Strategic Transportation Initiative Projects
Mercer Street Railroad Bridge Replacement
The vertical and horizontal clearance restrictions on the NYS&W railroad bridge over River Street in Hackensack have caused traffic congestion and diverted trucks onto Hackensack's Main Street commercial corridor for over three decades. Although a high priority project for the City, a solution has been difficult to achieve because of the need to develop a consensus between the NYS&W railroad, which owns the bridge, and the County of Bergen, which owns the road that passes under it. Muller Bohlin Associates worked closely with the City of Hackensack to develop a public-private partnership, including the County of Bergen and the NYS&W railroad. Once agreement was reached on the different roles, MBA developed a Local Aid Funding Application for the City of Hackensack and successfully obtained $150,000 for the development of a design that will preserve freight service and protect the right of way for construction of a second light rail track if desired.
Development of a Framework to Advance Passaic County's Intermodal Transportation Priorities
The County of Passaic has been described as one of the most diverse landscapes in New Jersey varying from an old industrial area, in need of revitalization in its southern reaches along the Passaic River, to some of the most impressive natural features in New Jersey along the Ramapo Mountains that border New York State. Over the past few years, the County and its municipalities have undertaken a number of initiatives to strengthen their county-wide growth management and revitalization efforts including the formation of a non-profit corporation Vision, 2020, Inc. MBA is assisting in the development of a strategic framework to advance its intermodal investment agenda, focusing on major highway corridors: I-80, US 46, US 206 and NJ 19, 20, 23 along with commuter rail lines (Boonton Line), freight rail (NYS&W) as well as proposed investment such as the restoration of commuter rail on the NYS&W and the proposed extension of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail to Passaic County. A key aspect of this task is to integrate transportation with land use and economic development considerations and to work closely with the County's municipal partners in developing a countywide investment agenda.
Bayshore Strategic Transportation Initiatives
MBA, Inc has been retained by the Bayshore Office of the NJ Economic Growth Commission to assist in the implementation of a number of transportation initiatives to support the Bayshore Economic Development Implementation Strategy. These initiatives include working with state, federal, regional and local government agencies to secure funding for enhancement projects on Route 35, a feeder trolley service, and a wayfinding program. MBA responsibilities include interagency consultation, coordinating with NJDOT, Monmouth County and NJTPA staff on advancing projects to the TIP, and outreach to elected officials, business groups and the general public in the Bayshore area.
Preparing Modern Intermodal Freight Infrastructure to Support Brownfields Economic Development
This project brings together two major economic trends in northern New Jersey: the dramatic growth in container traffic through the Ports in Elizabeth, Newark and Jersey City and the need to find employment opportunities for the urban areas hit hard by the loss of manufacturing jobs. Its goal then is to identify potential Brownfields sites for freight-related development. The overall project includes a market analysis, an inventory and screening of potential sites and an outreach process. MBA was selected to document the methodology being developed with a $1.5 million FHWA grant and to evaluate the project in terms of its major objectives.