On behalf of the Hudson Alliance for Rational Transportation (HART), NJ-ARP briefed leaders of the Hoboken Environment Committee on the possible development of the Bergen Arches right-of-way on Wednesday, February 24.

HEC members are concerned that a Bergen Arches highway would exacerbate traffic on local roads, and provide a "driveway" to a hockey arena suggested for Hoboken Terminal yards on the Hoboken/Jersey City border.

Meanwhile, Weehawken environmental activists report confusion by North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority over just what the Bergen Arches would be designed to do. Weehawken fears NJTPA may wish to advance not just the Arches, but a highway extension through Weehawken to connect with the ever-widening River Road in North Bergen and Edgewater. NJTPA officials did little to alleviate those concerns, one Weehawken representative told NJ-ARP.

Press reports until now have emphasized plans by New Jersey's Department of Transportation to use any Bergen Arches highway as a "local" road to improve access to the Jersey City waterfront. That waterfront, already developing at great speed and soon to be served by light rail transit (LRT), hardly needs more traffic congestion and parking decks to serve growing white-collar business needs -- but NJDOT argues that increased truck traffic (to where?) necessitates such a "bypass" to avoid New York-bound traffic congestion.

NJ-ARP, as part of HART, believes the ex-Erie Railroad Bergen Arches -- once a four-track main line -- should revert to its previous role as a freight rail provider, particularly as rail freight and container traffic needs grow in the next century. Other possible uses could include LRT extensions to the Meadowlands Sports Complex. One more road proposal, in New Jersey's densest corner, is proof positive NJDOT is still determined to "build its way out of congestion."