Mayors lobby for new roads to Hudson waterfront Mayors Bret Schundler of Jersey City and Anthony Russon of Hoboken have teamed up to try to get as much as $300 million in federal funding for major improvements in roads leading to the Hudson River waterfront.
Along with John McMullen, owner of the New Jersey Devils hockey team, who wants to build a new arena in Hoboken, and developer, John Cali, they've been lobbying officials in Washington to try to get funds included in future transportation funding legislation.
The mayors want the funds primarily for a new east-west roadway from the waterfront, along the abandoned Bergen Arches railroad route that would connect to Route 280. It would enable motorists going to the waterfront to bypass traffic headed to Manhattan through the Holland Tunnel.
The mayors said they would have liked some money to be included in the upcoming federal budget, but with the spending package already having passed both houses of Congress, they conceded it was too late in the process.
They said they are determined to get commitements for at least $50 million in the next round of funding.
While #300 million would be ideal, the mayors are willing to settle for a commitement for considerably less, at least initially.
"If we get $50 million, that would be a real home run," Schundler said.
The mayors, McMullen and Cali met last week with Rep. Robert Menendez, D-Union City, Rep. Robert Franks, R-New Providence, and Rep. John Kasich, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Budget Committee.
Meetings are planned in coming weeks with New Jersey's two United States senators, Democrats Frank Lautenberg and Robert Torricelli, and with other Congressional leaders in both parties, including House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
"All we would like is to get it placed where it will be a priority" in future funding," Russo said.
Schundler, a Republican, and Russo, a Democrat, say the road improvements are essential because of ongoing and planned waterfront development in their cities.
Among the proposed projects is the new arena for the Devils, who now play at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford. McMullen wants to build a 20,000-seat arena atop the Hoboken railroad terminal. There also would be a 20-screen movie theatre, office and retail space and a garage for at least 4,000 vehicles.
Russo and Schundler both said they would find it difficult to support the arena unless money for major road improvements is guaranteed by the federal government, even though McMullen has told them he's willing to proceed regardless.
McMullen's lease at Continental Arena has nine years remaining, but he has complained that the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority hasn't fulfilled all its commitements to the Devils, and he may seek to break the lease.
Schundler said that even without a new arena, road improvements are imperative. "This is necessary for the development of the waterfront, period. In my view, the hockey arena is not the issue. To get all those (projects) done and avoid traffic jams, we need those new roads, anyway."
Menendez said he was "definitely willing to help" Schundler and Russo. "I'll certainly be supportive," he said. But he urged them to bring state officials into the picture, since most federal transportation money is funneled through state government.
Russo said he plans to get state Transportation Commissioner John Haley involved.