North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority
One Newark Center, 17th floor
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 639-8400; fax (973) 639-1953
Robert C. Janiszewski, Chairman
Joel S. Weiner, Executive Director

July 23, 2001

Ms. Mia Scanga
HART
89 Mercer St.
Jersey City, NJ 07302

Dear Ms. Scanga,

This letter serves to inform you that the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) needs to temporarily postpone the activities of the Bergen Arches Task Force until such time that the United State Department of Transportation (USDOT) determines that we have put in place a fully operational Congestion Management System (CMS). The CMS is a federally required system for collecting data, monitoring performance and evaluating the effectiveness of strategies that address traffic congestion.

Because of USDOT's required focus on CMS, our staff resources have been redirected away from work on task forces. This action has restricted our involvement with the Bergen Arches Task Force. However, you can be certain that the NJTPA is working diligently to resolve this situation. Upon resolution of this matter, the NJTPA will immediately notify you of the next Bergen Arches Task Force meeting.

In light of this situation, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has informed us that, until another Task Force meeting can be held, the Bergen Arches Best Use Study will be unable to proceed beyond its data collection, existing conditions analysis and future year "no-build" analysis tasks. NJDOT cannot develop any concepts until prior input from the public is received for use in this study.

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at 973-639-8409.

Very truly yours,

Colette Santasieri
Assitant Director
Capital Programming

CC: Councilman Robert Cavanaugh
Suzanne Mack, Executive Director, Hudson TMA
Jody Barankin, NJDOT Project Manager