many peak hour trains 'quiet' - no cell phones and other restrictions, but arguments have erupted.

January 23, 2011 - The New York Times - N.Y. / Region

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