TO: Russell D. Tong, Assistant Commissioner, Capital Program Management

FROM: Joseph R. Aliseo, Supervising Engineer II, Region II Design

DATE: May 21, 1996

PHONE: 530-2463

SUBJECT: Waterfront Boulevard (River Road), Hudson & Bergen Counties

Based on a request from Deputy Commissioner Landers, the following is provided:

The River Road (County Route 505) widening project is presently known as the Waterfront Boulevard project. The entire Waterfront Boulevard project was divided into seven (7) sections. The overall study is complete. Proposed sections 1 through 4 would be on new alignment through southern Hudson County. These sections are presently on hold or probably dead. Our Corridor Analysis Bureau is the Lead Unit on Sections 1 thru 4, Section 5, the middle section would be the responsiblity of the Developers in the area, if Sections 6 & 7 are constructed.

Proposed Sections 6 & 7 are the active projects presently being implemented by Region 2 Design. The project limits are on existing River Road from Hillside Road in West New York, Hudson County to NJ Route 5 in Edgewater, Bergen County. The length is approximately four (4) miles.

Michael Baker Engineers is the consultant, who is studying the preliminary design of three (3) roadway alignment alternatives and environmental studies, which consist of widening existing River Road from 2 to 4 lanes with a center median with two 14' outside shoulders for capability for future bus lanes.

Since this is a County road, all access requirements would be under both Hudson & Bergen Counties respective jurisdictions. Signalized intersections with left turn slots, and in some cases, jughandles are proposed. The jughandles will also be used for U-turns in some instances, due to the fact that some accesses are proposed for only right in's and right out's.

Our present consultant contract scope of work is to complete the alternative alignments; recommend a preferred alignment; complete the environmental studies; bring the preferred alignment to a phase I design with right of way impacts; and complete an Environmental Level of Action Determination. Additional public outreach will be included in the above scope. The towns involved are West New York, Guttenberg (Hudson County) and Edgewater (Bergen County).

The schedule for completing the above scope is December, 1996. We are anticipating the Level of Action Determination will be an Environmental Assessement. The Environmental Assessment will take about one (1) year to complete. Then, if a FONSI, is received, we will proceed to final design and right of way acqusition.

Based on the above, we anticipate construction in FY 2001.

IRA:th
c: Ronald L. Jones

Code: Y368/Waterfront Disk