> Sens. Lautenberg and Menendez come to Hoboken to call on House to pass surface transportation bill (03/21/2012)
HOBOKEN — U.S. Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood yesterday afternoon at Hoboken Terminal to urge the House of Representatives to pass the Senate's version of the Surface Transportation Bill. more...

> U.S. transportation head visits N.J. in support of bill increasing federal transit funding (03/20/2012)
Declaring "America is one big pothole," the nation’s top transportation official visited its most-congested state Monday to express support for a federal bill he said would provide funds to repair crumbling roads and bridges and put contractors back to work.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, visiting Hoboken, said the clock is ticking for the House of Representatives to approve a bipartisan Senate transportation bill that calls for a 12-percent increase in highway funding for New Jersey and a 14-percent increase in transit funding.


more...

> 2012 is the Year America Must Get Serious About its Infrastructure (03/17/2012)
When we read about “America’s crumbling infrastructure” or similar phrases, the topic is easy to ignore for a few reasons. First, “infrastructure” is a broad, nondescript term that doesn’t mean very much to most people. Second, we’ve been hearing the “crumbling” news ... more...

> Unemployment rate falls to 8.5 pct., hiring surges (01/06/2012)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A burst of hiring in December pushed the unemployment rate to its lowest level in nearly three years, giving the economy a boost at the end of 2011.
The Labor Department said Friday that employers added a net 200,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent, the lowest since February 2009. The rate has dropped for four straight months. more...

> Solar Power gets $44M in financing for New Jersey project (01/04/2012)
Solar Power Inc. has secured $44 million in financing from China Development Bank to build a solar project with KDC Solar in New Jersey.

Separately, Solar Power’s biggest shareholder, LDK Solar, secured $20 million in financing from the same bank for two projects it is developing in California through engineering, construction and procurement contracts with Roseville-based Solar Power.
In June, Solar Power (OCTBB: SOPW) and LDK agreed to provide long-term construction financing of up to $750 million for solar projects as part of a preferred provider agreement with KDC Solar.

“Our successful relationship with (China Development Bank) is a direct result of our close working relationship with LDK,” said Steve Kircher, chief executive officer for Solar Power. “As we continue to develop our pipeline of projects globally, our partnership with CDB grows stronger.” more...

> Gov. Christie cancels ARC tunnel for second time (10/28/2010)
TRENTON — There is no light at the end of this tunnel.

Gov. Chris Christie today terminated the over-budget Hudson River commuter train tunnel, America’s largest public works project, ending for now the two-decade-old quest to expand rail capacity between New Jersey and midtown Manhattan.

more...

> With No Confidence in Final Cost, New Jersey Cancels Rail Tunnel (10/27/2010)
The reprieve for a major new commuter rail tunnel under the Hudson River, once set to be the largest public works project in the U.S., never arrived.

more...

> New Jobless Filings Declined Last Week (03/04/2010)
The number of people filing first-time unemployment claims retreated from a three-month high last week, the government said Thursday, reviving hopes that the labor market was on track to renewal. more...

> Stopgap Signed, Ending Cutoff in Highway-Transit Funds (03/03/2010)
Federal highway and transit programs are back in business, but only through March 28, thanks to enactment late on March 2 of a delayed stopgap funding measure. more...

> Kentucky's Bunning again blocks jobless benefits (03/02/2010)
To the increasing discomfort of his fellow Republicans, Sen. Jim Bunning on Tuesday again blocked the Senate from extending unemployment benefits and health insurance subsidies for the jobless. more...

> Christie seeks U.S. aid to curb jobless costs (03/02/2010)
TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie was told that he's unlikely to get an unemployment fund bailout from the federal government to blunt a steep tax increase on New Jersey businesses, but the state's representatives in Washington agreed Monday to lobby for other aid. more...

> Senate Impasse Puts Federal DOT Staff on Furlough (03/01/2010)
WASHINGTON - Two thousand federal transportation workers were furloughed without pay on Monday, and the Obama administration said they have a Kentucky senator to blame for it. more...

> January Construction Spending Slides 0.6 Percent (03/01/2010)
WASHINGTON - Construction spending fell for a third straight month in January as a lag in commercial activity such as office buildings and hotels offset a housing rebound. more...

> New Jersey keeps high property tax crown (02/27/2010)
TRENTON - New Jersey's highest-in-the-nation residential property taxes continued to climb last year, to an average of $7,281, according to a new state report. more...

> Labor Market Shows Signs of Reawakening in New Data (02/05/2010)
The American unemployment rate dipped from 10 percent to 9.7 percent in January, the Labor Department reported Friday, buoying hopes that the worst job market in at least a quarter-century is finally improving. more...

> U.S. loses 20K jobs in January, unemployment rate fell to 9.7 percent (02/05/2010)
WASHINGTON — The U.S. unemployment rate dropped unexpectedly in January to 9.7 percent from 10 percent while employers shed 20,000 jobs. more...

> Where Jobs Are Likely to Grow And Decline This Year (02/05/2010)
Health-care and consumer-services jobs will lead a slow jobs recovery this year, but overall employment will be kept in check by continued declines in local government and construction jobs, economists say. more...

> Transportation Infrastructure Bank Plan Would Cost $4B (02/02/2010)
WASHINGTON — President Obama in his fiscal 2011 budget yesterday proposed a $4 billion infrastructure bank to fund or finance worthwhile transportation projects. more...

> A budget that puts recovery foremost (02/02/2010)
WASHINGTON - Trying to balance increased spending on creating jobs with the need to slow runaway deficits, the Obama administration yesterday proposed a $3.83 trillion federal budget for 2011 that would spend $1.27 trillion more than the government expects to take in. more...

> Obama 2011 Budget Plan Would Cut Most Construction Programs (02/01/2010)
President Obama has proposed a $3.8-trillion budget for fiscal year 2011 that would freeze total "non-security" domestic discretionary spending--the category that includes most federal construction programs--and result in cutbacks in most of the key construction accounts. more...

> N.J. Gov. Chris Christie says he won't increase or add highway tolls (02/01/2010)
TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie today said he won’t put tolls on roads that do not have them now because the state's residents already are overtaxed. more...

> Transportation report suggests new toll roads, raising N.J. gas tax (01/31/2010)
Interstates 78, 80, 195, 287 and 295 are likely targets to become toll roads, transportation experts predict in response to a report submitted to Gov. Chris Christie that suggests that the state explore placing tolls on certain highways. more...

> U.S. Economy Grew at Fastest Pace in 6 Years Last Quarter (01/29/2010)
The United States economy grew at its fastest pace in over six years at the end of 2009, but a sluggish job market is still souring economists on the sustainability of the recovery. more...

> Jobless claims hint at weak growth (01/29/2010)
WASHINGTON — Evidence that the economic rebound remains sluggish emerged from reports Thursday on new claims for unemployment aid and orders to U.S. factories. more...

> Wages and benefits rise weak 1.5 percent in 2009 (01/29/2010)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Wages and benefits paid to U.S. workers posted a modest gain in the fourth quarter, ending a year in which recession-battered workers saw their compensation rise by the smallest amount on records going back more than a quarter-century.

more...

> New York City Transit Chief Cites Worsening Budget Problems (01/28/2010)
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority is facing its worst budget crisis in its history‹and it will only get worse if a six-year transportation bill waiting to be reauthorized is cut as the Obama Administration vows to rein in domestic spending, said its chairman and CEO. more...

> LAUTENBERG, MENENDEZ ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $38 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR MAJOR RAIL BRIDGE BETWEEN KEARNY AND SECAUCUS (01/28/2010)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D - NJ) and Robert Menendez (D - NJ) today announced $38,500,000 in new federal Recovery Act funding to complete the final design for a new rail bridge over the Hackensack River between Kearny and Secaucus. more...

> Rise in jobless claims signals bump in recovery (01/21/2010)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A surprising jump in first-time claims for unemployment aid sent a painful reminder Thursday that jobs remain scarce six months into the economic recovery.

more...

> Jobless rate rises past 10% in N.J. (01/20/2010)
New Jersey’s unemployment rate broke the 10 percent mark in December for the first time since 1977, the labor department said. more...

> Construction in 2010 will be sluggish, but stronger than ‘09 (01/15/2010)
Next year will mark a “transitional but sluggish year on the road to recovery” for the commercial construction industry, according to a forecast released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. more...

> White House, Congress Working on $400B-$500B Measure (01/14/2010)
The Obama administration is working with Congress on a multi-year transportation bill that it expects will cost between $400 billion to $500 billion, Transportation Department Secretary Ray LaHood said at a conference here yesterday. more...

> Eased federal rules a boon for local transit plans (01/14/2010)
Proposed rail projects on the Philadelphia waterfront and in South Jersey got a significant boost yesterday when federal transportation officials announced plans to rescind Bush administration restrictions on transit spending. more...

> New jobless claims rise more than expected (01/14/2010)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of newly laid-off workers requesting unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week as jobs remain scarce amid a sluggish economic recovery. more...

> White House Pegs ARRA Construction Jobs Impact at 168,000 (01/13/2010)
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has produced or saved an estimated 168,000 construction-sector jobs through the end of 2009, the White House Council of Economic Advisers says in its latest update on the impact of the stimulus legislation. more...

> State funnels $44M in additional aid to distressed N.J. cities (01/12/2010)
TRENTON - A state Legislative committee Monday funneled $44 million to a fund for distressed cities, on top of $117.4 already budgeted and just in time for a vote to distribute the money. more...

> U.S. Private-Sector Job Loss Exceeds Forecast (01/06/2010)
Private employers in the United States shed 84,000 jobs in December, fewer than the 145,000 jobs lost in November but more than economists had forecast, a report by a private employment service said on Wednesday. more...

> Private Sector Cut Only 84,000 Jobs in December (01/06/2010)
More progress on the U.S. employment front, as the private sector cut just 84,000 jobs in December -- the fewest since March 2008, according to data compiled in the ADP National Employment Report. more...

> ISM: Service sector returns to growth in December (01/06/2010)
NEW YORK (AP) -- A measure tracking the U.S. service sector returned to growth last month, helped higher by the holiday season's retail sales, but the slight expansion wasn't enough to kick-start hiring. more...

> If the Fed Missed This Bubble, Will It See a New One? (01/05/2010)
If only we’d had more power, we could have kept the financial crisis from getting so bad. more...

> N.J. holds second-highest exit rate (01/05/2010)
Steeper estate taxes. Fewer jobs. Higher property taxes.

For a variety of reasons, people are still leaving New Jersey.
more...

> N.J. weekly unemployment cap rises to $600 (01/04/2010)
The caps have increased for weekly unemployment benefits and other government support programs for New Jerseyans, according to the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development. more...

> New Jersey businesses to see new tax increase (01/01/2010)
James Bellis is already in a bind.

As an employer, he pays higher state unemployment taxes than many because he lays off about a dozen workers from his tree maintenance business every winter.
more...

> Jobless claims drop unexpectedly (12/31/2009)
WASHINGTON — The number of newly laid-off Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits dropped unexpectedly last week, a sign the job market is healing as the U.S. economy slowly recovers. more...

> Transportation Debt Burdens N.J. (12/28/2009)
New Jersey Gov.-elect Chris Christie will take office next month, and along with confronting high property taxes, a heavy debt burden, and the issue of encouraging shared services at the local level, the new administration will face a transportation funding spigot set to dry up by mid-2011. more...

> Ailing Banks Not Buying School Construction Bonds (12/27/2009)
Dec. 27--Congress made a tantalizing offer to local governments this year, with no-interest loans for school construction and renovation. more...

> U.S. jobless rate declines to 10 percent in latest survey (12/04/2009)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Friday its latest summary of national employment, showing a slightly improving picture as the overall jobless rate dropped 0.2 percentage points. more...

> U.S. Economy Lost Only 11,000 Jobs in November (12/04/2009)
In the strongest jobs report since the recession began two years ago, the nation’s employers all but stopped shedding jobs in November, the government reported on Friday, and they appeared to be on the verge of finally rebuilding the work force. more...

> Obama: Jobs plan will 'jump-start' hiring (12/04/2009)
Even as he trumpeted a slowdown in the nation's job losses Friday, President Barack Obama put finishing touches on a proposal he'll unveil next week to "jump-start" business hiring across America. more...

> This Is Progress? Jobs Data Optimism Obscures Harsh Reality (12/04/2009)
If you still have a job, maybe Friday's numbers from the Labor Department will give you a chance to exhale.
more...

> 5 Surprises in the November Jobs Report (12/04/2009)
In a sign that employers are beginning to dip their toes into the hiring waters, a rising number of temp jobs helped shrink November's total job losses to 11,000, a figure small enough for officials to consider employment numbers essentially unchanged for the month. The unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 10 percent. The data were far better than economists' forecasts of 125,000 jobs lost and an unchanged unemployment rate. more...

> Jersey to hold $21M in town aid (12/01/2009)
To help close an unexpected budget gap, the state plans to withhold $20.7 million in aid payments to municipalities, a move that could force cuts in services or higher property taxes, according to three legislative sources briefed on the move. more...

> Budget gap forces N.J. to seek out more cuts (11/27/2009)
Gov. Jon Corzine said yesterday he will once again scour the state's budget to fill another unexpected shortfall that reared its head this year. more...

> Federal lawmakers push for increase in gasoline tax (11/26/2009)
Drivers may have to pay more at the pump so train riders can have an easier commute into New York City -- as well as improved highways and repaired bridges. But they likely won't have New Jersey to blame for raising taxes on gasoline. more...

> U.S. deficit sets October record of $176.4 billion (11/12/2009)
WASHINGTON - The U.S. government deficit hit a record for October as the new budget year began where the old one ended, with the government awash in red ink. more...

> Stimulus Funds Kick Off A Slow Comeback After Market Bottoms (11/11/2009)
The decline in construction activity this year was broader, steeper and faster than many economists anticipated as private non-residential building markets succumbed to the credit crunch and many public markets waited for stimulus funding to be delivered. more...

> Construction Unemployment Rate Rises to 18.7% (11/06/2009)
Construction's unemployment rate climbed again in October, hitting 18.7%, up from 17.1% in September, as the industry lost another 62,000 jobs during the month, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported. more...

> Corzine to chop budget $400M (11/06/2009)
Gov. Jon Corzine is preparing to cut $400 million from the state budget and wants legislators to shelve any new spending plans during their upcoming lame-duck session, all to offset revenue shortfalls blamed on the poor economy. more...

> Recession over? Sure doesn’t feel like it (10/29/2009)
Even though the nation's economy showed growth in the third quarter for the first time in more than a year, don't assume that the Great Recession of 2008-09 is over. more...

> First-time jobless claims drop less than expected (10/29/2009)
WASHINGTON - The number of Americans claiming jobless benefits for the first time dropped less than expected last week, evidence that the labor market remains weak even as the economy is recovering. more...

> U.S. economy grew at 3.5 percent pace in third quarter, marking end of long deep recession (10/29/2009)
WASHINGTON -- The economy grew at a 3.5 percent pace in the third quarter, the best showing in two years, fueled by government-supported spending on cars and homes. more...

> Economy growing but recovery could be at risk (10/29/2009)
WASHINGTON - Fueled by government stimulus, the economy grew last quarter for the first time in more than a year. The question now is, can the recovery last? more...

> Stimulus jobs in U.S. overstated by thousands (10/29/2009)
WASHINGTON — An early progress report on President Obama's economic recovery plan overstates by thousands the number of jobs created or saved through the stimulus program, a mistake that White House officials promise will be corrected in future reports. more...

> 9 signs that America is in decline (10/28/2009)
The sky isn't falling, exactly. America isn't on a fast track to irrelevance. Even in a state of total neglect, we could probably shamble along as a disheveled superpower for a few more decades. more...

> Early reports: Job gains signal stimulus impact (10/28/2009)
WASHINGTON — States have reported using stimulus money to create or save more than 388,000 jobs so far this year, buttressing the Obama administration's claim that the $787 billion plan has had a significant impact on the economy. more...

> Privately run infrastructure deals dry up (10/28/2009)
A rush by state and local governments to sell roads, bridges and airports to private operators in return for eye-popping upfront sums has all but collapsed in the recession. more...

> New Jersey continues to lead nation in property taxes (10/28/2009)
CENTRAL JERSEY — Any way you care to look at it, New Jersey still leads the nation in property taxes.

And its really not even a close race. more...

> Gov't may say recession over but not job losses (10/27/2009)
It's about to become official: The recession is over _ but not the pain.

The government will release figures this week expected to show that the economy has awakened from its deepest slump since the 1930s and is in the early stages of a recovery. But the following week, the government will issue another set of figures expected to show unemployment continuing to rise toward and possibly above a clearly recessionary 10 percent.
more...

> Newark Airport to enlarge, modernize Terminal B (10/23/2009)
NEWARK — The growth of Newark Liberty airport continues with the award of a $58.9 million contract by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to modernize and enlarge Terminal B. more...

> Senate fails to pass three month extension: $8.7 billion rescission takes effect (10/23/2009)
The Senate adjourned last night without taking action on a three month extension of SAFETEA-LU. Disagreement over the source of funds to pay for repeal of the $8.7 billion rescission slated to go into effect upon the expiration of SAFETEA-LU on Sept. 30, 2009 torpedoed the legislation. more...

> Federal Deficit Hits All-Time High of $1.42 Trillion (10/16/2009)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The federal budget deficit has surged to an all-time high of $1.42 trillion as the recession caused tax revenues to plunge while the government was spending massive amounts to stabilize the financial system and jump-start the economy. more...

> Teachers, laborers add jobs (10/13/2009)
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's stimulus plan spared tens of thousands of teachers from losing their jobs, state officials said Monday amid a nationwide effort to calculate the effect of Washington's $787 billion recovery package. more...

> Gov. Corzine would consider gasoline tax increase for transportation projects (10/13/2009)
TRENTON -- Governor Corzine said Monday he’ll consider raising the state’s gasoline tax during a second term or diverting money from other programs to keep the fund that pays for transportation projects afloat. more...

> Corzine sketches out plan on budget (10/09/2009)
After spending months accusing his Republican rival of having no plan to solve New Jersey's financial woes, Gov. Jon Corzine revealed for the first time yesterday details of his own proposals to close a looming budget gap. more...

> New Jersey Governor Tightens Control of Hudson Tunnel Project (10/08/2009)
With bids due soon for an estimated $8.7-billion tunnel project between New Jersey and Manhattan, the governor of New Jersey has announced tough new measures to control costs and potential fraud. more...

> Employers Begin Rehiring the Laid Off (10/05/2009)
With the economy showing modest signs of improvement, a number of companies that shed jobs during the recession are beginning to rehire the very same employees. more...

> $14.4M in stimulus funds for NJ energy programs (10/04/2009)
TRENTON - New Jersey will use a $14.4 million federal stimulus grant to help fund several energy efficiency and conservation programs.
more...

> Ten views of unemployment around the world (10/03/2009)
In the 30 countries comprising the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), unemployment is as low as 3.2% in the Netherlands and as high as 17.6% in Spain, as of July 2009. more...

> Construction's Unemployment Rate Rises to 17.1% in September (10/02/2009)
Despite a pickup in federal stimulus projects, construction's unemployment rate grew worse in September, rising to 17.1%, from 16.5% in August, as the industry lost another 64,000 jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. more...

> Obama Signs One-Month SAFETEA-LU Extension (10/02/2009)
President Obama signed legislation on Oct. 1 that provides a one-month extension for the federal highway and transit programs as well as the appropriations for nearly all federal agencies. Obama also signed a separate bill that extends Federal Aviation Administration programs, including airport construction grants, for three months. more...

> U.S. Consumer Spending Jumps; Jobless Claims Up (10/01/2009)
The government’s “cash for clunkers” program jump-started personal spending in August as car buyers took advantage of taxpayer-financed rebates, the government reported on Thursday. more...

> I.M.F. Upgrades Forecast for World Economies (10/01/2009)
FRANKFURT — The International Monetary Fund on Thursday forecast that the world economy would expand 3.1 percent next year, after a 2009 in which much of the world struggled through a recession. more...

> US economy to grow again by year end, IMF says (10/01/2009)
The U.S economy will be growing again by year end, but tight credit conditions for consumers and businesses will hamper the recovery, the International Monetary Fund said Thursday as it raised its forecast for growth next year to 1.5 percent from 0.8 percent. more...

> Full job recovery unlikely before 2017 (10/01/2009)
While the recession appears to be over, the job market is still eight years away from full recovery two Rutgers economists said Wednesday.
more...

> Report: National job losses continue to moderate (09/30/2009)
Businesses continued to hemorrhage jobs in September, with 254,000 jobs disappearing, but the pace of losses continued to slow, according to the ADP National Employment Report released Wednesday. Small and medium-sized companies continued to lead the way in losses, according to the report, prepared by ADP, the Roseland-based payroll processing firm, and Macroeconomic Advisers LLC. more...

> Economic growth seen slowing by year's end (09/30/2009)
WASHINGTON – The unfolding economic recovery will probably lose some momentum in the final three months of the year as rising unemployment and still hard-to-get credit weigh on consumers. more...

> Rutgers report: It will take years to work out economic woes linked to job losses (09/30/2009)
RUTGERS — The U.S. is in for a long, hard slog over the next 10 years as it recovers the millions of jobs lost during the Great Recession of 2007-2009, according to a pair of Rutgers researchers who calculated the time it will take for the nation to fill its employment
deficit. more...

> Taxes, tolls or debt must rise to cure N.J. highway headache (09/30/2009)
All right, New Jersey voter, which would you prefer, higher taxes or more debt? more...

> FHWA issues order to rescind $8.7 billion in state highway funds (09/24/2009)
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has notified state DOTs that, as required by SAFETEA-LU, $8.7 billion in budget authority will be rescinded from their unobligated Federal aid highway balances on September 30, 2009. more...

> EDA awards grants for companies to add 700 jobs, keep 300 (09/09/2009)
Insurance companies, an India-based pharmaceutical company and an iced-tea maker are among those that could be adding New Jersey jobs with the help of state grants approved Tuesday. more...

> Ailing economy aids public construction (09/09/2009)
Public construction projects, usually an exercise in cost overruns, are getting cheaper as material prices fall and builders compete for contracts just to stay afloat, a silver lining for cash-strapped governments but a worry to some contractors who risk lowballing themselves out of business. more...

> Worst recession since 1930s appears to be over (09/09/2009)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new government survey finds the vast majority of the country reporting economic activity is stabilizing or improving, as the worst recession since the 1930s appears to be over. more...

> Construction Unemployment Rate Improves, But Job Losses Still Cut Deeply (09/04/2009)
Construction's unemployment rate declined in August to 16.5%-- the industry's lowest jobless rate in eight months--the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Construction's August rate was an improvement over the 18.2% reported for July, but it was more than double the August 2008 rate of 8.2%. more...

> U.S. Raises Estimate for 10-Year Deficit to $9 Trillion (08/25/2009)
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, citing an economic downturn that has been deeper than it had first thought, raised its estimate on Tuesday of the government’s deficit over the next decade to $9 trillion from $7.1 trillion. more...

> U.S. employers see hires in year ahead (08/25/2009)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than half the employers in a new poll say they plan to hire full-time employees in the next 12 months, according to research released on Tuesday that could spell relief for unemployed U.S. workers. more...

> Construction spending rises unexpectedly (08/03/2009)
WASHINGTON — Construction spending rose for the second time in three months in June as residential building increased, fresh evidence that the housing sector may be recovering. more...

> Officials seek to extend jobless benefits (08/03/2009)
WASHINGTON — President Obama's top economic advisers say the administration will work with Congress to extend unemployment benefits for millions of Americans. more...

> White House: No Middle-Class Tax Hike (08/03/2009)
WASHINGTON (Aug. 3) -- The White House spokesman said Monday that President Barack Obama is committed to not raising taxes on U.S. families earning less than $250,000. more...

> Latest factory, construction data points to recovery (08/03/2009)
The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index revealed an improving manufacturing sector in July, while the U.S. Commerce Department announced that construction spending rose on signs of housing sector stabilization in June.
more...

> Stimulus cash lifts states, localities (08/02/2009)
A huge influx of federal stimulus money to state and local governments more than offset a sharp drop in tax collections, helping to put the brakes on the nation's economic decline, new government data show. more...

> Congress Passes $7-Billion Rescue Of Highway Trust Fund (07/31/2009)
With the Highway Trust Fund facing a shortfall within weeks, Congress has approved a $7-billion infusion for the fund's highway account, a move that backers of the legislation say will be enough to keep the account solvent through Sept. 30. more...

> Stimulus: Gains Continue in Road, Transit Projects (07/29/2009)
The number of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act highway and transit projects out to bid, under contract and under way, as well as their dollar value, is climbing, but actual outlays still are low. more...

> Minimum wage hike takes effect today (07/24/2009)
New Jersey's minimum wage will rise today to $7.25 an hour from $7.15 an hour as part of a federal law that has bumped up wages three times since 2006. more...

> The new minimum wage: Will it just increase layoffs? (07/24/2009)
Big financial events bring economists and analysts out of the wood work, anxious to give their opinions and get their names in the media. The increase in the minimum wage, which is effective today, is a prime example. The federal minimum wage will go from $6.55 to $7.25. That is an 11 percent hike, which is a pretty healthy bump. more...

> Jobless Checks for Millions Delayed as States Struggle (07/23/2009)
WASHINGTON — Years of state and federal neglect have hobbled the nation’s unemployment system just as a brutal recession has doubled the number of jobless Americans seeking aid. more...

> Greed, betrayal, shame (07/23/2009)
The federal investigation that snared the mayors of Ridgefield, Secaucus and Hoboken uncovered a familiar pattern of corrupt public officials willing to sell their offices for cash and greedy businessmen eager to launder dirty money, authorities said Thursday. more...

> New jobless claims rise to 554K, total rolls fall (07/23/2009)
WASHINGTON – The number of newly laid-off workers seeking jobless benefits rose last week, though the government said its report again was distorted by the timing of auto plant shutdowns. more...

> Oberstar Proposes $3-Billion Highway Trust Fund Remedy (07/23/2009)
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) has recommended a $3-billion infusion for the struggling Highway Trust Fund, a sum that Oberstar says will be enough to carry the trust fund through Sept. 30. Oberstar, who made his proposal July 23 during a House Ways and Means subcommittee hearing, said that the boost for the trust fund should come through a transfer from the general fund. more...

> N.J. faces $10B deficit next year, report says (07/22/2009)
New Jersey faces a projected budget deficit of $8 billion in its next fiscal year, as well as a shortfall of more than $2 billion in its unemployment compensation fund, a report said Tuesday. more...

> Bernanke says Fed can take on supercop role (07/21/2009)
WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke ran into skepticism Tuesday from lawmakers wary of expanding the Fed's duties to police big financial companies. They argued that the Fed failed to spot problems that led to the financial crisis in the first place. more...

> Baucus Proposes $26.8-Billion Trust Fund 'Fix' (07/21/2009)
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) has introduced a bill that would repair the looming revenue hole in the Highway Trust Fund. Baucus's bill, introduced July 20, would provide a total of $26.8 billion in new revenue for the trust fund, with $22 billion designed for the fund's highway account and $4.8 billion for its transit account. more...

> DOT Flooded With High-Speed Rail Requests (07/20/2009)
Demand for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants for high-speed rail far outstrips the $8 billion available. The U.S. Dept. of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration reported on July 16 that it had received 278 "pre-applications" for the rail grants, with applicants requesting a total of $102 billion. The department expects to award the first batch of economic-stimulus rail grants in the fall. more...

> NJ transit approves budget, doesn't raise fares (07/08/2009)
NJ Transit approved a $1.79 billion budget today that doesn't raise fares but also freezes some wages and requires furloughs. more...

> Review: Saying no to stimulus would have cost New Jersey $5 billion (07/08/2009)
New Jersey could have missed out on nearly $5 billion in federal stimulus funding if the state declined to take money with conditions attached by the federal government, according to a nonpartisan review. more...

> Lost along the way: Stimulus funds for local road projects (07/08/2009)
While many state and county roads across New Jersey are undergoing makeovers, municipal officials say they are struggling to maintain their local streets because federal stimulus dollars aren't trickling down to them. more...

> U.S. Job Losses Rise in June as Unemployment Reaches 9.5% (07/02/2009)
The American economy lost 467,000 jobs in June and the unemployment rate edged up to 9.5 percent in a sobering indication that the most painful downturn since the Great Depression has yet to release its hold. more...

> Work begins on $2.5B project to end NJ Turnpike bottleneck (07/02/2009)
EAST WINDSOR, N.J. (AP) — Motorists on the New Jersey Turnpike face more pain before they gain from a widening project. more...

> Ten Minutes with Norman Mineta On the Highway Trust Fund Crisis (07/02/2009)
ENR Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief Tom Ichniowski caught up with former U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta on June 29 to ask him what Congress may do to fix the Highway Trust Fund's problems and how the battle over reauthorizing highway and transit programs might be resolved. Mineta led DOT from 2001 to July, 2006 under President George W. Bush, and then moved to Hill & Knowlton, a public relations and lobbying firm, where he is vice-chairman. more...

> Governor approves $29B tab (06/30/2009)
Gov. Jon Corzine signed into law yesterday the $29 billion state budget that was approved by both houses of the Legislature last week. more...

> Fed Board Maintains the Status Quo (06/24/2009)
WASHINGTON — Facing an economy that is perking up slightly but still deep in recession, the Federal Reserve left its rescue policies unchanged on Wednesday and said that it would keep interest rates low for “an extended period.” more...

> U.S. Jobless Claims Fall for First Time in 21 Weeks (06/18/2009)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The total number of people on the unemployment insurance rolls has dropped for the first time since early January, while first-time claims for benefits rose slightly. more...

> Mixed employment data: jobless claims rise, but continuing claims fall (06/18/2009)
Another mixed bag regarding the most recent labor market data. While initial jobless claims rose by 3,000 to 608,000, continuing claims fell 148,000 to 6.69 million, the U.S. Labor Department announced Thursday. Meanwhile, the 4-week moving average decreased 7,000 to 622,250.
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> Leading economic indicators up more than expected (06/18/2009)
NEW YORK (AP) -- A private research group's forecast of economic activity rose in May by the largest amount in more than five years, the latest sign that the recession is easing. more...

> Middlesex County in smart pursuit of "green-collar" jobs (06/17/2009)
Middlesex County government has been a leader among its peers in the push to go "green" in all of its operations. But beyond hybrid-powered vehicles driven by county workers or solar-paneled roofs sitting atop public buildings, officials are eyeing more: the creation and attraction of private enterprise with those same earth-friendly goals as part of the bottom line. The cause is a laudable one. Potentially lucrative, too. Middlesex could become not only a cleaner county but a more wealthy one. Still, it's a long haul. But first, the plan. more...

> Doubt cast on funding for new tunnel (06/16/2009)
Funding for New Jersey's second commuter rail tunnel to Manhattan may be $3 billion short of its price tag, which could leave the state few options -- such as higher tolls and taxes -- if the federal government fails to provide that money. more...

> IMF likes U.S. economic prospects (06/16/2009)
The International Monetary Fund is joining the chorus of organizations and experts who believe that the U.S. is rising from the recession faster than expected. more...

> War Funding Bill Provides $4.4 Billion for Construction (06/12/2009)
House and Senate negotiators have agreed on a $106-billion supplemental spending bill for fiscal 2009 that most funds the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq but also contains about $4.4 billion for defense and non-military construction, much of it in the U.S. more...

> SOUTH JERSEY: No federal funds for commuter rail line expansion (06/11/2009)
CAMDEN -- The Delaware River Port Authority announced Wednesday it has given up hope that it will receive federal funding to build a diesel-powered, light-rail passenger service between the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden and Glassboro. more...

> Jobless claims drop to 601,000; retail sales rise (06/11/2009)
WASHINGTON — The number of newly laid-off Americans filing jobless claims fell more than expected last week and retail sales grew in May for the first time in three months, fresh evidence that the worst of the recession may have passed. more...

> Deal with union to save Jersey $300 million (06/11/2009)
Gov. Jon Corzine's tentative labor deal with state workers frees up millions of dollars in the short term, but taxpayers still will wind up paying in the future. more...

> New Brunswick breaks ground on $150M Transit Village project (06/10/2009)
NEW BRUNSWICK — Gov. Jon S. Corzine and other high-ranking state officials joined city and business leaders this morning to launch a $150 million mixed-use Gateway Transit Village in the city. more...

> Highway Trust Fund Faces New Shortfall (06/10/2009)
The Highway Trust Fund is in trouble again. Last September, Congress rescued the fund’s highway account with an $8-billion injection. Now a new shortfall, estimated at $5 billion to $7 billion, is looming in August. The picture is even darker for 2010, when an additional $8 billion to $10 billion will be needed. The search is on for more revenue, but the White House is insisting that any new money for the trust fund must be offset, presumably by spending cuts or a revenue-raising mechanism. more...

> Construction Jobs Trickle Back But Losses Are Not Over Yet (06/10/2009)
Even as the Obama administration looks to pump more stimulus money into the marketplace, contractors are pointing to challenges of turning existing funds into new or saved jobs. Firms report some stimulus progress in stabilizing their workforce, but nonresidential construction job losses won’t end in 2009. more...

> Work begins on rail tunnel under Hudson (06/09/2009)
The nation's largest current public works project began yesterday when state and federal officials ceremonially broke ground in Hudson County on a second passenger rail tunnel under the Hudson River. more...

> Obama promises more than 600,000 stimulus jobs (06/08/2009)
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama promised Monday to deliver more than 600,000 jobs through his $787 billion stimulus plan this summer, with federal agencies pumping billions into public works projects, schools and summer youth programs. more...

> $891M in stimulus aid will help New Jersey education budget (06/08/2009)
New Jersey's application for $891 million in education funding from the federal stimulus package has been approved. more...

> Report: Overall pace of job losses slows, but small-business cuts on rise (06/03/2009)
Job losses across the nation continued to mount in May, but the pace slowed somewhat, according to a report issued this morning by Roseland’s Automatic Data Processing. Small-business cutbacks accelerated during the period, though, as the credit crunch and other issues took their toll. more...

> America facing a retirement crisis (06/03/2009)
Insufficient savings is just part of the problem, experts say. When traditional pensions were jettisoned, so was the assurance that money would last until death. more...

> Bernanke sees recession ending soon; warns on debt (06/03/2009)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke sounded a cautiously upbeat note on the U.S. economy on Wednesday but warned that corralling government debt was vital to ensuring the nation's long-term health. more...

> Big Apple Firms and Unions Will Cut Costs To Boost Work (06/03/2009)
In an effort to jump start building projects in New York City and put idle union construction workers back on the job, the leaders of more than 40 different building trades and union employer groups announced on May 29 what they termed a “historic compact” to cut wages of both labor and management and end expensive work rules. more...

> N.J. ranks 31st for real GDP growth (06/02/2009)
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis today released the 2008 real gross domestic product growth statistics by state, and New Jersey weighed in at No. 31. more...

> Highway Trust Fund Faces New Hole, Lawmakers Say (06/02/2009)
The Highway Trust Fund, which had to be rescued last September, is facing another big shortfall this summer and will need a new infusion of $5 billion to $7 billion by August to avoid a slowdown in spending, key senators say. more...

> Stimulus Contracting Picks Up In Highway, Transit Markets (05/22/2009)
The pace of contracting for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds is picking up in the highway and transit sectors. A new House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee report on the economic-stimulus legislation shows that 2,901 highway and transit projects, valued at almost $10 billion, have been put out for bid in 50 states, territories and the District of Columbia as of April 30. more...

> 11 Transit Projects Share $743 Million in Stimulus Aid (05/12/2009)
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has said that it is allocating $742.5 million in economic-stimulus funds to speed construction of 11 transit projects in nine states. more...

> New US jobless claims unexpectedly plunge to 601K (05/07/2009)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- New applications for U.S. jobless benefits plunged to the lowest level in 14 weeks, a possible sign that the massive wave of layoffs has peaked. Still, the number of unemployed Americans getting benefits climbed to a new record. more...

> New jobless claims drop unexpectedly to 610,000 (04/16/2009)
WASHINGTON — New jobless claims fell more than expected for the second straight week, but the number of Americans continuing to receive unemployment insurance benefits climbed above 6 million for the first time. more...

> N.J. approves $956M in energy infrastructure projects (04/16/2009)
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities today green-lighted a broad range of infrastructure projects designed to add jobs to the state's economy, but the approval will result in an average $12 increase in yearly electric and gas bills for five of seven utility firms, including PSEG. more...

> DOT Outlines High-Speed Rail Plan (04/16/2009)
The Dept. of Transportation has released a blueprint aimed at developing high-speed rail in 100- to 600-mile-long corridors around the country. The plan, released April 16, does not say which projects will be funded, but it does include a map of high-speed rail corridors that could qualify for federal aid. The program could provide significant design and construction opportunities. DOT's Federal Railroad Administration will start awarding the first round of grants by late summer. more...

> Recession's grip tight on jobs, housing markets (04/16/2009)
WASHINGTON - The number of people receiving jobless benefits exceeded 6 million for the first time, the government reported Thursday, and housing construction unexpectedly plunged to its second-lowest level on record — fresh evidence that the recession is far from over. more...

> NJ will spend $77.5 million to ease travel in region (04/14/2009)
TRENTON — Outdated bridges, roads that need a new coat of asphalt and tricky intersections that need detangling in southern New Jersey will see at least $77.5 million from the state’s $3.6 billion transportation spending plan, according to the project list announced by Gov. Jon S. Corzine and filed Monday by the state Department of Transportation. more...

> Construction Stimulus Special Section (04/14/2009)
The 2009 Stimulus Package is the most important piece of legislation in the history of the A/E/C industry—and no one can match McGraw-Hill Construction’s ability to help you benefit from it. Our special section includes news and analysis from our 17 publications, plus BusinessWeek and Standard & Poors. You’ll also find the most comprehensive list of shovel-ready projects and in-depth market forecasts and economic research. more...

> Governor unveils $3.6B plan for roads and rails (04/14/2009)
Gov. Jon Corzine said yesterday that improving New Jersey roads and rails are "part of our strategic future" as the state embarks on its largest-ever capital construction program. more...

> Bernanke sees 'tentative signs' of improvement (04/14/2009)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday there's been "tentative signs" that the recession may be easing. But he also warned that any hope for a lasting recovery hinges on the government's success in stabilizing shaky financial markets and getting credit to flow more freely again. more...

> $27 million road project announced (04/09/2009)
MILLVILLE -- The state is launching a $27 million road improvement project designed to increase safety and decrease congestion at the intersections of routes 49 and 55, and Route 49 and Wade Boulevard in this Cumberland County city. The project is estimated to create 130 construction jobs. more...

> Jobless Rate Hits 8.5% After 663,000 Jobs Lost in March (04/03/2009)
The American economy shed another 663,000 jobs in March, the government reported Friday, bringing the toll of job losses during the recession to 5.1 million. more...

> Unemployment rates on the rise in every U.S. metro area in Feb. (04/02/2009)
WASHINGTON -- Unemployment rates rose in all of the nation's largest metropolitan areas for the second straight month in February. more...

> DOE Rolls Out $9.2 Billion From Economic-Stimulus Statute (04/01/2009)
The Dept. of Energy has announced how it will spend more than $9 billion in federal funds under the recently enacted economic-stimulus measure, with much of the money aimed at construction projects. DOE on March 31 released its plans for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's $6 billion to accelerate environmental cleanup work at former nuclear-weapons sites across 12 states around the country. Five days earlier, the agency disclosed its breakdown of $3.2 billion for a new Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program that the stimulus statute created. more...

> Shovel-ready for stimulus funding (03/30/2009)
Six weeks after President Barack Obama signed the federal stimulus package into law, New Jersey already has lined up dozens of shovel-ready projects, some of which are now seeking bids. more...

> Federal government to invest additional $75.5M in N.J. energy-efficiency projects (03/27/2009)
The Garden State will receive approximately $75.5 million in additional funding from the federal stimulus package for local energy-efficiency improvements as part of a $3.2 billion federal investment in such projects nationwide, the White House announced Friday. more...

> Unemployment fund gets $200M booster shot from federal stimulus (03/27/2009)
New Jersey today became the first state to receive federal stimulus money from the U.S. Department of Labor. The Garden State received $206.8 million that will immediately be used to bolster the state’s dwindling Unemployment Insurance Trust fund, Gov. Jon S. Corzine and U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis said this morning. more...

> Federal stimulus will drive N.J.'s clean-energy plans (03/24/2009)
New Jersey is poised to receive millions in federal stimulus dollars to train a green work force to weatherize the state’s 3 million buildings, install wind farms off the Jersey Shore and cover roofs with solar panels, according to a green jobs symposium at Rutgers on Tuesday. more...

> N.J. borrows cash to pay claims for the jobless (03/24/2009)
New Jersey has joined the list of states unable to pay the escalating number of unemployment insurance claims without borrowing from the federal government, Gov. Jon S. Corzine said Monday.

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> Bridges and roads to get a lift from stimulus funds (03/13/2009)
The leaders of the state Department of Transportation and NJ Transit yesterday told lawmakers their agencies have identified $892 million in transportation projects that are ready to be funded by federal stimulus aid headed to New Jersey. more...

> 5,000 “Ready-To-Go” transportation projects could put millions to work (03/10/2009)
With a pledge to put 2.5 million Americans to work and an eye toward stimulating the U.S. economy, President-elect Barack Obama wants to jump-start the economy in a stimulus effort that will center on rebuilding roads and bridges, and modernizing schools. In addition, his spending plan will work toward developing alternative energy sources and more efficient cars. His aides and congressional leaders have been discussing the outlines of a measure that could exceed $500 billion over two years. more...

> State to inject $180M into school projects (03/07/2009)
Stressing the importance of keeping the construction trades working in a worsening recession, Gov. Jon Corzine announced the state will pump $180 million into hundreds of school repair and construction projects. more...

> Corzine outlines $900M in transportation projects (03/06/2009)
Aging buses and rail cars will be rehabilitated. Pocked roads will be resurfaced. Bridges will be built, and others will be painted to extend their lives. more...

> New figures show more Jersey job losses (03/05/2009)
New Jersey's job market looked even bleaker yesterday after the state Labor Department issued revised unemployment figures showing steeper job losses occurred last year as the recession strangled business. more...

> White House: $652M in transportation money headed to NJ (03/03/2009)
WASHINGTON - The White House says New Jersey will receive $652 million in transportation funding under the $787 billion economic stimulus plan President Barack Obama signed into law last month. more...

> Stimulus Flows Into Patchwork of State Transport Projects (03/03/2009)
Kansas will widen U.S. Route 69 to remove a bottleneck outside Kansas City, along with three other expensive projects. Maryland will spend its money in smaller pieces, resurfacing dozens of rutted roads and highways. Colorado will build an interchange on Elk Creek Road in Jefferson County, complete with an underpass for the elk. more...

> DOT Releases Highway Stimulus Funds to States (03/03/2009)
Beating its congressionally imposed deadline, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation has released the $27.5 billion provided for highway projects in the recently enacted economic-stimulus package. The release of the funds, announced March 3 by President Obama, followed the Federal Highway Administration's formal apportionment the day before of $26.7 billion of that total among the states. more...

> Will This Recession Become a Depression? (03/02/2009)
WASHINGTON (March 2) - A Depression doesn't have to be Great — bread lines, rampant unemployment, a wipeout in the stock market. The economy can sink into a milder depression, the kind spelled with a lowercase "d." more...

> Downhill economy gaining speed in wrong direction (02/28/2009)
WASHINGTON -- The economy is moving in reverse faster than the government can measure. more...

> N.J. gets its first piece of $787B stimulus pie (02/28/2009)
Newark will repair its high-rise public housing complexes for the elderly, where heat now seeps through the failing walls.

Jersey City's housing authority will avoid laying off employees.
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> Economists question budget's economic assumptions (02/27/2009)
The administration insists it isn't so, but some private economists are wondering if the Obama administration has brought "Rosy Scenario" back to town. more...

> Economy shrinks at fastest pace in 26 years (02/27/2009)
WASHINGTON - The economy contracted at a staggering 6.2 percent pace at the end of 2008, the worst showing in a quarter-century, as consumers and businesses ratcheted back spending, plunging the country deeper into recession. more...

> New jobless claims keep rising, with N.J. in lead (02/27/2009)
New requests for unemployment benefits rose again last week, defying expectations, while the number of Americans continuing to receive jobless aid topped 5.1 million, fresh evidence the recession is increasingly forcing employers to shed jobs. more...

> Economy suffering 'maximum recession stress' (02/27/2009)
The economy contracted at a staggering 6.2 percent pace at the end of 2008, the worst showing in more than a quarter-century, as consumers and businesses ratcheted back spending, plunging the country deeper into recession. more...

> BUDGET CRISES PUT TAX REFUND CHECKS ON HOLD (02/27/2009)
You've probably heard before that if you're getting a big, fat tax refund check, you're doing something wrong. Now there’s a new reason to fine-tune those payroll withholding elections. The economic meltdown is hitting statehouses around the country so hard that some are holding their residents’ tax refund checks hostage. more...

> Number of Unemployed Tops 5 Million (02/26/2009)
WASHINGTON (Feb. 26) - As bad as it is already, the economy keeps getting worse — and government figures Thursday provided more evidence that the downward spiral won't end anytime soon. more...

> White House Unveils Blueprint for $3.6-Trillion Budget (02/26/2009)
The White House on Feb. 26 unveiled a $3.55-trillion budget outline for fiscal year 2010 that would boost funding for water infrastructure and transportation programs while aiming to cut the federal deficit in half by 2013. more...

> Corzine: Stimulus to deliver $1B in budget relief (02/24/2009)
Gov. Jon Corzine said yesterday the federal stimulus package will soften the damage to the budget he will deliver next month by providing more than $1 billion in direct relief. more...

> NEW JERSEY: Stimulus bill could send $10B our way (02/23/2009)
WASHINGTON -- Gov. Jon S. Corzine says he's happy with the size of the economic stimulus plan that became law earlier this month, though it's $213 billion less than what he and four other Democratic governors had recommended. more...

> Forecasters: Economy worse in '09, better in '10 (02/23/2009)
Brace yourself: The recession is projected to worsen this year. The country stands to lose a sizable chunk of economic activity in 2009 as consumers at home and abroad retrench in the face of persistent economic troubles. And the U.S. unemployment rate _ now at 7.6 percent, the highest in more than 16 years _ is expected hit a peak of 9 percent this year. more...

> Corzine: Stimulus package will yield $1B in N.J. budget relief (02/23/2009)
Gov. Jon Corzine said today he expects the federal stimulus package to provide about $1 billion in direct relief for the budget he will introduce next month. more...

> Stimulus impact on N.J. unclear (02/23/2009)
The $787 billion economic stimulus bill should help New Jersey weather the nation's financial storm, but its precise impact on state residents still is being determined. more...

> Each week brings frightening growth to ranks of jobless (02/20/2009)
February is shaping up to be another brutal month of job losses: The number of laid-off workers receiving unemployment benefits hit an all-time high of nearly 5 million, and new jobless claims are at levels not seen since the early 1980s. more...

> Fed says economy still poor (02/19/2009)
The Federal Reserve warned yesterday that the nation's crippled economy is even worse than thought and predicted it would deteriorate throughout 2009, with no sign that the housing market will stabilize. more...

> Fed: More jobs to vanish (02/19/2009)
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday sharply downgraded its projections for the country's economic performance this year, predicting the economy will actually shrink and unemployment will rise higher. more...

> Wholesale inflation takes biggest jump in 6 months (02/19/2009)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Inflation at the wholesale level surged unexpectedly in January, reflecting sharply higher prices for gasoline and other energy products. more...

> New Jobless Claims Top 600,000 (02/19/2009)
WASHINGTON (Feb. 19) - The number of laid-off workers receiving unemployment benefits has jumped to an all-time high near 5 million while new jobless claims remain well above 600,000. Both figures were worse than expected and new projections from the Federal Reserve show unemployment rising for the rest of this year. more...

> Fed Offers Bleak Economic Outlook (02/18/2009)
The Federal Reserve cut its economic outlook for 2009 on Wednesday and warned that the United States economy would face an “unusually gradual and prolonged” period of recovery as the country struggles to climb out of a deep global downturn. more...

> Fed says economy will shrink and jobless rate will climb this year (02/18/2009)
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve today sharply downgraded its projections for the country’s economic performance this year, predicting the economy will actually shrink and unemployment will rise higher. more...

> Road and Rail Builders Are Ready To Roll (02/18/2009)
For years, a higher-speed rail route between Chicago and St. Louis "has been a construction season or two away from reality," says Rick Harnish, executive director of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association. Pleasantly surprised by the $8-billion pot created in the final stimulus package for high-speed rail, he says, "Hopefully this will put it over the edge." more...

> $27.5B stimulus in bridges and highways investment (02/18/2009)
With a final vote late on Feb. 13 by the U.S. Senate, Congress approved a $787 billion stimulus package that includes $27.5 billion in 100 percent federally funded highways and bridges investment. The House of Representatives passed the compromise bill 246 to 183 earlier that day. No Republicans in the House voted for the bill. Seven Democrats joined Republicans in opposing the measure. more...

> Winners and Losers as Congress Approves Final Stimulus Measure (02/14/2009)
A $787-billion economic stimulus package is heading to the White House for President Barack Obama’s signature following final congressional approval of the huge package of federal spending and tax breaks. The bill includes an estimated $130 billion in spending for construction programs as well as tax incentives that also will give the industry a boost. more...

> A bleak forecast for state (02/12/2009)
New Jersey stands to lose another 205,000 jobs before it emerges from the devastating recession, a leading state economist told a gathering of bankers yesterday. more...

> 7,200 N.J. businesses apply for new jobs grants (02/12/2009)
TRENTON - A new program that offers New Jersey businesses money to create jobs seems to be working. more...

> Reid: Stimulus Agreement Reached On A $789-billion Program (02/11/2009)
Congressional negotiators have struck a deal on a compromise, $789-billion economic-stimulus bill, said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). The measure is smaller than the $819.5-billion package that the House approved on Jan. 28 and the $838-billion measure that the Senate passed Feb. 10. more...

> Revised Senate Stimulus Zeroes Out School Construction (02/09/2009)
To win over a few key Republican votes, a small group of Senators has recommended about $108 billion in cuts from an economic stimulus package that had grown to more than $900 billion. The major construction program casualty is the original Senate stimulus bill's $19.5 billion for school construction funding, which the team of lawmakers deleted. more...

> Jobless growth adds to misery (02/06/2009)
WASHINGTON -- New jobless claims jumped far more than expected last week in an already dismal labor market, and there's no relief in sight for workers as mass layoffs persist. more...

> Economy Shed 598,000 Jobs in January (02/06/2009)
WASHINGTON — The United States lost almost 600,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent, its highest level in more than 16 years, the Labor Department said Friday. more...

> Obama Delivers Promise to Unions By Reversing Bush Labor Pact Ban (02/06/2009)
As Congress negotiates billions of dollars in potential federal funds for construction through the economic stimulus bill, President Barack Obama moved to bring project labor agreements back as an option on federally funded projects. The president issued an executive order Feb. 6 overturning a Bush administration ban on federal PLAs and opened the door to such pacts on projects of $25 million or more. more...

> Hemorrhaging of jobs continues unabated (02/04/2009)
Layoffs are spiking as the recession rips through the country, with retailers, banks, factories and others cutting costs ever more deeply this week. It's inflicting a painful toll on workers, and there's little relief in sight. more...

> Jobless numbers swelling (01/30/2009)
The number of people receiving unemployment benefits has reached the highest level on records that go back more than 40 years, the government said yesterday, and more layoffs are spreading throughout the economy. more...

> House OKs $819B stimulus bill with GOP opposition (01/28/2009)
WASHINGTON - In a swift victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House approved a historically huge $819 billion stimulus bill Wednesday night with spending increases and tax cuts at the heart of the young administration's plan to revive a badly ailing economy. The vote was 244-188, with Republicans unanimous in opposition despite Obama's frequent pleas for bipartisan support. more...

> Rail tunnel to Manhattan gets final OK (01/15/2009)
A federal agency has approved a plan to build a second commuter rail tunnel to Manhattan, clearing the way for construction of the $8.7 billion project to begin by the end of the year, Governor Corzine announced Wednesday. more...

> New jobless claims increase more than expected (01/15/2009)
WASHINGTON – New claims for jobless benefits increased more than expected last week, a trend many economists say is likely to continue for much of this year. more...

> Fed: Outlook for economy has darkened (01/14/2009)
WASHINGTON - The U.S. economy started the new year on weaker footing as recession-shocked Americans retrenched further, forcing retailers to ring up fewer sales and factories to cut back production. more...

> State agency OKs redevelopment projects (01/14/2009)
Two major redevelopment projects in Hoboken and Sayreville won approval yesterday from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for reimbursement of more than $30 million of the developers' cost to clean up contaminated sites. more...

> Treasury: deficit hits new record in just 3 months (01/14/2009)
WASHINGTON -- The federal government already has run up a record deficit of $485.2 billion in just the first three months of the current budget year. And economists say the imbalance for the full year could easily top $1 trillion, pushed to that eye-popping level by the spending the government is likely to do to combat the recession and the most severe financial crisis in generations. more...

> Newark dons a 'green collar' with construction training program (01/13/2009)
Eight years on the job haven't helped Kendall Ellington pull his Newark construction business out of an economic slump. more...

> Despite Recession, There Are Jobs to Fill (01/12/2009)
NEW BRUNSWICK — The recession is claiming thousands of New Jersey jobs, and yet employers are still recruiting — to fill job vacancies today and to prepare for an economic upturn in the future. more...

> Unemployment Hits 7.2%, a 16-Year High (01/09/2009)
With the recession in full swing, the nation’s employers shed 524,000 jobs in December, the government reported Friday, and a rapidly deteriorating economy promised more big losses in the months ahead. December’s job losses brought the total for 2008 to 2.6 million, spanning a recession that started 12 months ago. more...

> Jobless rate climbs to 16-year high (01/09/2009)
U.S. employers shed 524,000 jobs in December as the unemployment rate jumped 0.4 percentage points to 7.2 percent, bringing the nation’s 2008 job losses to 2.6 million — the worst showing since World War II ended in 1945, the federal Department of Labor reported this morning. more...

> N.J., N.Y. governors look to Obama for Hudson tunnel cash (01/09/2009)
WASHINGTON — As President-elect Barack Obama outlined his plan to revive the slumping economy, 14 New Jersey and New York lawmakers offered a way to create more than 50,000 jobs in the region, reduce traffic congestion and cut down on air pollution. more...

> Jobless claims decline, but picture still bleak (01/09/2009)
The number of laid-off workers who are continuing to draw unemployment checks jumped more than expected to 4.6 million at the end of December and is likely to keep climbing this year -- fresh evidence people are finding it increasingly difficult to get a new job amid a deepening recession. more...

> Steep job losses as firms hasten cuts (01/08/2009)
Companies in the U.S. eliminated an estimated 693,000 jobs in December, the most since records began in 2001, a private report based on payroll data showed. more...

> N.J.'s new cuts affect dozens of programs (01/06/2009)
New Jersey is cutting money for homeland security, cancer grants, police equipment and dozens of other programs in an emergency effort to close a $2.1 billion budget deficit. more...

> Governor seeks extra $812M in cutbacks (01/06/2009)
From a budget he once described as cutting spending "cold turkey," Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday proposed slicing $812 million more to keep pace with the economic crisis. more...

> Rough Road For Highway Contractors (01/05/2009)
The outlook is sunnier for New Jersey’s highway and heavy construction firms, which have suffered from a shortage of jobs but are optimistic about replenishing their depleted backlogs with work on large-scale infrastructure projects expected to come up for bid this year. Nonetheless, executives said they are concerned about future funding for infrastructure work, intense competition among bidders for projects and other uncertainties. more...

> Rough ride economic continues, but hang on (01/04/2009)
In the mid-1990s, Mercer County's economy shed jobs at a perilous pace, with major employers announcing more than 6,000 layoffs in less than two years. more...

> Applications for welfare, food stamps are way up (01/04/2009)
In the latest sign the economic crisis is deepening in New Jersey, food stamp applications doubled and the number of people seeking welfare rose 40 percent in October compared with the previous year, according to state figures. more...

> Rail bridges will double N.J.-N.Y. capacity (01/03/2009)
A long-range transit plan to de crease commuter rail delays and increase train capacity between New Jersey and Manhattan cleared an important hurdle this week when a federal agency approved a $1.3 billion project to replace an old train bridge over the Hackensack River. more...

> Manufacturing Reports Show Depth of Global Downturn (01/02/2009)
From Australia, to Asia and Europe and the United States on Wednesday, the message in the latest economic reports was clear: manufacturing continued to slump amid the worst slowdown since the Great Depression.

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> Corzine announces state spending cuts (01/02/2009)
Governor Corzine says the state must now find $2.1 billion in cuts thanks to declining tax revenues. more...

> Feds approve construction of new NJ rail bridge (01/02/2009)
WASHINGTON -- Federal authorities have approved a $1.3 billion project to replace a rail bridge in northern New Jersey -- a move that brings the goal of easier access to Manhattan a bit closer. more...

> Unemployment rate rises in December (01/01/2009)
WASHINGTON -- The number of laid-off workers continuing to draw unemployment benefits bolted to 4.5 million in late December, and even more Americans are expected to join the ranks of the jobless in 2009. more...

> Report: Immigrants play important role in economy (12/24/2008)
TRENTON - New Jersey's economy is dependent upon the contribution of immigrants, according to a report released this week showing that foreign-born people make up 28 percent of the state's workforce. These same immigrants bring in almost a quarter of the earnings statewide and own nearly 20 percent of the state's businesses. more...

> A deep recession, by any measure (12/24/2008)
As the longest recession in a quarter century intensifies, analysts believe the small decline in economic activity in the third quarter has worsened significantly in the current fourth quarter. more...

> Economist: Recession may turn to depression (12/21/2008)
The U.S. economy has a 50 percent chance of falling into a depression during the next three years, said Roger Farmer, a member of the National Bureau of Economic Research's economic fluctuations and growth program. more...

> Home debt, net worth drop in U.S. (12/12/2008)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. households, hit by declining home values and stock market losses, have cut back on their debt levels for the first time on record as loans remain scarce amid what appears to be a deepening recession. more...

> Job-loss carnage more than expected (12/12/2008)
WASHINGTON -- New claims for jobless benefits surged last week and came in worse than expectations that were already gloomy -- and economists say the figures would get even worse without an auto industry bailout. more...

> Almost All States Face Budget Shortfalls (12/11/2008)
NEW YORK (Dec. 11) - The recession has state-level fiscal budgets in crisis mode, according to a report released Wednesday. more...

> Recession Settles In for Long Stay (12/08/2008)
Now that the economic crisis is officially a recession, business owners — uninterested in what it’s called — want to know when it will end. There’s no crystal ball in hand, but experts generally agreed that it’s shaping up to be the longest recession since the Great Depression, with New Jersey bracing for continued fallout in labor, real estate, restaurants, retail and beyond. more...

> 'Ready to Go' Highway Projects' Total Triples, to $64 Billion (12/08/2008)
As the incoming Obama administration and congressional Democrats work on an economic stimulus plan, state transportation officials say there are more than 5,100 jobs-creating highway projects worth $64.3 billion that could get under way quickly if funding became available. more...

> Bernanke's latest rate cuts aim to avert a depression (12/07/2008)
"Helicopter Ben" is hovering above with bags of cash. That's how we should think about Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's move to drop money into the economy to revive growth. more...

> Economy lost another 533,000 jobs in Nov. (12/05/2008)
WASHINGTON - Skittish employers slashed 533,000 jobs in November, the most in 34 years, catapulting the unemployment rate to 6.7 percent, dramatic proof the country is careening deeper into recession. more...

> Nationwide, employers announce huge job cuts (12/05/2008)
A round of more than 15,000 layoffs announced yesterday by AT&T, DuPont and Viacom suggests a yearlong wave of job cuts is accelerating, just as the government is expected to report a higher unemployment rate for November on today. more...

> Voters approve $71 billion for transportation funding (12/05/2008)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Most voters asked at the ballot box Nov. 4 whether they would support increasing their tax burden to fund transportation improvements overwhelmingly said “yes.” In total, the measures would generate more than $71 billion in new revenue for transportation infrastructure work, a post election American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) report finds. more...

> Southern New Jersey counties suffer state's worst unemployment rates (12/04/2008)
Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties experienced the highest unemployment rates in the state in October, suggesting that area workers are poised to suffer through a harsh winter economically. more...

> State relaunches school construction, with an economical eye (12/04/2008)
Newark's new Central High School shines as one of the jewels of New Jersey's massive school construction program, a $102 million structure of brick and glass that draws praise and awe from those who enter its vaulted atrium entrance. more...

> Corzine details stimulus plan (12/04/2008)
As the economy suffers and layoffs spike, New Jersey's work force needs better training and a big dose of federal help to emerge from the recession primed for growth, economists and state officials said yesterday. more...

> Voters Approve Billions For Systems, But It’s Still No Gravy Train (12/03/2008)
Call it a double-edged sword, a perfect storm or—stealing a quote from Charles Dickens—American Public Transportation Association President William Millar describes the state of transit as, “The best of times, the worst of times.” From California to the Carolinas, the acceptance of and desire for transit systems is unprecedented. Voters in November approved more than 20 pro-transit ballot initiatives, most notably Proposition 1B in California that calls for $9.95 billion for a high-speed rail system stretching from Sacramento to San Diego.

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> Outlook for N.J. business: Mostly cloudy (11/26/2008)
New Jersey employers -- most of them with 49 or fewer workers -- are gloomy about the financial condition of their businesses and think the economy will only get worse next year, a survey released yesterday said. more...

> Corzine and Senate take aim at economy (11/25/2008)
Gov. Jon Corzine and the Senate yesterday took action on eight of the 11 bills that comprise his $245 million economic recovery package for New Jersey. more...

> Jobless Claims Reach a 16-Year High (11/20/2008)
WASHINGTON — New claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week to a 16-year high, the Labor Department said Thursday, providing more evidence of a rapidly weakening job market expected to get even worse next year. more...

> New Jersey pension funds lost $9B in October (11/20/2008)
New Jersey's pension funds lost almost $9 billion during October, crumbling in value to $61.9 billion. more...

> Fed: Economy has 'significant weakness' (11/20/2008)
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday sharply lowered its projections for economic activity this year and next, and signaled that additional interest rate reductions may be needed to help combat the worst financial crisis to jolt the country in more than a half-century. more...

> Yearly Highway Revenue Dropped 9%, Adding to Road Finance Worries (11/20/2008)
As Americans drove less, federal gas taxes and other revenue flowing into the Highway Trust Fund fell by $3 billion in fiscal year 2008, compared with the sum collected the year before, the Dept. of Transportation reported. more...

> JERSEY'S 6% JOBLESS RATE (11/20/2008)
Vance Stroud knows times are tough. Yesterday the 56-year-old computer programmer was back at the Bergen One-Stop Career Center in Hackensack, hoping to land a temporary job. His last job ended two months ago. more...

> Bills to help N.J. economy race through committees (11/14/2008)
New Jersey lawmakers rallied yesterday around a $245 million package of bills designed to address fallout from the global financial crisis, just a day after learning the meltdown has punched a $1.2 billion hole in the current state budget. more...

> Jobless claims top 500,000 (11/14/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The number of newly laid-off individuals seeking unemployment benefits has jumped to a level not seen since just after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, as companies cut more jobs in the face of a slowing economy. more...

> Cost of another tunnel under Hudson River rising (11/07/2008)
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Officials say the cost of adding another train tunnel under the Hudson River is going up by $1 billion -- partly because of inflation. more...

> Unemployment Rate at 14-Year High After Big October Losses (11/07/2008)
Squeezed by tight credit and plunging spending power, the American economy is shedding jobs at the fastest pace since 2001, and the losses could accelerate to levels not seen since the deep recession of the early 1980s. more...

> Vanishing jobs, stressed consumers feed downturn (11/07/2008)
WASHINGTON - Ford plans to cut about 2,260 more jobs, the latest in a vicious cycle of vanishing jobs and stresses on American consumers that is spelling deeper trouble for the already sinking U.S. economy. more...

> U.S. lost 240,000 jobs in October, jobless rate rises to 6.5 percent (11/07/2008)
Employers cut payrolls more aggressively than expected in October, boosting the unemployment rate to a 14-year high. more...

> State construction forecast brightens (11/07/2008)
Recession? What recession? more...

> State's flow of red ink deepens as it runs up $2B in new debt (11/07/2008)
The red ink facing New Jersey taxpayers continued to rise as state officials ran up another $2.1 billion in additional debt in the fiscal year that ended June 30, the state's an nual debt report shows. more...

> THE ECONOMY AND THE ELECTION (11/05/2008)
The election is over, and the simple fact that voters have spoken could give U.S. financial markets the momentum they need to mount a sustained rally, or at least regain some stability. more...

> Washington may need to borrow $1 trillion (11/04/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The government, raising cash to pay for the array of financial rescue packages, said yesterday it plans to borrow $550 billion in the last three months of this year -- and that's just a down payment. more...

> Governors Call for Federal Rescue Package for States (10/29/2008)
WASHINGTON — Governors David A. Paterson of New York and Jon S. Corzine of New Jersey added their voices to the growing support for a second federal economic stimulus package, saying that state governments will face devastating cutbacks if they do not receive assistance soon. more...

> Aggressive Fed Cuts Key Rate by a Half-Point (10/29/2008)
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point on Wednesday, its second rate cut this month, as policy makers tried to fend off what could be the worst economic downturn in decades. more...

> NJ Transit seeks fiscally safer track (10/29/2008)
Fallout from the global financial crisis continued to hit New Jersey in unexpected ways this week, as state and federal officials worked to head off a potential default that could cost NJ Transit $150 million. more...

> State plans to borrow $1.6B for transportation upgrades (10/29/2008)
New Jersey yesterday prepared to take a plunge into the turbulent market for public debt, approving plans to borrow up to $1.6 billion for transportation improvements next month. more...

> Assembly OKs economic aid for New Jersey (10/28/2008)
TRENTON -- The New Jersey Assembly approved more than two dozen economic rescue bills Monday, part of lawmakers' focus on easing financial hardships facing Garden State residents and businesses. more...

> Treasury predicts huge government borrowing needs (10/28/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The financial rescue operation will force the federal government to borrow an unprecedented amount of money as the budget deficit climbs to record heights, a top Treasury Department official said Tuesday. more...

> Infrastructure Is Viable Quick Fix, Academics Tell Bush Administration (10/28/2008)
Engineering and business scholars urged Bush administration officials to take a page from FDR’s New Deal and invest in infrastructure. more...

> Unemployment claims keep rising; Greenspan blames 'credit tsunami' (10/24/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Unemployment claims, already well into recession territory, are rising even faster than expected, leading economists to warn Thursday that the worst is yet to come. more...

> Jobless claims rise 15,000 (10/24/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Unemployment claims, already well into recession territory, are rising even faster than expected, leading economists to warn yesterday the worst is yet to come. more...

> DOT Gives States $679 Million To Repair Storm-Damaged Roads (10/24/2008)
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation is providing a total of $679 million to help states repair and rebuild roads and bridges damaged by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav and Midwest floods and earlier storms. DOT Secretary Mary Peters announced during an Oct. 23 visit to hurricane-battered Galveston, Texas, that the department was making the relief funds available immediately. more...

> Jobless claims increase as labor market weakens (10/23/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rising layoffs are hammering American workers, spelling more pain to come for consumer spending, the housing market and the broader economy. more...

> Rise in Jobless Claims Exceeds Forecast (10/23/2008)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The number of American workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose by a larger than expected 15,000 last week, government data showed on Thursday, reinforcing evidence that the labor market is weak. more...

> New Jersey health insurance costs outpace earnings growth (10/23/2008)
WASHINGTON —New Jersey families are seeing employer-sponsored health insurance eat up a much bigger slice of their paychecks though their earnings aren't rising at nearly the same rate, a consumer group said today.

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> The Worst Declines May Be Over If Government Rescue Succeeds (10/23/2008)
Construction activity is falling fast and will head down again next year at a slower pace, but only if the government bank rescue and planned economic stimulus work. more...

> Fed creates new program to help break credit logjam (10/22/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve on Tuesday introduced a new program to finance the purchases of assets from money market mutual funds as the government continued to search for ways to battle a severe credut crisis.
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> World stocks sag as earnings totter, adding to fears of a global recession (10/22/2008)
NEW YORK (AP) -- World stock markets sagged again Wednesday as a barrage of weak corporate earnings stoked fears that the government's financial intervention won't keep global economies out of recession. more...

> Bush, Congress consider new stimulus plan (10/21/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Momentum is building new economic stimulants to boost the country out of the doldrums -- perhaps by putting more money in Americans' pockets. The White House said Monday that President Bush was open to some sort of action after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned the slump could drag on without the extra bracing tonic. more...

> Experts tell NJ Statehouse economic crisis will only get worse (10/21/2008)
TRENTON - Economic experts testified to the state Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Monday that sliding home prices and job losses could push New Jersey into a years-long recession.
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> State's pension funds take $5B hit (10/21/2008)
The global economic crisis cost New Jersey's public pension accounts more than $5 billion last month, reducing the value of the funds to $70.7 billion as domestic and international stocks shrank in value, the state Treasury Department reported yesterday. more...

> Social Security Benefits Rising by 5.8% (10/16/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Social Security benefits for 50 million people will go up 5.8 percent next year, the largest increase in more than a quarter century. more...

> Bernanke: Economy will take time to heal (10/16/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The country's economic health won't snap back quickly even if badly needed confidence in the U.S. financial system returns and roiled markets finally calm, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke cautioned Wednesday. He left the door open to additional interest rate reductions. more...

> Corzine promises $150 million of economic help ... and a balanced budget (10/16/2008)
TRENTON – Gov. Jon S. Corzine called for a $150 million package of economic stimulus, business reform and homeowner protection designed to protect the state from the worst of the current financial crisis. more...

> N.J. job losses reflect Street's crisis (10/16/2008)
New Jersey lost another 3,900 jobs last month, bringing the total number of jobs lost so far this year to more than 20,000, the state Department of Labor reported yesterday. more...

> Jobless claims drop more than expected (10/16/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- New claims for jobless benefits dropped more than expected last week as the impact of two hurricanes in September faded, but the tally remains at levels economists associate with a recession. more...

> Worries over economy spread; global markets sink (10/16/2008)
NEW YORK -Fears of recession are trumping fears of inflation.
A crucial barometer of inflation came in flat last month, temporarily halting Wall Street's slide. But stocks seesawed in a wide range Thursday. more...

> Fed bailout to become bank buy-in (10/15/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Big banks started falling in line Tuesday behind a rejiggered bailout plan that will have the government forking over as much as $250 billion in exchange for partial ownership -- putting the world's bastion of capitalism and free markets squarely in the banking business. more...

> Fixing The Country’s ‘Worst’ Tax Climate (10/13/2008)
TRENTON — When it comes to the New Jersey economy, last Monday was a carnival at the New Jersey Statehouse. The Assembly held 10 committee meetings focusing solely on ways to help improve the faltering economy. The Senate held another five meetings, some of them focusing on helping businesses weather the economy. more...

> Governor following script on toll hikes (10/10/2008)
The scaled-back plan for toll increases that the Turnpike Authority is expected to approve today closely follows the advice Gov. Jon Corzine received from a confidential poll he commissioned to prepare for his re-election bid. more...

> Jobless claims drop from 7-year high (10/09/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- New applications for unemployment benefits dropped last week from a seven-year high, the Labor Department said Thursday, though they remain at elevated levels that indicate recession. more...

> Corzine has crisis-borne stimulus plan for Jersey (10/09/2008)
With New Jersey already feeling the sting of the national financial crisis, Gov. Jon Corzine next week will unveil a broad plan to stimulate the state's economy -- including incentives for businesses, public works projects and programs to help homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure or cannot afford to heat their homes, officials said yesterday. more...

> Interest rate cut doesn't ease fear (10/09/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Wall Street bounced higher and lower yesterday trying to make up its mind about an unprecedented coordinated interest rate cut by central banks around the world. In the end it settled on a familiar feeling -- fear -- and plunged again. more...

> Fed, central banks slash rates to aid world economy (10/09/2008)
WASHINGTON -- In a rare coordinated move, the Federal Reserve and other major central banks from around the world slashed interest rates Wednesday to prevent a mushrooming financial crisis from becoming a global economic meltdown.


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> Feds Consider Bigger Role in Banks (10/09/2008)
WASHINGTON (Oct. 9) - News that the Bush administration is considering taking ownership stakes in a number of U.S. banks helped restore a relative calm over global financial markets Thursday. The aim of such a move would be to thaw the lending freeze that threatens to push the world's economy into recession. It comes after rampant fear about the global economy sent investors scurrying on Tuesday for safety in U.S. government securities despite an orchestrated round of rate cuts by the world's central banks. more...

> Retirement accounts have lost $2T (10/08/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Americans' retirement plans have lost as much as $2 trillion in the past 15 months -- about 20 percent of their value -- Congress' top budget analyst estimated Tuesday as lawmakers began investigating how turmoil in the financial industry is whittling away workers' nest eggs. more...

> Toll hikes, Round 3: Lighter, easier (10/08/2008)
Fueled by tough criticism from motorists and a weakening economy, the state yesterday took a third stab at a plan to raise highway tolls, cutting the size of the increases and sweetening the proposal with discounts for truckers, senior citizens and others. more...

> The crisis spreads: Fed makes plans (10/08/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve moved swiftly to break through a credit clog that is imperiling the economy, saying yesterday it would buy massive amounts of short-term debt and hinting it may cut interest rates. more...

> The crisis spreads: Bailouts continue (10/08/2008)
New Jersey Treasury Department officials are working on a local version of the federal government's financial bailout, devising a state role to help towns and school boards find buyers for their short-term notes if they are closed out of the open market. more...

> Public Works Erode As Debt Market Falters (10/08/2008)
Public-works and institutional projects are succumbing to the same financial trouble that has laid waste to commercial building construction, thinning backlogs and throwing doubt on the newly adopted federal rescue before it has even had a chance to be carried out. In the newest federal intervention, the Federal Reserve on Oct. 7 announced it will buy commercial paper as a “liquidity backstop” to issuers. Anxiety flared everywhere over what could come next. more...

> WORLDWIDE WORRIES (10/07/2008)
It was crunch time for David Dietze as he bent over to do his sit-ups while watching the business news channels at around 5 a.m. more...

> President enacts $700B economic lifeline for the economy (10/04/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Confronted by growing numbers of mortgage defaults, panicky global financial markets and rising unemployment, the House yesterday passed a massive $700 billion rescue package in hopes of preventing an economic collapse. President Bush quickly signed the bill. more...

> Congress Approves Amtrak Funding, Railroad Safety Measure (10/03/2008)
Congress has cleared a passenger rail funding and safety bill that authorizes $13 billion over five years for Amtrak and $1.5 billion over 10 years for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Final congressional approval came on Oct. 1, when the Senate passed the measure, by a 74-24 vote. more...

> N.J. Assembly OKs economy package (09/26/2008)
TRENTON -- Hoping to blunt the impact of tough economic times they say lie ahead, Assembly members unanimously advanced a package of bills Thursday aimed at simplifying the rules for corporate activity in New Jersey. more...

> BUSINESS: Economy's spring rebound was bit less energetic (09/26/2008)
The economy's spring rebound turned out to be slightly less energetic than the government previously thought. And, the road ahead is likely to be rocky as the country gets pounded by the worst financial crisis in decades. more...

> Economic Memo: Credit Enters a Lockdown (09/25/2008)
The words coming out of Washington this week about the American financial system have been frightening. But many have raised the possibility that the Bush administration is fear-mongering to gin up support for its $700 billion bailout proposal. more...

> House and Senate Pass Vital Six-Month FAA Extension (09/24/2008)
Facing a Sept. 30 deadline, Congress has approved a six-month extension for Federal Aviation Administration programs, include airport construction grants. The legislation, which the House and Senate passed on Sept. 23, now goes to President Bush for his signature. Without the extension, authority for FAA programs would expire at the end of September. more...

> Crisis Changes Demand Side of Costs (09/24/2008)
Record high oil and steel prices during the first half of the year were just starting to work their way into construction industry cost indexes when the financial meltdown on Wall Street threatened to drastically reduce the demand side of the cost equation. more...

> Gasping Bank System Puts Credit in Doubt (09/24/2008)
The swift deterioration of the U.S. banking system is threatening to restrict funds needed at every step of the construction industry’s life cycle, with participants putting the brakes on everything from casino jobs and privatized bridge-repair projects to company buyouts and executive retirements. more...

> Corzine proposes ways to jolt N.J. economy (09/23/2008)
NEWARK -- With the credit crisis threatening to send New Jersey's economy into a tailspin, Gov. Corzine said Monday the state needs to work with energy companies and smaller, healthier banks to provide a short-term jolt. more...

> Xanadu project could soak taxpayers (09/23/2008)
New Jersey taxpayers, fresh from shelling out $25 million to prop up the faltering Camden aquarium, could find themselves paying to support a privately owned fish tank in the Meadowlands. more...

> Corzine urges public works spending to spur state's economy (09/23/2008)
Gov. Jon Corzine today proposed accelerating state spending on public works projects such as schools, roads and mass transit and encouraging the creation of new energy conservation jobs -- all in a bid to forestall the dire economic consequences of the Wall Street financial crisis. more...

> N.J. officials brainstorm ways to fix economy (09/23/2008)
Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday proposed accelerating state spending on public works projects such as schools, roads and mass transit and encouraging the creation of new energy conservation jobs -- all in a bid to forestall the dire economic consequences of the Wall Street financial crisis. more...

> Report says New Jersey could gain 57,000 jobs by going green (09/22/2008)
New Jersey could create about 57,000 new jobs by investing $3.2 billion in clean energy technologies and environmental programs, according to a report released this month. more...

> New Rail Tunnel Would Attract Wealth (09/22/2008)
TRENTON — Having to stand on a hot and crowded train from New Jersey to Manhattan because there are no empty seats can be called bad luck or bad timing. But economist Martin E. Robins calls it a bad sign for the economy. more...

> N.J. to hold emergency forum on economy (09/22/2008)
TRENTON - Last week's upheaval on Wall Street has New Jersey lawmakers taking steps to gauge its effect on state residents and help manage the fallout. more...

> N.J. unemployment at 5-year high (09/18/2008)
TRENTON -- Economic woes continue to take a toll on New Jerseyans, with the unemployment rate hitting a five-year high of 5.9 percent last month. more...

> BUSINESS: Jobless claims rise due to Hurricane Gustav (09/18/2008)
New applications for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly last week due to the impact of Hurricane Gustav, the government said Thursday. more...

> State Pension Fund Loses 2.9 Percent in Fiscal Year (09/18/2008)
Dealing with a volatile stock market, New Jersey's pension fund lost 2.9 percent over the fiscal year that ended June 30, according to the state Treasury Department. more...

> White House re-evaluates description of economy (09/18/2008)
WASHINGTON — The White House throttled back its description of the U.S. economy on Wednesday, labeling it resilient enough to withstand some shocks to the system but refusing to say it is fundamentally sound -- the phrase that has jolted the race for the presidency. more...

> Limited Funding Sources Hamper New Bridge, Highway Projects (09/17/2008)
In the weeks leading up to the one-year anniversary of the collapse of the Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis, workers installed the last of 120 pre-cast segments comprising the main span of the $234-million replacement structure, and were on track to have traffic flowing across the Mississippi River by mid-September. more...

> Ailing Economy Could Signal Future Slowdown in Once-Booming Sector (09/17/2008)
While construction throughout the general building market continues unabated due to strong demand in hospitality, higher education and medical sectors for more capacity and greener technology, contractors are dropping hints that the boom times may be ending. more...

> Officials Try to Stem Crisis; Fed to Meet (09/16/2008)
PARIS — Asia stocks reeled Tuesday amid fears about financial contagion from the turmoil engulfing Wall Street, while European markets posted slightly more moderate declines as a glimmer of stability seeped into the market. more...

> N.J. braces for impact of Wall St. crisis (09/16/2008)
ATLANTIC CITY -- From young stock market professionals in Hoboken who suddenly find themselves unable to pay the mortgage or patronize the city's restaurants and bars to Atlantic City casinos struggling to borrow money to expand or pay down debt, the Wall Street crisis is making itself felt in a big way in New Jersey.

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> Financial markets near meltdown (09/15/2008)
NEW YORK -- A failed plan to rescue Lehman Brothers was followed last night by more seismic shocks from Wall Street, including an apparent government-brokered takeover of Merrill Lynch by the Bank of America. more...

> $8-Billion Trust-Fund 'Fix' Gains Final Hill Approval (09/12/2008)
Acting to avert a highway financial crisis, Congress has approved an $8-billion infusion for the ailing Highway Trust Fund, which should allow the Federal Highway Administration to fully reimburse states' for road-financing expenses for about the next 12 months.

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> Weaker global economy slowing U.S. recovery (09/10/2008)
For a time, it looked as though the weakness in the U.S. economy would have limited impact on the solid growth in the rest of the world, which in turn has been providing strong demand for U.S. exports. But now there are signs that the global economy is following the United States into an economic downturn. more...

> Parkway, turnpike tolls to increase 50 percent starting in '09 (09/05/2008)
TRENTON, N.J. Commuters who drive the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway are facing higher tolls.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority's board has told Gov. Jon S. Corzine it will raise tolls by 50 percent starting in 2009.

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> U.S. joblessness worse than expected (09/05/2008)
The nation's unemployment rate zoomed to a four-year high of 6.1 percent in August as employers slashed 84,000 jobs, dramatic proof of the mounting damage a deeply troubled economy is inflicting on workers and businesses alike. more...

> A plan to raise N.J. tolls ... Take two (09/05/2008)
The cost of driving on New Jersey's Turnpike and Parkway would more than double by 2012 in a series of toll hikes that would begin next year, the state Turnpike Authority proposed yesterday. more...

> Old Bridge looks at $2 billion development in southern corner of township (09/05/2008)
OLD BRIDGE —A two-billion dollar "Corporate Campus Project" is taking shape in Old Bridge on a 500-acre redevelopment area formerly known as the Olympia & York property. more...

> Job news shows slump is far from over (09/05/2008)
WASHINGTON — Jobless claims rose unexpectedly last week, the government said Thursday, while companies responded to the slowing economy by producing more with fewer workers. more...

> Citing Dire Trust Fund Picture, DOT Calls for $8-Billion Infusion (09/05/2008)
With the balance in the Highway Trust Fund dropping much faster than expected, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters has directed her department for the first time to restrict highway-aid reimbursements to state departments of transportation and urged Congress quickly to approve an $8-billion infusion for the trust fund's highway account. Peters said on Sept. 5 that if nothing changes, the highway account will show a zero balance as early as Sept. 30. more...

> Cautious optimism rises from the economic trenches (08/29/2008)
From the perch of the Commerce Department, the economy performed remarkably well in the April to June period, all things considered. more...

> The suddenly robust economy shows signs of slowing again (08/29/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The economy pulled out of a dangerous rough patch in the spring, thanks largely to strong exports, but the rebound isn't expected to last. Economic slowdowns overseas could make exports tail off just as Americans are hunkering down after the bracing effect of rebate checks wanes, plunging the country into another rut later this year. more...

> Economic Growth Stronger Than Expected (08/28/2008)
The economy expanded faster from April to June than originally thought, the government said on Thursday, catching many economists off-guard and cheering investors on Wall Street. more...

> BUSINESS: Economy rebounds in 2Q, mostly spurred by exports (08/28/2008)
The economy shifted to a higher gear in the spring, growing at its fastest pace in nearly a year as foreign buyers snapped up U.S. exports and tax rebates spurred shoppers at home. more...

> BUSINESS: Jobless claims fall for 3rd straight week (08/28/2008)
The U.S. government says the number of people signing up for jobless benefits declined last week, the third straight drop from a six-year high reached earlier this month. more...

> Leading Economic Indicators Fell Sharply in July (08/21/2008)
NEW YORK (AP)-- A private business group's measure of the economy's health showed the largest drop in one year as stocks fell, new building permits declined and unemployment rose. more...

> BUSINESS: Jobless claims fall for second straight week (08/21/2008)
The number of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, the second straight drop from a six-year high, according to government data released Thursday. more...

> N.J. debt up $2.2B amid bids to trim it (08/21/2008)
New Jersey's state debt swelled by almost $2.2 billion last year even as Gov. Jon Corzine campaigned to rein in borrowing, state officials confirmed this week. more...

> Wholesale inflation rising at highest rate since 1981 (08/20/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Wholesale inflation soared in July, leaving prices rising at the fastest pace in nearly three decades. While recent declines in oil and other commodity prices raise hopes inflation may have peaked, some economists worry about the widespread nature of the July price surge and caution it will take more time for that pressure to ease on Wall Street and Main Street. more...

> Inflation Hits Annual Pace Not Seen Since 1991 (08/14/2008)
Inflation reached a 17-year high last month, fueled by high gasoline and food prices, all but assuring that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates on hold for the time being. more...

> BUSINESS: Consumer prices rise at double the expected rate (08/14/2008)
Consumer prices shot up in July at twice the expected rate, pushed higher by surging energy and food costs. The latest surge left inflation running at the fastest pace in 17 years. more...

> Unemployment rate up slightly in state (08/14/2008)
TRENTON — New Jersey's unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percent to 5.4 percent in July, but remained below the national rate of 5.7 percent. more...

> Corzine rejects gas tax hike (08/12/2008)
ATLANTIC CITY — Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Monday described a projected $8 billion deficit in the federal Highway Trust Fund as shocking, but opposed raising the state's gas tax to offset any shortfall in federal funding for New Jersey transportation projects. more...

> Corzine's road remains rocky on transit plan (08/12/2008)
As he and other Northeastern governors commiserated yesterday on the obstacles to funding transportation infrastructure, Gov. Jon Corzine said he is "not taking anything off the table" as he develops a new plan to pay for the state's roads, bridges and mass transit. more...

> Rail Line to Impact More than Transportation (08/11/2008)
The Republicans of the New Jersey Legislature last week sent a letter to New York Gov. David A. Paterson asking that the Empire State pay for its share of a proposed Hudson River rail tunnel between New Jersey and Manhattan. more...

> $1B cost stalling idea of light rail: (08/10/2008)
Aug. 10--Whenever the Capital Region conversation turns to concern about traffic jams, clean air, high gas prices or suburban sprawl, there's one cure you can bet someone will propose: light rail. more...

> Study: N.J. has Nation's Highest State-Local Tax Burden (08/07/2008)
New Jersey taxpayers currently bear the heaviest state-local tax burden, and Alaskans have the lightest tax burden, according to a new report from the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization that focuses on federal, state and local fiscal policy. more...

> BUSINESS: Jobless claims rise to highest since March 2002 (08/07/2008)
The number of newly laid off people signing up for jobless benefits last week climbed to its highest point in more than six years as companies cut back given the faltering economy. more...

> We're Number One (Alas) (08/07/2008)
It’s great to be number one in something, isn’t it? more...

> N.J. highways least cost-effective in nation, study says (08/01/2008)
New Jersey has bad roads at high costs, and its highway system is the nation's least cost-effective, according to a study released Thursday. more...

> Small Business Lifts National Employment (07/30/2008)
Employment in the private sector rose by 9,000 jobs across the country from June to July, sparked by an increase of 50,000 jobs among small businesses, according to the ADP National Employment Report released today. more...

> Construction Starts - June Construction Slips 1% (07/30/2008)
New construction starts in June retreated 1% to $552.0 billion (annual rate), as a pullback for nonresidential building outweighed gains for the residential and nonbuilding sectors. more...

> Lonegan files suit to void school construction borrowing (07/28/2008)
TRENTON - Conservative activist Steve Lonegan said he filed suit today seeking to void legislation enacted this month to borrow $3.9 billion for school construction without voter approval. more...

> Officials: Future road projects in jeopardy (07/28/2008)
WASHINGTON — Due to the exploding cost of asphalt, concrete, steel and other building materials nationwide, New Jersey may take longer than anticipated to begin repaving that pothole-ridden road near you or widening the congested exit ramp you use to get on or off the nearest highway.

more...

> In Surprise, New Trust Fund Forecast Shows Smaller Deficit (07/28/2008)
Despite a continued decline in highway travel, a new Bush administration forecast of the Highway Trust Fund's financial health surprisingly projects a slightly lower 2009 deficit, compared with an estimate issued early this year. more...

> Jobless claims up as home sales slide (07/25/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Two cornerstones of the economy -- jobs and housing -- sank to new depths Thursday, with unemployment claims bolting higher and home prices recording one of their steepest drops on record. more...

> House Clears Bridge Inspection And Reconstruction Funding Bill (07/25/2008)
The House July 24 approved legislation providing an additional $1 billion to help repair and replace deteriorating bridges across the U.S. by a vote of 365-55. The bill also significantly toughens bridge inspection requirements. more...

> Fed Report Says Economy Continued to Slow (07/24/2008)
Americans are cutting back on everything from cars to food to name-brand products, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday, in another sign that the economy could slow significantly as money from the federal stimulus checks dries up.

more...

> BUSINESS: New layoff filings jump as companies retrench (07/24/2008)
The number of newly laid off people filing claims for unemployment benefits bolted past 400,000 last week as companies trimmed their work forces to cope with a slowing economy. more...

> Fed report shows a turn for the worse (07/24/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The country slogged through slower economic growth and rising prices during the summer, packing a double whammy to people and businesses alike. more...

> U.S. minimum wage going up today (07/24/2008)
WASHINGTON —About 2 million Americans get a raise today as the federal minimum wage rises 70 cents. The bad news: Higher gas and food prices are swallowing it up, and some small businesses will pass the cost of the wage hike to consumers. more...

> Turnpike Authority Faces 'Perfect Financial Firestorm' (07/24/2008)
With toll revenue shrinking and a dramatic spike in the cost of asphalt, the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway are in the midst of a "perfect financial firestorm," said Kris Kolluri, the commissioner of the state Department of Transportation. more...

> House Approves $8-Billion Highway Trust Fund 'Fix' (07/23/2008)
By a strong margin, the House has approved legislation that would avert a projected deficit in the Highway Trust Fund by shifting $8 billion to the fund from the general Treasury. The measure was approved July 23 on a 387-37 vote, a margin that's well above two-thirds needed to override a threatened presidential veto. more...

> Forecast for N.J.: Recession to last through early 2010 (07/17/2008)
NEWARK -- New Jersey is more than a half-year into a mild recession that should end in early 2010, according to a Rutgers University economic forecast released Wednesday. more...

> State continues to lose jobs (07/17/2008)
As the state labor department announced yesterday that employers shed 4,100 jobs in June, Rutgers economists were predicting payrolls will keep on shrinking through 2010. more...

> June Construction Slips 1% (07/17/2008)
New York, N.Y. – July 17, 2008 – New construction starts in June retreated 1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $552.0 billion, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Nonresidential building fell 12% after its elevated May pace, pulling down the volume of total construction. more...

> Gas and Food Prices Push Inflation Higher (07/15/2008)
WASHINGTON — Soaring costs for gasoline and food have pushed inflation at the wholesale level up by a larger-than-expected amount in June, leaving inflation rising over the past year at the fastest pace in more than a quarter-century. more...

> Euro powers to new record against dollar (07/15/2008)
FRANKFURT, Germany -- The euro roared to a new high against the dollar on Tuesday, reaching US$1.6038 in European trading as markets worried about the ongoing U.S. lending crisis and the state of the country's economy. more...

> Bernanke: U.S. economy facing ‘difficulties’ (07/15/2008)
WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress Tuesday the fragile economy is facing “numerous difficulties” including persistent strains in financial markets, rising joblessness and housing problems — despite the Fed’s aggressive interest rate reductions and other fortifying steps. more...

> State hears ideas to beef up business (07/11/2008)
TRENTON -- Saying a large number of business owners think the state's business environment will deteriorate, a business group's think tank recommended Thursday ways state lawmakers can make New Jersey more hospitable to business.

more...

> Firms fault Jersey business climate (07/11/2008)
New Jersey companies give low marks to the state's business climate, according to a new study that advocates less taxation and regulation, and more state spending to fuel the future growth of the now-stagnant work force. more...

> State will borrow nearly $4 billion to build schools (07/10/2008)
NEWARK — Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed a bill Wednesday allowing the state to borrow $3.9 billion for school construction, popular in the four cities in which he visited schools during the day but controversial because voters aren't being asked for their approval, despite his call to stop selling bonds without the public's consent. more...

> Corzine signs a 'painful' budget (07/01/2008)
Acknowledging that "change is hard," Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday signed a $32.9 billion state budget that features dramatic cuts -- and then issued an executive order to curb future spending. more...

> Rebates prop up economy (06/28/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Millions of economic stimulus payments sent incomes surging in May by the largest amount since a similar recession-fighting effort by Gerald Ford 33 years ago. more...

> Eyeing inflation, Fed ends 9-month run of cuts (06/25/2008)
WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve, navigating treacherous economic waters, decided on Wednesday to leave a key interest rate unchanged, bringing an end to a string of consecutive rate cuts.

more...

> Fed Keeps Rates Steady, but Notes Inflation Worries (06/25/2008)
Caught between inflationary pressures and a weakening economy, the Federal Reserve’s policy makers voted on Wednesday to deal primarily with the weakening economy by keeping interest rates at their present level.

more...

> Highway Trust Fund ‘Fix’ Stalls in House and Senate (06/25/2008)
A proposed $8-billion infusion for the Highway Trust Fund has run into trouble in Congress, leaving industry officials hunting for another way to avert a looming projected deficit in the trust fund. more...

> State to borrow $3.9 billion for school construction (06/24/2008)
The state Legislature on Monday approved borrowing $3.9 billion for school construction, with both supporters and detractors saying they voted with the children in mind.
more...

> House Passes Spending Package With $11 Billion for Construction (06/20/2008)
The House has approved a revised, two-part supplemental spending bill that would set aside $165.4 billion for the Dept. of Defense to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and $21.1 billion for DOD construction and funds for other agencies. The package, approved June 19, includes about $11 billion for defense and nondefense construction programs. more...

> Jobless claims decline by 5,000 following surge (06/19/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of newly laid-off workers filing applications for unemployment benefits dropped slightly last week but remained at a level showing the strains of a weak economy. more...

> Unemployment rises, N.J. gains only 100 jobs (06/19/2008)
TRENTON (AP) -- Unemployment in New Jersey rose by a half percent to 5.4 percent in May, the largest increase in more than two years. more...

> State's job growth at a standstill (06/19/2008)
New Jersey's economy provided new evidence yesterday that job growth has ground to a halt, and the pain of unemployment is spreading: The state's unemployment rate jumped to 5.4 percent in May, from a revised 4.9 percent in April, and employer payrolls were flat. more...

> Fed boxed by inflation, slow growth (06/18/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Wholesale prices barreled ahead while housing and industrial activity faltered -- a blend of high-costs and slow growth that ensures the Federal Reserve's most likely move on interest rates next week will be no move whatsoever. more...

> N.J. unemployment rate sees largest jump in 2 years (06/18/2008)
New Jersey added 100 jobs in May, the third month the employment level has remained largely unchanged, but the unemployment rate took the largest jump in 25 months. more...

> Reports a 'negative cocktail' for economy (06/18/2008)
The U.S. economy may be suffering from its first bout of stagflation since the start of this decade, reports on housing, prices and manufacturing indicated. more...

> Why It’s Worse Than You Think (06/16/2008)
For months, economic Pollyannas have looked beyond the dismal headlines and promised a quick recovery in the second half. They're dead wrong. more...

> Jobless claims jump to highest level since late March (06/12/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of people filing new claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week to the highest level since late March. more...

> House OKs $14.4B high-speed rail service for Northeast Corridor (06/12/2008)
WASHINGTON — Train travelers moved closer to a faster trip to New York or Washington with House passage of a bill supporting construction of a new high-speed rail system in the Northeast. more...

> Understanding the unemployment rate (06/08/2008)
On Friday, the U.S. Labor Department reported the sharpest monthly jump in the unemployment rate in more than 20 years -- from 5.0 percent in April to 5.5 percent in May. And for the fifth straight month, American employers cut jobs last month, a total of nearly 50,000. more...

> Jobless rate jumped to 5.5 percent in May (06/06/2008)
WASHINGTON - The nation’s unemployment rate jumped to 5.5 percent in May — the biggest monthly rise since 1986 — as nervous employers cut 49,000 jobs. more...

> Weekly Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Fall (06/05/2008)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits fell unexpectedly last week to the lowest level since mid-April, a government report said Thursday, raising optimism that the sluggish economy may skirt a recession. more...

> Groups brace for deep cuts in NJ spending (06/05/2008)
As legislative leaders privately tried to iron out the final details of a budget Wednesday, groups that seek state money said they are bracing for unprecedented cuts. more...

> Jobless claims show unexpected improvement (06/05/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits showed an unexpected improvement last week although a key indicator of unemployment hit a four-year high. more...

> Linking Parkway, Rt. 78 (06/02/2008)
For 30 years, drivers on the Garden State Parkway have had only limited access to Route 78.

For 20 years, they've been promised full access was on the way.

more...

> Report issues bleak forecast (05/28/2008)
Not since George H.W. Bush ran the White House have consumers felt so downbeat about the economy. And the catalyst for much of the gloom -- the housing slump -- shows no signs of abating, new data yesterday showed. more...

> Credit crisis claims thousands of jobs (05/28/2008)
It's as if the entire work force at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley vanished in less than a year. more...

> Jersey bruised, but not broken (05/25/2008)
If New Jersey were a stock, it would look a lot like Microsoft -- a mature company past its prime, whose fast growth, high-flying days are well behind it. more...

> There's light at the end of the tunnel (05/25/2008)
I understand many of you are pessimistic about the future. You have good reason to be. But I think some recent events qualify as at least a glimmer of hope in what has been a very dark start to 2008. more...

> Fed forecasts slower growth in '08 (05/22/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve yesterday sharply lowered its projection for economic growth this year, citing blows from the housing and credit debacles along with zooming energy prices. It also expects higher unemployment and inflation. more...

> Index says economy down, but not out (05/20/2008)
Gas prices are high, food's more expensive and the job market's cold, but the United States may still avoid a recession. more...

> Jobless rate rises in N.J. (05/15/2008)
New Jersey's unemployment rate edged up to 5 percent in April, from 4.8 percent, as state payrolls have shed nearly 10,000 jobs since the start of the year, the state reported yesterday. more...

> Inflation Easing, Despite Food Costs (05/14/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Inflation pressures eased a bit in April despite the biggest jump in food prices in 18 years. more...

> Corzine: NJ windfall should cut debt (05/14/2008)
Gov. Jon Corzine acknowledged Tuesday that New Jersey is getting an unexpected budget windfall, but he said the extra cash should be socked away to help reduce the state's debt rather than spent to restore proposed cuts. more...

> Fed's relief efforts paying off, but crisis is far from over (05/14/2008)
Turmoil in financial markets has eased somewhat, but the situation is still "far from normal," Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said yesterday. more...

> Economic reports may be misleading (05/13/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The unemployment rate drops. Productivity grows. The trade deficit shrinks. Sounds great, right? Not so fast.

more...

> NJ budget shifts to black from red (05/13/2008)
Legislative budget analysts are set to announce today that they believe New Jersey is heading into the next budget year with a windfall, not a shortfall. more...

> Road, rail work spells jobs, taxes (04/24/2008)
The money New Jersey plans to spend over the next decade on highway, rail and bridge projects will create 26,800 jobs a year and generate more than $1.5 billion in state and local tax revenue, a Rutgers University study found.

more...

> Report: Many New Jerseyans can't afford bare-bones needs (04/10/2008)
TRENTON -- One in five New Jerseyans aren't paid enough to afford bare-bone necessities without seeking outside help, as the gap between their earned income and cost of living widens, a report released by poverty advocacy groups Wednesday says. more...

> Self-sufficiency eludes 1 in 5 in N.J. (04/10/2008)
One in five New Jerseyans -- 1.68 million adults and children -- cannot afford to live without some kind of public assistance, according to a report issued yesterday by Legal Services of New Jersey's Poverty Research Institute. more...

> Trade deficit wider; jobless claims drop (04/10/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly rose for a second straight month in February as a big jump in imports of foreign-made cars offset the first decline in oil imports in a year. more...

> Financial stress shows (04/06/2008)
The burden of oversized mortgages and credit-card debt is proving to be overwhelming for an increasing number of consumers, as rising gas and food prices squeeze household incomes. more...

> That weight you feel is state's debt burden (04/05/2008)
New Jersey residents continued to grapple with one of the heaviest state debt loads in the nation last year, a new survey of public borrowing shows. more...

> Jobless claims reach two-year peak (04/04/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The number of new people signing up for unemployment benefits last week shot up to the highest level in more than two years, fresh evidence of the damage to a national economy clobbered by housing, credit and financial crises. more...

> Ailing economy may force more cuts to state budget (04/04/2008)
Less than six weeks after proposing more than $1.9 billion in cuts to spending, Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday said it may be necessary to slash the state budget even deeper. more...

> Talk in Trenton turns to slowing economy (04/03/2008)
On the same day Federal Reserve chairman testified in Washington that the nation may be lapsing into recession, a South Jersey economist told lawmakers in Trenton he expects it will be a short one. more...

> Jobless benefits in a bind (04/02/2008)
Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday proposed an emergency $260 million infusion into the fund that bankrolls benefit checks for laid-off workers, as rising joblessness and years of state budget raids pushed the fund toward insolvency. more...

> Manufacturing, construction weaken (04/01/2008)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Further weakness in the manufacturing sector and construction industry underscored concerns that the U.S. economy has fallen into recession, though most analysts believe a downturn will be mild and relatively short-lived. more...

> UPDATE: New Jersey signs trade deal with Chinese province (04/01/2008)
TRENTON — New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine and officials from China's Shandong Province signed a cultural and trade agreement today meant to boost economic ties between the two. more...

> Economy's days are darkening (03/28/2008)
Economists sound an awful lot like meterologists these days, predicting the course and severity of an approaching storm. more...

> Jersey's tax revenue outlook sinks by $134 million (03/25/2008)
In a sign that the faltering economy is further pinching state finances, nonpartisan legislative analysts believe state tax receipts over the next 15 months will be $134 million below those projected by the Corzine administration just a month ago. more...

> With Economy Tied to Wall St., New York Braces for Job Cuts (03/24/2008)
New York is accustomed to job losses on Wall Street. They come with just about every economic slump, and their impact is felt throughout the city. more...

> Working families struggle, despite NJ's wealth (03/24/2008)
New Jersey is the nation's second wealthiest state, but 20 percent of its working families don't earn enough money to adequately support themselves, a report found. more...

> Drop in jobs worries N.J. (03/20/2008)
New Jersey employers continued to cut jobs in February, adding more evidence the economic tur moil spreading across the country is hitting the state's labor market. more...

> Spotlight on economy: Fed chief fights crisis with all his weapons (03/16/2008)
For many, that's the extent of their Federal Reserve vocabulary list. That's because, as long as anyone can remember in the CNBC TV generation, that's about as creative as the Fed got when it tinkered with the economy and the financial markets. more...

> Economy in the eye of recession storm (03/14/2008)
WASHINGTON -- Oil hit a record high, the dollar sank again and consumers stopped buying pretty much everything. more...

> Job loss figures raise more alarm on the economy (03/08/2008)
Optimists on Wall Street were hoping for a sign the economy was slowly adding jobs again, forestalling a recession.

Instead, they got a cold, hard slap.
more...

> A shaky economy stirs job jitters in Jersey (03/07/2008)
Day after day, Roberta Weiss hopes to get the call that will send her back to work.

Weiss was laid off from a student-loan processing company late last year. She knew times were tough, but with 24 years of experience in information technology, she figured she'd find another job quickly.
more...

> Alarm doesn't rattle Bernanke, Bush (02/29/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The economy is in turmoil, yet President Bush and Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke say the country will weather the storm. Neither sees a recession on the horizon. more...

> N.J. job growth lags behind U.S. average (02/28/2008)
New Jersey's job market slowed to a near halt in 2007 and dropped precipitously at the beginning of 2008, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported Wednesday.
more...

> Revised job figures reveal picture isn't so pretty in Jersey (02/28/2008)
New Jersey's economy isn't as healthy as state economic officials thought as recently as a few weeks ago.

more...

> Bayonne expansion (02/28/2008)
on track for '09

L ight rail is on the move and heading south.

more...

> Corzine Seeks to Cut N.J. Budget and Work Force (02/27/2008)
TRENTON — Declaring that New Jersey had reached an irrevocable “turning point” because of years of bad fiscal habits, Gov. Jon S. Corzine proposed a budget on Tuesday that would reduce the state’s work force by 3,000 people, close three departments and prune expenses for services including colleges and hospitals.

more...

> Forecast 2008 (02/24/2008)
Several massive development projects are gaining steam and reshaping the Meadowlands.

The projects include the Xanadu retail/entertainment complex, a new Giants-Jets stadium and the controversial EnCap project.

more...

> New Reports Signal Economic Slowdown (02/21/2008)
A manufacturing slowdown in the mid-Atlantic region this month reached its deepest in seven years, while an index of future economic activity fell for a fourth month, providing more evidence of a recession.

more...

> That ’70s Look: Stagflation (02/21/2008)
Lately, many people are hearing an echo — faintly perhaps but distinctly audible — of the stagflation of the 1970s. more...

> Rising Inflation Limits the Fed as Growth Lags (02/21/2008)
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve, for all its power, faces tough new limits on its ability to keep the economy out of a recession. more...

> Fed Forecasts Inflation, Unemployment (02/21/2008)
WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowered its projection for economic growth this year, citing damage from the double blows of a housing slump and credit crunch. It said it also expects higher unemployment and inflation. more...

> Consumer Prices Rise Again in January (02/20/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Consumer prices rose by a bigger-than-expected amount in January, reflecting big increases in the cost of food and health care, the government reported Wednesday.

more...

> Reduction in cargo at port reflects economic slowdown (02/19/2008)
It was a sign of the boom at the Port of New York and New Jersey.

In 2006, Maher Terminal in Elizabeth created an overnight shift, assigning longshoremen to rearrange stacks of cargo containers that had been delivered during the day to make room for new shipments.

more...

> On the bright side (02/07/2008)
The news on the economic front seems worse every day. We may soon be in a recession, if we're not in one already. more...

> Service sector report signals U.S. recession has arrived (02/06/2008)
NEW YORK -- Lingering hopes that the U.S. might avert a recession withered Tuesday after the nation's service sector -- its banks, travel companies, contractors and stores, among others -- shrank for the first time in five years. more...

> DOT Secretary Mary Peters Pushes Big Shift for Roads,Transit (02/06/2008)
It’s a chilly late January morning and U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters is in Montgomery, Ala., speaking bluntly about the need to revamp the nation’s highway program. At a press conference in a state transportation department maintenance shop, Peters praises Gov. Bob Riley (R), who’s standing nearby, for seeking to get the private sector more involved in road projects. Then she blasts the way the program operates now, declaring, “I have…zero confidence zero that if we send more money to Washington we’ll get any better results back.” more...

> Economic Census determines what N.J. really made of (02/03/2008)
New Jersey isn't the Garden State it once was, but just what has it become?
The Pharmaceutical State perhaps? Or, heaven forbid, the Toxic Waste Disposal State?


more...

> Labor pains: First drop in jobs since'03 (02/02/2008)
WASHINGTON -- In a shower of pink slips, U.S. employers cut jobs last month for the first time in more than four years, the starkest signal yet that the economy is grinding to a halt if it hasn't already toppled into recession.

more...

> U.S. Growth Slowed Drastically in 4th Quarter (01/31/2008)
The American economy expanded by a surprisingly weak 0.6 percent from October to December, the government reported Wednesday, offering the latest indication that the United States is already in the midst of a substantial slowdown and perhaps a recession. more...

> Economy Nearly Stalled in 4th Quarter (01/30/2008)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The economy nearly stalled in the fourth quarter with a growth rate of just 0.6 percent, capping its worst year since 2002.

more...

> Unemployment rate up slightly (01/30/2008)
Unemployment in the Lehigh Valley and Warren County jumped half a percentage point in December -- that's equal to 2,400 people -- according to the state Department of Labor & Industry.

more...

> A January to forget (01/30/2008)
In the 20 years Mike Marcotullio has worked on Wall Street, he's seen historic market reversals that pushed weaker men to the brink of despair. more...

> Counties that pay heavy toll to get most aid (01/26/2008)
New Jersey will spend more than $42 billion on highway, bridge and transit projects over the next decade if Gov. Jon Corzine's plan to borrow against future toll increases is approved by the Legislature, according to data released last night.

more...

> Deal Reached on Economic Stimulus Plan (01/25/2008)
House leaders announced Jan. 24 that they had reached a deal with the White House on a package to jump-start the nation's slowing economy. The estimated $150-billion package is primarily targeted to middle-income Americans but includes tax relief and incentives for businesses that could go into effect this spring. There is no additional federal infrastructure spending in the plan. more...

> Economists tell us -- did the Federal Reserve panic? (01/23/2008)
The Federal Reserve's surprise move to slash the federal funds rate by three-quarters of a point yesterday was the Fed's biggest one-day rate cut in nearly two decades. more...

> The economy may be stronger than you think (01/21/2008)
THE JAN. 4 REPORT by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that the nation's unemployment rate had risen from 4.7 percent in November to 5.0 percent in December sparked widespread fear that the U.S. economy has either entered a recession or is about to enter one.

more...

> Poor 2007 earnings dragging down 2008 (01/20/2008)
In Roman mythology, Janus is the god of doorways, and January is in turn the doorway of the year. For Wall Street, this first month of 2008 has brought none of the optimism the myth implies -- instead, a disappointing stream of economic and earnings reports has investors dreading what's still to come. more...

> Expert sees N.J. in a rut (01/18/2008)
New Jersey's economy will lag the nation's through 2017, a Rutgers economist predicted yesterday during a 10-year economic outlook conference in New Brunswick.

more...

> Recession talk includes local bright spots (01/10/2008)
A leading economist Wednesday painted a bleak picture of the nation's economy, saying the chances of a recession are 50-50, "at best."

more...

> Oil Extends Decline on Economy Worries (01/10/2008)
NEW YORK - Oil futures skidded lower Thursday on growing concerns that a U.S. economic slowdown is imminent and will depress demand.

more...

> Corzine plans major toll hike to pay debt (01/09/2008)
TRENTON - Years of fiscal gimmicks have left state government under a crushing debt burden with more problems to come, a stern Gov. Jon S. Corzine warned Tuesday in his State of the State speech. more...

> FINANCIAL NEWS: Poorer countries to offset US slowdown (01/09/2008)
Continued robust expansion in developing countries will help offset a slowdown in the United States this year amid concerns of a possible recession in the world's largest economy and oil prices will gradually decline, the World Bank today reported. more...

> Bush keeps eye on economy's health (01/09/2008)
WASHINGTON -- President Bush said yesterday he is watching very carefully to see if the struggling U.S. economy needs a short-term boost from the federal government.

more...

> Control of state's three toll roads would shift under Corzine proposal (01/08/2008)
Governor Corzine's plan to raise highway tolls to pay down state debt could turn over control of the state's toll roads to a public benefits corporation for the next 75 years.

more...

> Bush says economy will cope with crisis (01/08/2008)
CHICAGO -- President Bush said yesterday economic indicators are "increasingly mixed," causing anxiety for many Americans. But he said the economy is resilient and the country has dealt with anxiety before.

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> Economy may force fast action (01/07/2008)
WASHINGTON Ordinarily, voters might not expect much productivity out of a Republican White House and a Democratic Congress in a tough election year.

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> N.J.'s economic outlook bright in coming months (01/04/2008)
New Jersey likely will see moderate economic growth through this summer, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia forecast yesterday, citing a recent drop in unemployment claims.

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> Markets are mixed after labor report (12/08/2007)
Wall Street paused from its big rally yesterday, with stocks closing narrowly mixed after the government's November labor report showed tepid job growth as well as a pickup in inflation. The major indexes ended the week higher, with the Dow Jones industrials having gained nearly 900 points over nine trading days.

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> Job market's health is in stable condition (12/08/2007)
WASHINGTON -- Employers added a modest 94,000 jobs to their payrolls in November, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.7 percent and wages grew briskly, encouraging signs the nation's employment climate is holding up in the face of turbulence in the housing and credit markets.

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> Labor report sees spike in worker productivity (12/06/2007)
Worker productivity roared ahead at the fastest pace in four years in the summer while wage pressures dropped sharply.

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> State Budgets Are Feeling Pressure (12/05/2007)
States' spending and revenue will continue to rise this year, but problems in the housing market and other economic pressures will slow that rate of growth from last year's levels, says a new survey from the National Governors Association and National Association of State Budget Officials.

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> Government Appeals 'No-Match' Injunction (12/05/2007)
The U.S. Dept. of Justice Dec. 4 filed an appeal to a federal district court's injunction against the Dept. of Homeland Security's "no-match rule," firing the latest salvo in a battle between the government and business and labor groups.

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> Bernanke says US economy likely to slow (11/08/2007)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday that a host of economic problems, including the severe housing slump, will cause business growth to slow noticeably in coming months.

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> Jobless claims down for last week (11/08/2007)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits dropped last week to the lowest level in a month, even though wildfires added to the unemployment rolls in California. more...

> State economy shows cracks in its armor (10/19/2007)
New Jersey's work force should keep growing slowly, and there's no recession on the horizon, but the housing slump and "subprime" mortgage crisis could rattle the state's large and wealthy economy for many months to come. more...

> Economic index predicts slow growth (10/19/2007)
NEW YORK — A gauge of future economic activity edged higher in September, suggesting the economy may trudge forward at a modest pace despite a worsening housing slump.

more...

> PATH to expand capacity by 20 percent (10/18/2007)
The Port Authority will spend nearly $400 million to expand the capacity of its PATH system by 20 percent. more...

> State added 4,900 jobs last month (10/18/2007)
New Jersey added 4,900 jobs in September, prompting economists to express optimism about the health of the job market. more...

> Fed finds slower economic growth (10/18/2007)
WASHINGTON -- The economy logged slower growth in the early fall as troubles in the housing and credit markets weighed on companies and individuals alike, the Federal Reserve reported yesterday.

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> Job growth steady in New Jersey (10/18/2007)
New Jersey's unemployment rate held steady at 4.3 percent in September as employers added 4,900 workers to their payrolls, bringing total job growth to 17,700 so far this year, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported yesterday.

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> Port Authority set to approve $400 million PATH investment (10/18/2007)
The PATH rail system will receive a nearly $400 million signal-system upgrade to help increase capacity 20 percent by 2014, officials said yesterday.

Commissioners for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the system, plan to pass a resolution today authorizing the expenditure.
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> Analysis Says N.J. Benefits Least from Federal Taxing and Spending (10/10/2007)
New Jersey is the most shortchanged state when it comes to federal taxing and spending, according to the Tax Foundation's latest annual analysis of federal taxing and spending patterns. more...

> Many flee N.J., a study shows (10/10/2007)
It could be over the high cost of living or just better opportunities elsewhere, but a new study confirmed what New Jersey residents and officials have thought for some time: Residents are fleeing the Garden State and it's making a dent in the economy.

more...

> Jerseyans leave at alarming rate (10/10/2007)
Residents are leaving New Jersey at three times the rate they were just five years ago, a trend that is already doing real damage to the state's economy and budget coffers, a new Rutgers University report shows. more...

> Economy is more of a concern, survey finds (10/10/2007)
A growing number of people say the economy is the nation's top problem, with the less educated among the most worried, an Associated Press-Ipsos poll showed yesterday.

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> Jobs data assuage recession fears (10/06/2007)
Fears the country could slide into a recession eased last month as employers created the most jobs in four months and workers' wages grew solidly. The unemployment rate crept up to 4.7 percent, the highest in more than a year but still low by historical standards.

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> Reports paint bleak picture (10/02/2007)
Worries about jobs and the economy flared in September, driving a key barometer of consumer sentiment to its lowest level in nearly two years, a private research group said yesterday.

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> Dollar's current doldrums something to worry about (09/26/2007)
The markets and Washington may be nonchalant about the tumbling dollar, but the rest of us can't afford to be.

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> Senate Clears $23-Billion WRDA, But Veto Threatened (09/25/2007)
The Senate has approved legislation that authorizes $23 billion for Army Corps of Engineers river locks and dams, harbor dredging and environmental restoration work around the country and also mandates independent reviews of large Corps projects. But the White House has threatened a veto of the measure, contending that it is too costly. more...

> State is No. 46 in the growth of personal income (09/21/2007)
TRENTON (AP) -- New Jersey ranked 46th in the rate of personal income growth in the second quarter of this year, according to U.S. Department of Commerce data released Thursday.
more...

> Mass layoffs declined in August (09/21/2007)
Mass layoffs across the nation in August declined compared to July as did associated initial filings for unemployment compensation, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said today. more...

> Dollar tumbles worldwide (09/21/2007)
Thanks to a sinking U.S. dollar and soaring commodities prices that benefit resources-rich Canada, that country's currency as of Thursday can be exchanged 1-for-1 with the greenback for the first time in more than 30 years.

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> State adds jobs, pares unemployment (09/20/2007)
New Jersey employers added 500 jobs in August, or 15,500 for the first eight months of the year, while the unemployment rate fell to 4.3 percent, from 4.6 percent in July, the state Department of Labor and Workforce development announced yesterday.

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> NJDOT gives Mercer $2.8M for upgrades (09/14/2007)
Mercer County will receive more than $2.8 million from the state Department of Transportation to fund street improvement, rehabilitation and safety projects, it was announced yesterday.

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> 'Tepid' growth predicted for the economy (09/13/2007)
LOS ANGELES -- Ongoing weakness in the housing market will push the national economy to the brink of recession, but growth in other areas should put the coun try back on a slow road to recovery by 2009, according to an economic forecast released yesterday.

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> Senate Passes DOT Spending Bill, Rejects Plan to Waive Davis-Bacon (09/13/2007)
The Senate has approved legislation that would increase federal highway and transit funding in fiscal year 2008, but turned back a proposal to waive Davis–Bacon wage requirements on projects to upgrade deficient bridges. more...

> No hiring freeze as companies plan to add jobs (09/11/2007)
MILWAUKEE -- Employers are predicting another stable quarter of hiring, with 27 percent of companies expecting to add positions in the last three months of the year, according to a survey of 14,000 companies being released yesterday.

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> Toll road plan hits dead end with most (09/03/2007)
TRENTON Even before Labor Day unofficially kicks off election season, local officials around the state have ramped up opposition to Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to make money off state toll roads.

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> NJ tops nation in household income (08/28/2007)
WASHINGTON - Though New Jersey is one of the country’s richest states, more than 1 million of its residents lack health insurance.
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> Poverty Rate Falls, but More Are Uninsured (08/28/2007)
The nation’s poverty rate fell in 2006 for the first time this decade, the Census Bureau reported today, even as the percentage of Americans without health insurance coverage hit a record high.

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> N.J. no longer tops in income (08/28/2007)
New Jersey’s six-year reign as the state with the highest household income is over, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday. more...

> N.J. adds jobs at fast clip (08/16/2007)
New Jersey added 5,400 jobs in July but unemployment rose, shedding little light on where we're headed.

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> Unemployment rises even as N.J. gains jobs (08/16/2007)
A strong gain of 5,400 jobs propelled New Jersey payrolls to an all-time high of 4.1 million working people in July -- even as a rise in the state's unemployment rate to 4.6 percent, from June's 4.3 percent, reflected a puzzling decline in the state's total labor force.

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> Bayonne: Light Rail hikes values (08/16/2007)
NJ Transit's expansion of its Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit System to its southernmost point - Eighth Street in Bayonne - figures to be an engine for stimulating additional economic growth in the area, real estate and transit analysts say.

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> July inflation slows (08/16/2007)
A big drop in the cost of gasoline in July contributed to the smallest rise in consumer prices in eight months while industrial output posted a solid gain.

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> State rebuilds school construction program (08/07/2007)
Seeking a fresh start for New Jersey's effort to rebuild hundreds of decrepit public schools in the state's poorest communities, Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday signed legislation that formally abolishes the scandal-plagued Schools Construction Corp.

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> Job Growth in July Is the Slowest in Months (08/03/2007)
The job market lost some of its punch last month as employers added 92,000 jobs — the fewest number in five months, the Labor Department said today.

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> N.J. trails nation in job growth (07/20/2007)
New Jersey's "extremely slow" rate of job growth -- 0.5 percent annually -- will yield only about 20,000 new jobs this year, as the state's economy lags the nation and the region. But over the next decade, the job-creation rate could almost double to 0.9 percent, generating nearly 40,000 new jobs a year.

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> Fed Chief Cautious on Economy (07/18/2007)
WASHINGTON, July 18 (Reuters) — The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, told Congress today that the United States economy will grow gradually this year and gain steam in 2008, but warned there are many risks to the outlook and stressed that the Fed is on guard against inflation. more...

> Business outlook for area: growth is on the horizon (07/18/2007)
CHERRY HILL — Mitchell P. Koza, dean of the Rutgers School of Business at Camden, said growth and continued expansion are on the horizon for the remainder of the business year, but warned that whatever goes up must also come down. more...

> Inflation abates as food, gas costs fall (07/18/2007)
WASHINGTON -- Wholesale inflation posted a better-than-expected reading as both food and energy costs retreated in June. Industrial production rebounded as well, but homebuilders' confidence fell to the lowest level in 16 years as the housing slump persisted.

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> NJ Transit okays two new budgets (07/12/2007)
The NJ Transit board yesterday approved a $1.3 billion capital budget that provides money for new buses and rail cars, expanded park-and-ride facilities, expanded rail and light rail services and major track, bridge and station improvements.

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> Businesses fear the cost of paid family leave in N.J. (06/18/2007)
When employees seek time off to care for a sick family member, newborn or newly adopted child, South Jersey Industries prefers to work out an arrangement with them independently. Offering solid benefits allows it to stay competitive, say officials at the Folsom-based company, which employs about 600 people.
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> Employment picture bright (06/17/2007)
Executives of local job search firms say the job market in Morris County reminds them of the heady pre-Sept. 11 times --almost.
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> N.J. jobless rate unmoved (06/14/2007)
TRENTON (AP) -- New Jer-sey's unemployment rate held steady for the third straight month in May at 4.3 percent, but the state added 5,400 new jobs during the month to reach record high employment at 4.093 million jobs.
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> Economy looking brighter (06/14/2007)
WASHINGTON -- The economy headed into the summer with better momentum, propelled by a manufacturing rebound and consumers who eagerly went shopping and sightseeing despite high gas prices.

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> NJ jobless rate holds steady at 4.3% (06/13/2007)
TRENTON (AP) -- New Jersey's unemployment rate held steady for the third straight month in May at 4.3 percent, but the state added 5,400 new jobs during the month to reach record high employment at 4.093 million jobs. more...

> N.J. budget framework deal struck (06/13/2007)
TRENTON — Gov. Jon S. Corzine's administration and lawmakers have agreed on the outlines of a state budget, Treasurer Bradley Abelow said Tuesday, setting up a smooth passage of the spending plan, perhaps as soon as next week.

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> No Longer The Red Tape State? (06/11/2007)
STATEHOUSE - When Unilever—the British maker of Dove Soap, Lipton Tea and Skippy Peanut Butter—agreed last October to bring 300 to 400 new jobs to New Jersey, the deal was sealed by a new and little-known state group within the Corzine administration called the Action Council for the Economy. more...

> Factory jobs: 3 million lost since 2000 (04/20/2007)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Three weeks ago, Dawn Zimmer became a statistic. Laid off from her job assembling trucks at Freightliner's plant in Portland, Ore., she and 800 of her colleagues joined a long line of U.S. manufacturing workers who have lost jobs in recent years. A total of 3.2 million - one in six factory jobs - have disappeared since the start of 2000.

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> Jobless fund called 'close to the edge' (04/19/2007)
Dwindling assets have pushed the fund that bankrolls unemployment benefits for jobless New Jerseyans to the brink of fiscal col lapse, but have stayed just shy of the line that would trigger a $400 million-a-year business tax hike, state Labor Commissioner David Socolow told lawmakers yesterday.

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> Jump in jobs and jobless during March (04/19/2007)
New Jersey gained 4,900 jobs in March, with the private sector accounting for most of the added employment, while the state's unemployment rate edged up to 4.3 percent from 4.1 percent in February.

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> Billions to repair roads, bridges, aid transit (04/19/2007)
Transportation officials plan to pour $3.3 billion into repairing bridges and roads, including some in Hudson County, while upgrading mass transit throughout New Jersey, under a program dubbed "Fix It First" unveiled earlier this month.

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> N.J. jobless rate drops once again (03/01/2007)
TRENTON (AP) -- The state's unemployment rate fell in January to 4.2 percent, the fifth consecutive month it has declined.
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> Reports offer tough economic news (03/01/2007)
WASHINGTON -- The economy grew at a sluggish 2.2 percent pace in the final quarter of last year, the government reported yesterday, in one of the steepest downward revisions in years. In another report, new-home sales plunged in January by the largest amount in 13 years.

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> $16M dedicated to new rail project (03/01/2007)
The Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel project will receive $16 million in federal funds, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez announced yesterday.

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> Jersey rates well in 'new' economy (02/28/2007)
New Jersey is second only to Massachusetts in a ranking re leased yesterday of the states by their success at developing an in novative, knowledge-centric "new economy."

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> Gov plans to lease state assets (02/23/2007)
TRENTON New Jersey residents will pay no new taxes to balance the state's proposed $33.2 billion budget, and school districts, municipalities and higher education will receive a boost in funding.

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> Conflicting trends cloud hiring outlook (02/11/2007)
New Jersey is at an economic crossroads.

A year ago, economists predicted the state would add 35,000 to 44,000 jobs in 2006 -- a mediocre yet solid performance.

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> The Face of America's Underground Economy (02/09/2007)
Sandra understands more English than she speaks. She's about 20 years old, and graduated from a high school in Chicago. Sandra smiles a lot during a conversation as she stumbles for words to express herself without resorting to Spanish.

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> Union hopes to throw roadblock in path of highway privatization (02/06/2007)
The union representing toll collectors on the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway will begin airing radio ads today urging Gov. Jon Corzine to drop the idea of privatizing the state's highways. more...

> Cautious companies slow to hire (02/03/2007)
WASHINGTON -- The nation's unemployment rate climbed to a four-month high of 4.6 percent as somewhat wary employers added fewer new jobs in January. Wage gains were more modest. more...

> Assembly approves property tax cut (01/30/2007)
TRENTON — The state Assembly on Monday advanced a plan to lower the state's highest-in-the-nation property taxes through a combination of tax credits and spending limits on local governments. more...

> Tax-relief proposals advance (01/30/2007)
TRENTON — Plans for a 20 percent property-tax break for most homeowners and a 4 percent cap on annual property-tax hikes took their first formal step forward Monday as both measures won approval in the Assembly. more...

> Strong earnings growth to slow down, experts say (01/28/2007)
All streaks must come to an end. Investors accustomed to double-digit earnings growth should prepare for more earthbound numbers as Wall Street heads into the midpoint of the fourth-quarter reporting season.

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> State school construction program faces shutdown without new funding (01/25/2007)
New Jersey will have to start closing down its ambitious school construction program in May or June unless lawmakers move quickly to authorize new funding on top of the $8.6 billion allocated to the program six years ago.

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> Rutgers study finds flat economy (01/24/2007)
A downturn in housing transactions and volatile gasoline prices should keep the regional economy flat at best through the first half of 2007, a panel suggested Tuesday at a quarterly business outlook seminar sponsored by Rutgers University in Camden.

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> Inflation Has Best Showing in 3 Years (01/18/2007)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Labor Department reported Thursday that consumer prices rose by 2.5 percent in 2006, the best showing since prices had increased by just 1.9 percent in 2003. The improvement came in spite of the fact that consumer prices jumped 0.5 percent in December, as gasoline prices staged a momentary rebound.

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> Job growth 'moderate' (01/18/2007)
New Jersey added 20,500 jobs in 2006, less than half the increase in 2005, according to figures released by the state Labor Department on Wednesday.

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> Rutgers: State job growth to slow to 0.6% (01/18/2007)
NEW BRUNSWICK -- New Jersey is likely to see job growth of only 0.6 percent this year, down 50 percent from last year, when it trailed far behind the national average, according to the Rutgers Economic Advisory Service's semiannual forecast.
more...

> State jobless rate falls but growth rate lags U.S. (01/18/2007)
New Jersey's unemployment rate fell to 4.2 percent in December as 2,000 added jobs brought the full-year gain to an estimated 20,500 -- a mere blip in a 4 million-plus state work force whose growth dramatically lags the U.S. more...

> Jobless claims fall to 11-month low (01/18/2007)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of newly laid off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level in 11 months, indicating a solid labor market at the beginning of the year. more...

> N.J. economy to see 'correction, not a crash' (01/18/2007)
New Jersey is likely to see job growth of only 0.6 percent this year, down 50 percent from last year, when it already trailed far behind the national average, according to the Rutgers Economic Advisory Service's semiannual forecast. more...

> House votes to lift worker wages (01/11/2007)
Congress moved yesterday to boost the federal minimum wage more than $2 an hour during the next two years -- to a level that will barely be above New Jersey's cur rent wage floor.

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> November Construction Climbs 4 Percent (01/05/2007)
NEW YORK, NY - At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $621.5 billion, new construction starts in November rose 4% compared to the previous month, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. more...

> Fed: N.J. growth nearly halts (12/28/2006)
TRENTON -- New Jersey's economy was all but stagnant last month after two months of healthy growth, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported Wednesday.
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> Consumer confidence improved in December (12/28/2006)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Consumer confidence improved to its strongest level in eight months in December after lackluster performance through the fall, but a private research group said Thursday it was too soon to determine if its reading was signaling genuine improvement.

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> Trade group sees growth slowing in "07 (12/27/2006)
WASHINGTON — A trade group representing the nation's manufacturers yesterday predicted a soft landing for the U.S. economy in 2007, despite expectations that residential real estate will act as a drag on growth.

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> Economic news good, but markets slip anyway (12/23/2006)
Stocks slid yesterday after wan ing enthusiasm among investors ahead of the holiday weekend overshadowed data showing higher consumer spending and a jump in sales of big-ticket goods in November. A weak bond market also weighed on stocks.

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> Jobless rate up, despite gains (12/20/2006)
New Jersey's unemployment rate rose to 4.5 percent in November, the same as the national jobless rate, as 900 added jobs kept state payrolls at near record levels. more...

> October loss adds to job-growth woes (11/16/2006)
New Jersey is on the path toward extremely weak job growth for 2006, as a 2,200 drop in payrolls in October brings job gains so far this year to just 17,000 -- dramatically below the 50,000 the state historically has added in an average year.

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> Economic stakes in a Hill turnover (11/06/2006)
WASHINGTON -- Policy debates affecting every corner of the economy are likely to shift in major ways if tomorrow's election gives Democrats more power in Congress.

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> Greenspan: Economic downturn ‘likely temporary’ (11/06/2006)
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones/AP) — The current economic downturn is “likely temporary,” former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said Monday, noting that the worst of the housing market slump is likely past.

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> Jobless rate hits 5-year low (11/04/2006)
WASHINGTON -- The unemployment rate sank to a five-year low of 4.4 percent and workers' wages grew solidly last month, flashing a picture of a jobs market on firm footing as voters go to the polls.

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> DOT begins work on clogged Parkway-Rt. 280 link (11/04/2006)
An 18-month, $17 million facelift is under way on one of the most congested highway interchanges in all of New Jersey. more...

> Productivity falls across U.S. (11/03/2006)
WASHINGTON — Growth in productivity — the key ingredient for rising living standards — skidded to a standstill in the late summer while workers' wages and benefits shot up at the fastest clip in more than two decades. more...

> The Economy | Slowdown: What kind is this one? (11/01/2006)
Is the U.S. economy running on fumes, or is this just the pause that refreshes? more...

> Wages, Benefits Up at 2-Year Best Pace (10/31/2006)
WASHINGTON - Wages and benefits paid to American workers rose in the July-September period at the fastest pace in more than two years.

more...

> Economic growth slows (10/28/2006)
Economic growth slowed to a crawl in the third quarter, advanc ing at a pace of just 1.6 percent, the worst in more than three years.

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> As Housing Quickly Sags, Signs for 2007 Remain Strong (10/27/2006)
With residential building quickly cooling off, construction's growth party could be winding down even as business in most other segments remains steady to robust, according to a forecast by McGraw-Hill Construction.

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> P.A. likely to OK $75M as part of tunnel project (10/19/2006)
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is expected to approve $75 million today to acquire property for the expansion of New York Penn Station as part of an overall plan to build a second rail tunnel between New Jersey and Midtown Manhattan.

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> INDUSTRY TRENDS: Employment rate sets record in Sept. (10/19/2006)
New Jersey reached an all-time high employment level in September.

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> Unemployment rate dips to 5.2% in N.J. (10/18/2006)
TRENTON (AP) -- New Jersey's jobless rate fell slightly to 5.2 percent in September, down from 5.3 percent in August.
more...

> N.J. economy growing, but at moderate pace (10/18/2006)
The consensus is that South Jersey's economy is growing at a fair pace and not much change is expected in the next six months, according to experts at the Quarterly Business Outlook.

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> FDIC latest to find that NJ economic growth declining (10/05/2006)
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Further evidence that economic growth in New Jersey has declined came Thursday as a federal banking agency found continued deterioration in the state's jobs and home sales.


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> Weekly jobless claims fall by 17,000 (10/05/2006)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of newly laid off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits dropped last week to the lowest level in 10 weeks.

more...

> Bottom line in Jersey: A new minimum wage (10/02/2006)
Kobby Hayford smiled widely from behind the counter of Caps USA in Newark yesterday after learning his hourly wage would jump from $6.15 to $7.15.

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> U.S. economy getting drowsy (09/29/2006)
The economy has slowed even more than previously thought, but the sluggish spell is not expected to turn into recession as Election Day nears.

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> New York City School Agency to Spend $3 Billion a Year for Three Years (09/29/2006)
The New York City School Construction Authority has $3 billion to spend every year for the next three years. In the past, that announcement would have gotten the stereotypical New Yorker response from the design and construction industry: "yeah...good luck with that." But today, the industry is raising an eyebrow.

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> Jobless benefits claims drop last week (09/29/2006)
The number of new people signing up for unemployment benefits dropped last week, an encouraging sign that the labor market is still in decent shape.

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> N.J. minimum wage increases by $1 on Sun. (09/28/2006)
TRENTON -- New Jersey's minimum wage will increase from $6.15 to $7.15 an hour Sunday under a law passed last year.
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> Consumers feel more confident (09/28/2006)
Consumer confidence rebounded from a nine-month low in September, though still hovering near one of the lowest levels of the year, according to reports this week indicating moderate economic growth.

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> State awards $250M in pacts for new Driscoll Bridge work (09/27/2006)
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority awarded two contracts yesterday for the second half of a $250 million reconstruction of the Alfred E. Driscoll Bridge. more...

> Driscoll Bridge to get $100M fix (09/27/2006)
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority board of commissioners awarded a $100 million contract to rehabilitate the oldest sections of the original Alfred E. Driscoll Bridge, which carries the Garden State Parkway over the Raritan River.

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> N.J. loses $16 million in hedge-fund crash (09/22/2006)
New Jersey's foray into high-risk investing suffered a setback this week as the implosion of a Greenwich, Conn., hedge fund swallowed up about $16 million in state funds, including millions that had been in vested just weeks ago.

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> PSEG merger fizzles (09/15/2006)
Exelon Corp. backed out of its proposed purchase of Public Service Enterprise Group on Thursday, citing "insurmountable" differences with state regulators in New Jersey. more...

> Exelon pulls plug on PSEG merger (09/15/2006)
Exelon yesterday walked away from its $17 billion acquisition of Public Service Enterprise Group, balking at concessions sought by New Jersey regulators.

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> More aid is needed for building of schools (09/15/2006)
New Jersey's school construction program needs an infusion of $3.25 billion to address a backlog of projects built up over the past two years during an overhaul of the program, a task force analyzing the school building program told Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday.

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> Building a better route for the commute (09/15/2006)
A 2.5-mile stretch of Route 1 in Edison between Route 287 and the Garden State Parkway keeps frustrated commuters on their brakes.

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> WITH EXELON OUT OF THE PICTURE ... (09/15/2006)
Public Service Enterprise Group isn't going to wind up being part of the biggest guy on the block, at least not just yet.

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> Exelon scraps plan to acquire PSEG (09/14/2006)
NEWARK (AP) -- Exelon Corp. on Thursday scrapped plans to acquire Public Service Enterprise Group, a deal pending for nearly two years that would have created the nation's largest utility company.

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> Corzine: N.J. may replace Amtrak (09/14/2006)
Gov. Jon S. Corzine said the state may consider taking over the 55-mile section of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor that runs between New York and Trenton to reduce delays.

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> N.J. jobless rate highest in 2 years (09/13/2006)
TRENTON -- New Jersey's unemployment rose to 5.3 percent in August, its highest level in more than two years, even as the national rate declined, the state reported Tuesday. more...

> Report finds Trenton lags in opportunities (09/13/2006)
TRENTON -- Economic opportunity in the state has improved over the last decade, but the quality of life for urban residents has barely changed according to a report that focused on New Jersey cities.

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> Seeing $$ signs on Jersey side (09/13/2006)
Many of the firms that have come across the Hudson River are from Manhattan's financial district.

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> Jersey unemployment number rises (09/13/2006)
New Jersey's unemployment rate rose to 5.3 percent last month, from 5.1 percent in July, as the number of people seeking jobs increased, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported yesterday.

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> Economists predict slow growth (09/12/2006)
WASHINGTON — The economic expansion, which began in late 2001, still has staying power although growth will be sluggish through the rest of the year, business economists predict.

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> Corzine outlines strategy to bring more jobs and business (09/08/2006)
Of the NEWARK -- Constricted by a state budget that used a tax increase to meet expenses, Gov. Jon S. Corzine yesterday outlined an economic growth strategy focused on salesmanship but providing no new money to bring more jobs and business to the state.
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> Business Briefs (09/08/2006)
The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits dropped a bigger- than-expected amount last week, signaling continuing labor market strength despite a general economic slowdown.

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> Corzine unveils plan for economic renewal (09/08/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday un veiled his economic strategy for New Jersey that includes two public/private investment partnerships designed to have a $1 billion effect on the state economy -- without any additional taxes or public borrowing.

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> Jobless Claims Fall by Most in 7 Weeks (09/07/2006)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of newly laid off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits dropped by a bigger-than-expected amount last week, signaling continuing labor market strength despite a general economic slowdown.

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> Corzine plans to promote N.J. to businesses (09/07/2006)
NEWARK -- Constricted by a state budget that used a tax increase to meet expenses, Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Thursday outlined an economic growth strategy focused on salesmanship but providing no new money to bring more jobs and business to the state.

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> N.J. economy growing 0.6% (09/07/2006)
NEWARK -- Economic growth in New Jersey has declined to its slowest rate in nearly five years, hobbled by increasing initial unemployment claims and falling housing permits, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported Wednesday. more...

> N.J. economy grinds to a 5-year crawl (09/07/2006)
Economic growth in New Jersey has declined to its slowest rate in nearly five years, hobbled by increasing initial unemployment claims and falling housing permits, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported yesterday. more...

> N.J. businesses: Hard to find good workers (09/05/2006)
NEW BRUNSWICK (AP) -- Finding good workers is a top priority and a big challenge for employers in New Jersey, companies told pollsters commissioned by Rutgers University. more...

> Construction in the First Half of this year is Up 7% Over 2005 (09/04/2006)
New Construction starts tracked by McGraw-Hill Construction through the first half of this year totaled $344 billion, 7% more than the same period a year ago. Homebuilding has slowed to just a 1% annual increase but year-to-year gains of 17% in nonresidential buildings and 13% for nonbuilding construction picked up the slack. more...

> Beer adds $1.7 billion to N.J. economy (09/03/2006)
According to an economic impact study conducted by John Dunham & Associates and sponsored by the National Beer Wholesalers Association and Beer Institute, the beer industry generates $1,757,808,606 annually in wages and benefits and contributes $4,975,183,981 to New Jersey's economy. more...

> Law speeds payment to contractors (09/02/2006)
CHERRY HILL -- Gov. Jon S. Corzine celebrated Labor Day a bit early on Friday, joining an organized labor observance to sign into law legislation requiring quicker payments to construction contractors. more...

> Hiring boost buoys market (09/02/2006)
WASHINGTON — A hiring revival pulled the nation's unemployment rate down to 4.7 percent in August and flashed a Labor Day weekend message that the slowing economy isn't in danger of fizzling out.

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> State tackling I-78 trouble spot (08/31/2006)
The state Department of Transportation is working on an $8 million project to alleviate congestion near a busy Interstate 78 interchange in Union Township. more...

> More signs of slowing economy (08/31/2006)
The economy lost momentum in the spring and probably is in for a spell of somewhat sluggish growth ahead, which could weigh on voters when they go to the polls in November.

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> Shoppers not so sure of economy (08/30/2006)
Americans' faith in the economy tumbled in August to a nine-month low, which could translate to tightened purse strings if job growth stumbles or fuel costs rebound.

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> TUNNELING (07/24/2006)
New York City’s $6.3-billion East Side Access project took a major step forward with the award of a $428-million tunneling contract July 10. The joint venture winner, comprised of Judlau Contracting Inc., College Point, N.Y., and Spanish firm Dragados, left more than $50 million on the table, says Mysore Nagaraja, president of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Capital Construction Co.

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> New Jersey job market: 'Moderate' growth (07/20/2006)
New Jersey added 800 jobs in June, the jobless rate fell to 4.9 percent, from May's 5 percent, and the state is on track to add 35,000 jobs this year to its 4 million-strong work force.

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> Rutgers forecast sees jobs malaise lingering (07/20/2006)
New Jersey can expect modest growth in employment through 2010 and its jobless rate will be higher than the national rate through the end of the decade, according to a forecast released yesterday by the Rutgers Economic Advisory Service.

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> County economy 'healthy' (07/19/2006)
BRIDGETON -- Happy days are here again.

That's what Sidna Prickett, owner of the Roarke Agency, exclaimed as she stood before the podium at the biannual Cumberland County Economic Forecast Panel luncheon.

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> Foreign firms leasing major roads, bridges (07/18/2006)
WASHINGTON -- Roads and bridges built by U.S. taxpayers are starting to be sold off, and so far foreign-owned companies are doing the buying.
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> New Jersey Shutdown Ends But Contractors Fear the Bill (07/17/2006)
State highway contractors in New Jersey were gearing up on July 9 to resume work halted by a 10-day shutdown caused by a state budget impasse. But they were dismayed by return-to-work orders that provided for schedule extensions but not consideration of lost-time expenses. more...

> Route 18 widening remains on schedule (07/16/2006)
It has been four months since major construction began on the widening of Route 18 in New Brunswick and the project remains on schedule, despite bad weather and a state shutdown that took crews off the job for a week. more...

> Report: N.J. losing high-skill tech jobs (07/15/2006)
New Jersey's economic engine has slowed as high-tech jobs have eroded and employment has increasingly come in the form of lower-wage jobs, according to a study to be released Friday.

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> N.J. economy is choking, say two experts (07/14/2006)
Two Rutgers University economists plan to issue a report today stating New Jersey has entered an alarming economic decline whose severity is masked by the very affluence that is slowly slipping away.

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> New budget seen as plus for business (07/14/2006)
While a few business taxes are rising under Gov. Jon Corzine's first budget, lobbyists for the business sector said the budget effectively slashes business taxes by about $300 million by ending some taxes enacted during the McGreevey administration. more...

> U.S. jobless claims jump (07/14/2006)
WASHINGTON — New Jersey's recent casino shutdown helped hike the number of people filing new claims for unemployment benefits across the nation last week, according to figures released by the federal government.

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> N.J. economy in taxing time (07/14/2006)
New Jersey, once synonymous with world-class research and cutting-edge technology, is facing its most uncertain future since the Great Depression, according to a report released today by two Rutgers University economists. more...

> 7 percent rate will take effect Saturday (07/11/2006)
TRENTON -- While the political bickering that shut down New Jersey's government for nearly a week is over, the end of the budget showdown doesn't bring much good news for New Jersey taxpayers.

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> Business as usual in N.J. (07/09/2006)
Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed the $30.8 billion state budget into law Saturday night -- 187 hours past the constitutional deadline, with pledges to reform both the budget process and the property tax burden in the year ahead.

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> $30.6B plan awaits nod in Legislature (07/08/2006)
TRENTON -- Lawmakers appeared close Friday night to approving a $30.6 billion state budget, giving Gov. Jon Corzine his hoped-for 1-cent-on-the-dollar sales tax hike and ending a week-long state government shutdown. more...

> BREAKING NEWS: Gov. Corzine ends government shutdown (07/08/2006)
TRENTON — Though Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed an order this morning ending the unprecedented partial shutdown of New Jersey government, it will take some time for certain services to spring back into action.
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> STATE BUDGET WAR IS OVER (07/07/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine and Assembly Democrats settled their weeklong budget dispute yesterday, signaling an end to the government shutdown that put tens of thousands of New Jerseyans out of work, paralyzed the courts, closed parks and halted gambling in Atlantic City casinos for the first time in history. more...

> Sales-tax increase sticks as N.J. budget stalemate ends (07/07/2006)
TRENTON -- State parks, courts and motor vehicles offices, along with Atlantic City casinos, racetracks and the lottery, are expected to reopen soon, and more than 80,000 workers will return to their jobs, as the framework for a state budget is now in place.

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> Payrolls Increase by 121,000 in June (07/07/2006)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Employers boosted payrolls by a tepid 121,000 in June - an improvement from the previous month but new evidence that companies are reluctant to bulk up their work forces in the face of high energy prices and slowing economic growth. Wages rose sharply.

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> Fewer New Jobs Added in June Than Expected (07/07/2006)
Job growth last month was tepid, the Labor Department reported today, with fewer new jobs added than economists had expected.

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> Tunnel Talk Tops 4th Annual Governor's Transportation Conference (07/07/2006)
George Warrington, New Jersey Transit's executive director, reckons that more than a million people will locate west of the Hudson River by the mid-2020s, and the pressure for them to effectively and efficiently reach the employment centers of Newark, the Meadowlands, the Hudson waterfront and mid-town Manhattan will be enormous.

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> Corzine, Jersey Legislators Ending Stalemate (07/06/2006)
New Jersey legislators hammered at the details on July 7 for enacting a new state budget and ending a week-long shutdown of government services that has closed the state's casino industry and idled 128 highway construction jobs worth $1.5 billion. more...

> Special budget talks fail to curtail state shutdown (07/05/2006)
An emergency legislative session and impassioned plea from Gov. Jon Corzine couldn't break the state's billion-dollar budget impasse yesterday, fueling a raging political war and sending taxpayers a message that might echo for days:

New Jersey is closed.

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> Consumers feeling financial stress of slowing economy (07/05/2006)
Rising interest rates and higher gasoline prices are putting the squeeze on consumers' budgets, and many are finding it harder to keep up with their bills.

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> CORZINE ORDERS STATE SHUTDOWN (07/02/2006)
Unable to reach a budget agreement with members of his own divided party, Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday ordered a step-by-step government shutdown for the first time in New Jersey history.

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> Payrolls grew in state's public sector (06/26/2006)
NEWARK — Anger may have been growing over rocketing property taxes, but that didn't stop New Jersey state and local governments from adding 59,400 jobs in the first half of the decade, according to published reports.



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> Economic data thwart clear Fed message (06/26/2006)
SOME ON WALL S TREET think Ben Bernanke has a communication problem. They say he gives mixed messages about the economy and about the Federal Reserve's intentions, leaving investors confused.

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> Highways serve as backbone driving outward rural development, sprawl (06/25/2006)
WASHINGTON -- Traveling across New Jersey would be more difficult, the state would be poorer and cities would be a lot more crowded if not for the interstate highways crisscrossing the Garden State.

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> State, local government jobs jumped since 2000 (06/25/2006)
New Jersey added 59,400 state and local-government jobs in the first half of this decade, even as private-sector employment was flat, a Star-Ledger analysis has found.

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> Improvement projects aiming to ease the ride (06/25/2006)
Vittoria Marotto arranges her life around the traffic on the Easton Avenue Interchange onto Interstate 287.

The Franklin resident, who works an overnight shift at Somerset Medical Center, leaves work early to avoid rush hour, will not drive on Easton Avenue after 2:30 p.m. and schedules her appointments at times when there is likely to be less traffic.

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> DOT expects repair work to add 25 years to Stickel Bridge (06/23/2006)
The state Department of Transportation will begin work tonight on a $32 million project to repair the deteriorated Stickel Bridge that carries Route 280 over the Passaic River between Newark and Harrison.

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> Is N.J. on verge of a tax revolt? Some think so (06/22/2006)
Tax-hike opponents are split over whether the proposed rate increases in Gov. Corzine's $30.9 billion budget will trigger a 1990s-style citizens' tax revolt like the one that ousted many Democratic state legislators and the governor.
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> State DOT chief eyes improvements (06/21/2006)
GLASSBORO -- State Department of Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri told a packed room on Tuesday that a smoother ride on Interstate 295 and a passenger rail line extension were among the improvements residents could see in coming years.

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> Business growth trend continues for counties (06/15/2006)
The tri-county area continues to see modest business growth, adding 291 establishments from 2003 to 2004, U.S. Census data released Wednesday shows.
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> Rt. 22 allotted $2.5M for road projects (06/15/2006)
WASHINGTON -- An 8-mile stretch of Route 22 known for its reported accidents and feared for its near misses just got an additional $2.5 million toward improvements scheduled to begin next year.

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> Route 18 project in fast lane (06/15/2006)
NEW BRUNSWICK — The skeletal steel outlines of a New Street bridge took shape over the weekend, weeks ahead of schedule.

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> State adds 7,000 jobs last month (06/14/2006)
TRENTON (AP) -- Nearly 7,000 new jobs were added in New Jersey in May and the unemployment rate dipped slightly but remained above the national average.

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> Construction starts on new train station in Mount Arlington (06/13/2006)
MOUNT ARLINGTON -- Officials broke ground Monday on a long-awaited NJ Transit station aimed at lessening massive congestion on Route 80.

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> Employers in hiring mood (06/13/2006)
Mild temperatures aside, a new survey indicates northwest New Jersey's job market is heating up in advance of summer.

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> Low unemployment fund may spur tax hike (06/09/2006)
TRENTON -- The state fund meant to pay benefits to out-of-work New Jerseyans, but which has been raided to help pay for health care, has dwindled so low that even a mild economic recession would spark tax increases on New Jersey employers, a key state official warned Thursday.

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> White House upbeat about economic growth (06/08/2006)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House, in a slightly more optimistic forecast, predicted Thursday the economy will log solid growth and that the nation's unemployment rate will dip lower this year.
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> Dwindling N.J. unemployment fund could spur tax hikes (06/08/2006)
TRENTON -- The state fund meant to pay benefits to out-of-work New Jerseyans, but which has been raided to help pay for health care, has dwindled so low that even a mild economic recession would spark tax increases on New Jersey employers, a key state official warned today.

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> Job numbers add to slowdown signs (06/03/2006)
WASHINGTON -- Cautious employers added just 75,000 new jobs in May, the fewest in seven months, in a fresh sign the national economy is losing momentum heading into summer.

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> Laborers' Announce Official Split With AFL-CIO As of June 1 (05/29/2006)
Unhappy with efforts on behalf of organized labor, the laborers’ union says it will take its 700,000 members out of the AFL-CIO by June 1. The move follows its split in February from the umbrella group’s Building and Construction Trades Dept. to join a new group, the National Construction Alliance that is affiliated with other dissident unions. more...

> Construction Funding Tight So Far for FY 07 (05/29/2006)
Spending bills for fiscal year 2007 are moving in the House, and the numbers for construction aren’t looking bright. So far, bills approved by the House or its appropriations committee call for cuts in the Corps of Engineers civil works program and Environmental Protection Agency water infrastructure. “It’s definitely going to be a tough year, to say the very least,” says Steve Hall, American Council of Engineering Companies’ vice president for government affairs. more...

> Economy Grew at 5.3 Percent Pace in 2nd Quarter (05/25/2006)
The economy grew at a faster rate in the first quarter than the government first reported, but all indications still point to more moderate growth for the remainder of the year.

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> New Commission Begins Transportation Finance, Policy Study (05/25/2006)
A congressionally mandated commission has launched a year-long effort to study whether to revamp the structure of the federal highway, transit and other surface transportation programs and change the way those systems are financed. more...

> NEW GATEWAY FOR S. AMBOY (05/24/2006)
A nearly 100-year-old crumbling bridge at the gateway to South Amboy is almost demolished and will be replaced by two new spans that officials say will complement the city's waterfront redevelopment.

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> Workforce Development Critical In Maintaining State and Country's Competitive Edge (05/19/2006)
Businesses move to where they can get an educated workforce. Therein lies the problem. The developing workforce in this country is lacking in not only technical skills, but basic skills. "Companies are spending $60 billion a year in workforce training, and a lot of that training is in simple literacy. That's a real issue," said Tom Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, at a recent meeting on national workforce trends held at the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, New Brunswick. more...

> School construction agency says it will need millions more (05/18/2006)
State officials retooling the agency set up to manage a massive rebuilding of public schools in New Jersey said they plan to ask lawmakers for a new infusion of construction money in August after they have finished management reforms.

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> Jobless rate up to 5.1% (05/17/2006)
TRENTON -- New Jersey's jobless rate spiked above 5 percent in April, surpassing national unemployment numbers for the first time in 35 months, even while the state added 6,200 jobs.

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> Unemployment in state zooms past national rate (05/17/2006)
A long winning streak for the New Jersey economy ended last month, when the state's unemployment rate surged to 5.1 percent -- climbing above the nation's 4.7 percent jobless rate, the first time that has happened in nearly three years.

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> March Construction Rises 2 Percent (05/17/2006)
NEW YORK, NY – New construction starts in March climbed 2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $667.6 billion, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Gains were reported for nonresidential building and public works, offsetting a modest decline for single family housing. During the first three months of 2006, total construction on an unadjusted basis came in at $149.6 billion, up 8% relative to the same period a year ago. more...

> Senators push for new tunnel between NJ and NYC (05/15/2006)
NEW YORK (AP) - Two U.S. senators are joining the governor of New Jersey to push for a new tunnel under the Hudson River to increase train traffic into Manhattan.
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> Growth plan for Route 130 (05/15/2006)
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- When the Camden and Amboy Railroad was built in the early 1830s, it sparked modern growth in an area that later became Mercer County's Washington Township.

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> NEW PATH STATION? (05/15/2006)
It's been 33 years since the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey built a new station for its Trans-Hudson rail system - a fact that is not derailing Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy in his quest for a PATH station in the Marion section of the city.

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> Corzine buys the ticket for Trans-Hudson rail tunnel in 2009 (05/11/2006)
Promising to help North Jersey commuters make a great escape from mounting congestion, Gov. Jon Corzine and top members of his administration said yesterday groundbreaking for construction of a railroad tunnel linking New Jersey and Manhattan will happen in 2009.

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> Bond debt in N.J. grows (05/09/2006)
New Jersey added more than $3 billion in new public debt last year, meaning the state now owes banks and bondholders more than $3,000 for every resident.

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> Jobs Data Send Dow to New 6-Year High (05/05/2006)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks rallied Friday as moderating job growth reinforced Wall Street's hopes that the Federal Reserve may soon end its series of interest rate hikes. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed more than 110 points to a fresh six-year high.

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> N.J. fiscal picture growing bleaker (05/05/2006)
Property tax rebates might be cut and state government spending will be slashed even more as tax revenues are falling below what budget experts expected, administration officials warned Thursday.

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> April Best Month for Retailers in 2 Years (05/04/2006)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Consumers seemingly unfazed by rising gasoline prices spent enthusiastically during April, giving retailers their best performance in two years.

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> Productivity Increases in First Quarter (05/04/2006)
American workers were more productive in the first three months of the year than in the preceding quarter, the Labor Department reported today, and appear to have been rewarded well for it.

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> Parkway bridge lanes open (05/04/2006)
Drivers traveling south on the Garden State Parkway might not haved realized they were on the new Driscoll Bridge until they saw the off-white concrete in front of them. more...

> Industries hit hard by hike in fuel prices (05/03/2006)
As bad as a motorist may feel paying $50 or more to fill the gas tank of the family car, imagine if your job were to keep hundreds of airplanes flying, or a fleet of trucks on the highway.
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> New GSP bridge gets all southbound traffic (05/02/2006)
SAYREVILLE, N.J. (AP) -- The new twin of the Driscoll Bridge is expected to handle all southbound Garden State Parkway traffic over the Raritan River starting Wednesday afternoon.

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> Governor drops self-serve plans (05/02/2006)
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Facing stiff public and legislative resistance, Gov. Jon S. Corzine said today he won't fight for his short-lived proposal to bring self-service gasoline pumping to New Jersey.

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> Spending Pushes Up Inflation (05/02/2006)
Robust spending on homes, cars and other consumer goods kept the economy moving at a brisk pace and sent a critical measure of inflation higher in March, the Commerce Department reported yesterday, renewing concerns that the Federal Reserve will have to raise interest rates further.

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> NJ asks court to freeze Abbott spending (05/02/2006)
New Jersey's 31 poorest school districts want too much money, and the state can no longer afford to meet their incresingly high demands, the state attorney general told New Jersey's Supreme Court justices this morning. more...

> March jobless rate holds steady (05/02/2006)
Unemployment in the Lehigh Valley remained unchanged in March at 4.5 percent, continuing at a clip that an economist says bodes well for the local job market. more...

> Quarterly growth slow in N.J. (05/02/2006)
Economic growth in New Jersey slowed in the first three months of the year, burdened by an increase in initial unemployment claims, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported Monday.

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> Lower speed limit among proposals to ease pump pain (04/28/2006)
TRENTON -- Lowering the 65 mph speed limit, incentives to reduce the use of personal cars and allowing self-service gas stations are on Gov. Jon S. Corzine's agenda to respond to recent spikes in gasoline prices. more...

> Plan to hike the sales tax puts end to honeymoon for Corzine (04/27/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine's move to raise taxes has dealt a sharp blow to the popularity of both the governor and the Democrat-controlled Legislature, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.

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> Self-serve gas ban in N.J. gets new look (04/25/2006)
Rising gas prices are reviving talk in New Jersey about ending a ban on self-service gas that has endured for more than half a century.

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> Employers Boost March Payrolls by 211,000 (04/07/2006)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Employers added 211,000 jobs in a springtime hiring burst that benefited almost all sectors of the economy and lowered the national unemploment rate to 4.7 percent.

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> March Unemployment Rate Back to 4 - 1 / 2 - Year Low (04/07/2006)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. employers added 211,000 jobs in March and the unemployment rate unexpectedly slipped back to a 4-1/2-year low 4.7 percent, the government said on Friday in a report likely to keep concern about potential inflation pressures on the burner.

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> State's economy slowing (04/05/2006)
NEWARK -- New Jersey's economy slowed in the second half of 2005, and early 2006 offers few encouraging signs, according to reports released Tuesday. more...

> Jersey power play gets highway funds (04/05/2006)
WASHINGTON -- Bowing to pressure from New Jersey's congressional delegation, the Federal Highway Administration yesterday reversed course and said it would provide $150 million for six highway projects in the state. more...

> Gov't to release funds to repair state roadways (04/05/2006)
Washington -- The Bush administration on Tuesday yielded to pressure from New Jersey's congressional delegation and determined to provide $150 million for six disputed highway projects in New Jersey, including one in Gloucester County.

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> New Market Recovery Group Faces Some Bumps (04/03/2006)
There have been some obstacles as construction unions forming the National Construction Alliance try for a formal launch, now set for May 1.

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> Brick to spend $3.55M for roads, new equipment (04/03/2006)
BRICK — In two votes, the Township Council agreed to spend $3.55 million to improve roads and purchase new equipment.
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> DOT alters plan for highway overhaul (03/31/2006)
Major modifications to the proposed $67.5 million overhaul of the interchange at Routes 80 and 287 in Parsippany were announced yesterday by the state Department of Transportation.

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> Economy Grows at 1.7 Percent Pace (03/30/2006)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The economy hit a soft patch in the final quarter of 2005, growing at an annual rate of just 1.7 percent, an ominous statistic but for fresher readings that suggest America's business health has improved and is mostly sound.

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> NJ may disband building agency (03/27/2006)
Just a few short years ago, New Jersey officials couldn’t spend money fast enough to repair the state’s dilapidated public schools or build mandated new ones. Now they have exhausted just about all of their nearly $9-billion construction budget, with hundreds of millions of dollars of existing and planned school projects in limbo.

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> Unions and Open Shop, Each In Vegas, Plan Market Pushes (03/27/2006)
Hardly on the same plane when it comes to labor strategies, non-union contractors and construction labor unions turned up in the same place earlier this month, as both coincidentally scheduled virtually overlapping conventions in Las Vegas.

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> Turnpike proposal would raise $6B (03/27/2006)
TRENTON | Days after Gov. Jon Corzine challenged legislators who criticized his budget to find new revenue sources, the first shots were fired.

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> N.J. again trails in return on tax dollars (03/25/2006)
Things aren't all bad for New Jersey taxpayers.

The state's per capita income has increased steadily, reaching $41,332 last year, an amount topped only by Connecticut and Massachusetts.

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> Another thumbs-up for Corzine budget as Standard & Poor's calls it 'realistic' (03/25/2006)
Even as the Legislature braces for public hearings on Gov. Jon Corzine's proposed $30.9 billion budget, a third Wall Street firm yesterday praised his suggested spending plan.

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> Corzine signs $8B transit measure (03/24/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine approved his first major piece of legislation yesterday, signing a bill that will raise $8 billion for the state's highway, bridge and mass transit projects during the next five years.

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> N.J. adds jobs, but jobless rate up (03/23/2006)
New Jersey's economy continued to offer a mixed picture in February, when it added thousands of jobs but didn't keep up with the rest of the country, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported Wednesday.
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> Corzine proposes new, higher taxes in state budget (03/22/2006)
TRENTON -- Speaking to 120 lawmakers so silent footsteps were audible outside a cramped Assembly chambers, Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Tuesday pitched his $30.9 billion budget - and the $1.7 billion in new and increased taxes he needs to fund it.

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> Transport fund to survive, without cap (03/21/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine's controversial plan to raise $8 billion over the next five years for highway, bridge and mass transit projects was approved by the state Senate yesterday, but not before some last-minute jostling over anti-sprawl language that had been pulled from the bill.

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> N.J.'s spending habits hurting its economy (03/19/2006)
TRENTON | New Jersey's economy has failed to keep pace with the nation's rising tide, one Rutgers University economist said this week.

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> Sales tax hike, new rebate plan are state budget plan (03/18/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine's budget will recommend boosting the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, according to four Democratic officials with knowledge of the plans that were finalized yesterday.

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> Assembly approves plan to spare transportation fund (03/17/2006)
TRENTON - The Assembly approved yesterday Gov. Corzine's proposal to bail out the nearly bankrupt state Transportation Trust Fund with billions of dollars in new borrowing, which critics called reckless. more...

> Corzine hedges on rebate plan campaign pledge (03/17/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine hinted for the first time yesterday the state budget crisis might force him to break one of his top campaign promises -- restoring and expanding a taxpayer rebate program.

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> Assembly puts borrowing plan for road fund into second gear (03/17/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine's plan to bor row billions to replenish the state's highway and mass transit improvement programs is just one step away from being approved.

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> Cranford taps developer to resume river project (03/17/2006)
Plans are back on track to build a $45 million mixed redevelopment project in Cranford on a scenic site along the Rahway River off South Avenue, officials said.

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> Panel wants SCC expelled (03/16/2006)
TRENTON | Looking to quell public outrage over waste and mismanagement within the state Schools Construction Corp., a handpicked team of advisers to Gov. Jon Corzine has recommended abolishing the agency. more...

> Report urges dismantling of school agency (03/16/2006)
The state corporation set up to manage a $6billion overhaul of decrepit public school buildings in New Jersey's poorest communities has bungled the assignment so badly, it should be scrapped and replaced with a new agency, a task force recommended to Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday.

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> In Jersey, the growing is slowing (03/16/2006)
New Jersey's continuing population slowdown is prompting some economists to warn it could be a symptom of serious economic illness in the nation's wealthiest state.

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> City looks to earmark $33.5M for local projects (03/16/2006)
Instead of giving $80 million to two nonprofit corporations to aid development, Newark will set aside $33.5 million in the municipal budget to fund projects ranging from an expansion of the Newark Museum to a dormitory for Seton Hall Law School, the city council and Business Administrator Richard Monteilh said yesterday.

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> Verizon adds 24 towns to fiber rollout (03/16/2006)
Verizon New Jersey is rolling out its ultra-fast high-speed Internet service to another 24 communities, bringing the number of towns on the network to 147 in 10 counties.

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> Trust fund debt would more than double (03/16/2006)
TRENTON — Taxpayers will face about $700 million to $900 million in debt payments each year from now until 2040 under Gov. Corzine's plan to fund five years of transportation projects, according to Department of the Treasury estimates.
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> Corzine battles state budget woes (03/16/2006)
MARCH 15 - With less than a week to go until Governor Corzine reveals his first budget to the State of New Jersey next Tuesday, political insiders are already making bets on exactly how deep he's willing to cut spending, and perhaps even more pointedly, how much the Governor is willing to raises taxes.

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> N.J. tax hikes likely (03/15/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine is planning more than $2 billion in spending cuts, along with major tax increases that could include another penny on the sales tax, to balance the next state budget, a top administration official said yesterday.

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> Corzine budget plan includes higher taxes (03/15/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine is planning more than $2 billion in spending cuts, along with major tax increases that could include an additional penny to the sales tax, to balance the next state budget, a top administration official said yesterday.

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> Growth of port and county are linked (03/15/2006)
Middlesex County is in a prime position to benefit from the rapid growth at the Port of New York and New Jersey, an executive from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority said yesterday at the county's first economic summit.

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> State's economy gaining strength (03/15/2006)
New Jersey's economy appears to be picking up steam, with employment holding strong, manufacturing employees putting in longer hours and housing construction picking up, at least temporarily, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported yesterday.

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> Budget battle begins early (03/15/2006)
TRENTON -- While Gov. Jon Corzine's administration tested the waters this week for $1.5 billion in tax increases, Assembly Republicans called for weaning inner-city schools off state aid and freezing the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) program.

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> Economic outlook is upbeat for New Jersey (03/15/2006)
New Jersey's economy appears to be picking up steam, with employment holding strong, manufacturing employees putting in longer hours and housing construction rising, at least temporarily, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported Tuesday.

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> Restriction struck from highway bill (03/14/2006)
A bill to rescue the cash-strapped fund that pays for highway and bridge repairs was amended yesterday, sparking a new debate as to whether it will encourage sprawl.

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> Verizon gets nod to offer TV service (03/14/2006)
With lawmakers drafting amendments on the fly, a state Senate committee yesterday gave a boost to Verizon Communications' effort to sell television programming to customers around the state.

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> Construction Has Strong Start (03/13/2006)
Construction markets got off to a strong start in 2006 with total new construction starts in January running at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $658 billion, the same as December's pace, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. more...

> Rt. 78 ramp work expected to unsnarl Newark (03/13/2006)
Newark's Clinton Avenue exit off Route 78 has been a driver's nightmare for years.

It is rarely plowed after a major snowstorm. Water pools and ice forms on its sharp, downhill curve. It abruptly empties onto residential streets. And the traffic light at the end of the ramp has been knocked down countless times by trucks making a sharp right turn.

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> Employers Add 243,000 to Payrolls in Feb. (03/10/2006)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hiring gained ground in February with employers adding 243,000 jobs, the most in three months. Brighter job prospects sent people streaming into the labor market, however, pushing the unemployment rate up marginally to 4.8 percent.

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> Jobs Grow and Wages Rise as Economy Picks Up Steam (03/10/2006)
The economy added jobs at a brisk pace last month, but the unemployment rate ticked up slightly as more people sought work, the government reported today. Analysts said the numbers suggested that the the economy was strong and benefiting from mild weather at the start of the year.

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> Route 1 bridge widening forum scheduled (03/10/2006)
MORRISVILLE, Pa. -- The public is invited to learn about the upcoming project to widen the Route 1 (Trenton-Morrisville) toll bridge at a March 23 open house.

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> Panel acts to replenish transit fund (03/10/2006)
The Assembly Transportation Committee yesterday approved Gov. Jon Corzine's proposal to raise $8billion over the next five years for badly needed highway, bridge and mass transit projects.

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> Corzine says budget needs major cuts (03/10/2006)
Gov. Jon S. Corzine kept his plans for dealing with a $4.5 billion shortfall in the state budget under tight wraps Thursday while warning a crowd at Rowan University to brace for significant cuts in state spending.

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> Corzine lays out a highway to debt (03/09/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine's strategy for using borrowed funds to bankroll a five-year transportation improvement program will cost taxpayers more than $30billion over the next 35 years, state Treasury Department projections show.

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> N.J. budget deficit may affect taxes (03/07/2006)
NEW BRUNSWICK -- Tax increases seemed to be on the horizon Monday as Gov. Jon S. Corzine painted a dire picture of New Jersey's finances during a budget summit at Rutgers University.

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> Panel puts proposal to borrow transit funds into second gear (03/07/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine's plan to borrow billions of dollars for highway and mass transit projects over the next five years cleared a state Senate committee yesterday, even though an administration official could not say how much it will eventually cost taxpayers. more...

> $40.7M project set for Ft. Dix (03/07/2006)
FORT DIX — A $40.7 million project to consolidate Army Reserve units from four states here will be the biggest military construction project at Fort Dix in a generation, Rep. H. James Saxton, R-N.J., said Monday.
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> N.J. jobless rate dips after recalculation (03/03/2006)
The state's unemployment rate for January turns out to be a little bit better than what was reported on Tuesday.

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> State unemployment nearing national level (03/02/2006)
TRENTON (AP) -- New Jersey has been able to boast for more than two years that its unemployment rate is lower than the national average, but that may soon change.

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> Newark sets up, funds redevelopment panels (03/02/2006)
The Newark City Council approved a plan yesterday to endow two nonprofit corporations with $80million for development and recreation projects throughout the city, the same day as papers to incorporate the agencies were submitted to the state.

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> Consumer Spending Gives Economy a Lift (03/01/2006)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The warmest January in more than 100 years lured consumers out to the shopping malls to spend money at the fastest clip in six months, giving a strong boost to the economy as the new year began.

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> Conference focuses on Cape transportation improvements (03/01/2006)
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — Cape May County can look forward to cruise ships, more lanes and better evacuation plans in 2006.
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> James wants $80M to aid redevelopment (03/01/2006)
Newark Mayor Sharpe James wants to use $80 million from the settlement of a lawsuit with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to endow two nonprofit corporations designed to help the city with neighborhood and economic development projects.

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> Labor Leaders to Convene, Faced With Uphill Battles (02/27/2006)
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 26 — When the A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s leaders gather this week at a luxury seaside resort here, they will once again be on the defensive, a situation made worse by the split the labor federation suffered last year. more...

> Much left to be done in Schools Construction Corp. review (02/27/2006)
TRENTON -- Smarting from the $8.6 billion failure of the Schools Construction Corp., the Legislature last June created a study commission to determine how it became rife with apparent wrongdoing, waste and mismanagement.

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> UNIONS Split has many eyeing future relationships (02/27/2006)
Top officials of the laborers’ and operating engineers’ unions are sorting out the fine details of their decision to leave the AFL-CIO’s Building and Construction Trades Dept. to form a breakaway alliance with four other construction unions. But industry observers—particularly regional union officials, contractors and owners—are watching and wondering how yet another dissident union move will impact construction labor relations. Some privately worry whether new union strife will complicate jobsites. But others chalk it up to inside-the-Beltway labor politics and don’t expect much disruption in the field.

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> Roads: Trust Fund Highway Account Deficit Seen in 2009 (02/27/2006)
Although the Treasury Dept. estimates the Highway Trust Fund will stay in the black until yearend 2010, the fund’s highway account will post a $2.3-billion deficit at the end of 2009, says Assistant Transportation Secretary Phyllis F. Scheinberg. She told a House panel on Feb. 15 that “the trend in declining cash balances...remains constant and needs attention.” The current highway statute expires Sept. 30, 2009.

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> Corzine: No new fuel tax (02/25/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday announced plans to fund state transportation projects by refinancing billions of dollars in debt without increasing the state's gasoline tax.

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> $7B proposed for roads fund (02/25/2006)
TRENTON — Gov. Jon S. Corzine proposed yesterday to increase funding to maintain the state's roads, bridges and rails, largely by borrowing $7 billion more to keep the state's Transportation Trust Fund afloat.

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> Port seeks to break lease (02/25/2006)
Caught in the crossfire of a volatile debate about port security, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey filed suit here Friday in Superior Court seeking authority to terminate its lease with British-owned Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. because the company wants to sell its lease to an Arab-owned company. more...

> Corzine sidesteps gas tax increase in transit bailout (02/25/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine unveiled a five-year transportation financing plan yesterday that borrows billions to avoid a gas tax hike and rejuvenate the fund that bankrolls about $3 billion in highway and mass transit projects each year. more...

> Public suggests ways to save state money (02/24/2006)
TRENTON | About 450 state residents, government workers and others have left their recommendations at a legislative Web site seeking suggestions to close a $4 billion deficit.

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> Transit village eyed for J&J tract (02/24/2006)
The Johnson & Johnson property on Route 1 is full of empty warehouses and barren parking lots, but what North Brunswick officials see is potential commerical growth. more...

> Short-term repairs for Route 52 considered (02/23/2006)
— The state is studying how much time, effort and money it would take to reopen all four lanes of Route 52, the Cape May County engineer said Wednesday.
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> Average American Family Income Declines (02/23/2006)
WASHINGTON - The average income of American families, after adjusting for inflation, declined by 2.3 percent in 2004 compared to 2001 while their net worth rose but at a slower pace.

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> Corzine says gas tax hike, rest stop sale put on hold (02/23/2006)
TRENTON -- Gov. Jon S. Corzine expects to avoid a gas tax increase or leasing rest stops on the New Jersey Turnpike for now, but those ideas could return when the state crafts a long-term solution for funding state transportation projects.

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> Corzine: N.J. to sue federal government over port security (02/22/2006)
TRENTON -- New Jersey, with ports at both ends of the state, announced Tuesday it would sue the federal government to reveal what data the Bush administration used to welcome management of six U.S. seaports by a company owned by a tiny Arabian Peninsula nation, the United Arab Emirates. more...

> Corzine calls port sale a 'grave risk' (02/22/2006)
TRENTON -- Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Tuesday said New Jersey will file a federal lawsuit seeking to delay a United Arab Emirates firm's controversial buyout of a British shipping company operating six U.S. ports, including Philadelphia, New York, Newark and Elizabeth. more...

> Bush rejects bipartisan calls to kill port deal (02/22/2006)
With opposition mounting on both sides of the political aisle, a defiant President Bush vowed yesterday to veto any congressional effort to block a deal allowing an Arab company to take control of operations at six major East Coast ports, including Port Newark.

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> NJ Transit taking second look at MOM predictions (02/22/2006)
NEWARK — NJ Transit officials will take a second look at predicting how many people would use the planned Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex rail line if they could ride trains through a proposed second Hudson River tunnel directly to Manhattan.
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> Trust fund needs major makeover (02/21/2006)
The Corzine administration is considering a Band-Aid solution to solve the bleeding of the state's Transportation Trust Fund instead of the major surgery that's really needed to make the fund healthy again.

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> Unhappy Laborers and Operating Engineers Bolt Building Trades (02/20/2006)
Two more disaffected construction trade unions, the laborers and the operating engineers, announced Feb. 14 that they will leave the AFL-CIO's Building and Construction Trades Dept., effective March 1. They will form a new organization, the National Construction Alliance. Union presidents claim the department has not been effective in reversing membership declines and changing old practices that have hurt the union cause. more...

> ‘E-construction’ as the Norm Is Still 10 to 15 Years Away (02/20/2006)
Call it electronic data interchange (EDI), interoperability, building information modeling (BIM), virtual building or e-construction. It’s a design and construction process that experts say holds the most promise for saving time and money, reducing claims and increasing quality, especially for complex buildings. And its advocates say it is just beginning to smell sweet.

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> Jersey deficit differs by day (02/20/2006)
TRENTON | The verdict is in: New Jersey doesn't have the money to cover expenses this year. more...

> Transportation fund cure is no easy diagnosis (02/20/2006)
As Gov. Jon Corzine considers averting a state transportation crisis by refinancing billions of dollars of debt, many are worried that the cure might be worse than the illness.

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> Schools tab may hit $29B (02/20/2006)
The tab for fulfilling construction needs in New Jersey's urban school districts has spiraled to $12.8 billion and could top $29 billion over 10 years, state officials said Thursday.

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> From road fund to money pit (02/19/2006)
More than two decades ago, beaming state officials posed on the virgin asphalt of a newly completed stretch of Route 78 in Union County to mark the early achievements of New Jersey's Transportation Trust Fund.

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> Driscoll project is moving along (02/19/2006)
In 1974, former Gov. Alfred E. Driscoll stood in Woodbridge at the bottom on the Garden State Parkway bridge on the banks of the Raritan River and watched as officials unveiled a plaque that officially renamed the 10-lane span for him.

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> Corzine's transit fund rescue to sidestep gas tax increase (02/18/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine will not propose a gasoline tax increase when he unveils his plan to address the state's transportation funding crisis, according to three Democratic officials familiar with the plan.

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> $25.5M proposed to improve roads (02/17/2006)
MOUNT HOLLY -- Burlington County Engineer Joseph Caruso has proposed more than $25.5 million in county road and bridge improvements in his "2006 Construction Forecast."

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> Estimate to finish up school job: Add $13B (02/17/2006)
State taxpayers, who have already paid $6billion for a court-ordered overhaul of public schools in needy communities, would have to spend about $13billion more to finish the job, state officials say.

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> Contrasting construction progress in Monmouth's 4 Abbott districts (02/17/2006)
Monmouth County's three other Abbott districts — Long Branch, Asbury Park and Neptune — also won state approval for ambitious construction projects, including new schools and expansions, over the last several years.
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> Labor boss rips Corzine proposal (02/16/2006)
A top New Jersey labor leader has lashed out at Gov. Jon Corzine, saying that by considering new borrowing for the state's transportation fund he is backtracking on his pledge to avoid fiscal gimmicks.

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> Bernanke sends clear message on economy (02/16/2006)
WASHINGTON -- New Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said yesterday the economy is on track for good growth this year, sticking closely to predecessor Alan Greenspan's script with one big difference: His comments were much easier to understand.

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> Fed chief: Economy on track (02/16/2006)
WASHINGTON -- New Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Wednesday that the economy is on track for good growth this year, sticking closely to predecessor Alan Greenspan's script with one big difference: His comments were much easier to understand.

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> Corzine says deficit now appears smaller (02/16/2006)
TRENTON - Gov. Corzine said last night that the state's budget deficit does not appear to be quite as bad as he first thought, but cautioned that the gap between expenses and revenues still likely tops $4 billion. more...

> Corzine expects tax, fee increases (02/16/2006)
New Jersey residents will likely pay more in taxes and fees during Gov. Jon S. Corzine's first year in office, he acknowledged on a radio call-in show Wednesday night.

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> Fed $$$ to plan light rail's 3rd phase (02/15/2006)
NJ Transit has received $3.6 million in federal funding to conduct engineering and environmental studies for the third phase of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line.

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> Business Briefs (02/15/2006)
U.S. retail sales soared in January as warm weather and gift-card redemptions spurred shoppers, setting the stage for a first-quarter rebound in economic growth -- and more interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. more...

> Transportation fund targeted by Corzine (02/15/2006)
TRENTON -- Gov. Jon Corzine, who has tested the waters lately on a number of tax increases, is expected in the next month to outline a plan to replenish the dwindling Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) without hiking New Jersey's gas tax.

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> Corzine plan would hike transportation fund debt (02/14/2006)
The transportation debt refinancing being weighed by Gov. Jon Corzine would allow him to put $1.5 billion annually toward highway and mass transit projects without increasing the gasoline tax during his first term.

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> The Envelope Please (02/13/2006)
The final numbers have been tabulated by McGraw-Hill Construction for 2005’s construction starts data and construction is a winner. Led by a 14% increase in the value of new residential construction, but also boosted by a 5% gain in nonresidential work and a 7% jump in heavy and highway construction, the total value of new starts increased 10% above 2004’s record level to $651 billion. This was close to the 11% increase reported for 2004, and well above the 2 to 5% annual growth during the 2001-2003 period.
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> N.J. state budget has little `wiggle' room (02/13/2006)
It's no secret that New Jersey is facing a budget deficit for the coming fiscal year that could be as large as $6 billion and that Gov. Jon Corzine's advisers have suggested income and sales tax increases.

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> Trenton touchy on talk of taxes (02/12/2006)
TRENTON -- Gov. Jon Corzine's hand-picked team of advisers urged him in a recent report to consider hiking unemployment taxes by $1 per week for all workers earning over $25,000.

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> Corzine ponders loan to fund road projects (02/11/2006)
Gov. Jon Corzine is considering borrowing billions of dollars and refinancing existing debt to grab $6 billion for road and rail projects without raising the gas tax, a state lawmaker briefed on the plan said yesterday.

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> Business lobbyist sees bright future (02/11/2006)
PARSIPPANY -- New Jersey employers rank the state higher than other states in areas such as public schools and overall quality of life. But they say it lags behind other states in important areas such as taxes and fees, health-care costs, government spending and attitudes toward business.

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> DOT Budget: Highways, Transit Rise, Airport Grants Cut (02/10/2006)
The proposed fiscal 2007 budget for the Dept. of Transportation would mean increases for the federal highway and transit programs, but a sharp cut in airport construction grants.

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> Unemployment fund nearly insolvent (02/09/2006)
With the state's jobless fund nearing insolvency after being raided by governors and lawmakers for 12 straight years, New Jersey businesses and workers could be facing increased unemployment taxes.

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> School agency reformers discuss goals, problems (02/09/2006)
The new board charged with overhauling or dismantling New Jersey's troubled Schools Construction Corp. convened yesterday and promised to root out waste, corruption and inefficiency at the agency accused of mismanaging an $8.6billion public school building program.

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> Corzine eyes shake-up of SCC (02/08/2006)
TRENTON -- The death knell for the battered state agency that oversees New Jersey's $8.6 billion school construction program may be near, but a court-ordered overhaul will continue in the meantime. more...

> State auditor says `nobody watching store' in N.J. (02/08/2006)
Citing wasted opportunities to save state taxpayer money, the state auditor yesterday said state financial management has eroded so badly in recent years that it's difficult to tell whether mismanagement or incompetence is to blame.

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> A work in progress (02/07/2006)
You won't see it on TV, but the Meadowlands is getting an extreme makeover right now.

Lumpy, leaky dumps are being smoothed and sculpted into luxury golf courses. Vacant swampland will become residential clusters full of new taxpayers.

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> Search continues for ways to save transportation fund (02/07/2006)
As state lawmakers consider a gasoline tax increase to fund transportation projects, Gov. Jon S. Corzine's administration is mulling how much the state might save by refinancing transportation debt.

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> Bush plan mixed bag for N.J. residents (02/07/2006)
WASHINGTON — President Bush's $2.77 trillion budget proposal for 2007 gives New Jersey a mixed bag of good and bad news: more money for transportation projects, a decrease in some homeland security money, 500 fewer National Guard positions and cuts in 141 federal programs Bush wants to reduce or eliminate entirely.

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> Bill comes due for years of fiscal irresponsibility (02/06/2006)
At least Mississippi and Louisiana have an excuse. They got clobbered by Hurricane Katrina.

In New Jersey, it didn't require a natural disaster to create the $5 billion-and-counting budget gap. Politicians produced it all by themselves.

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> Team Wins $1.1-Billion Award To Rebuild WTC Transit Hub (02/06/2006)
Observers in New York City criticize the slow pace of many Ground Zero reconstruction projects, noting the new transportation hub as the exception. But it still took extra months of negotiating to finally reach agreement on that job’s $1.1-billion construction contract, awarded Jan. 26.

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> Pa., Del. have budget surplus, but where's ours? (02/05/2006)
TRENTON -- While Gov. Jon Corzine and the Legislature debate how to close a $6 billion budget deficit for the fourth straight year, neighboring states are discussing the best way to spend large deficits.

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> State is confident on Xanadu work (02/04/2006)
State officials said yesterday they were confident the developers of a massive retail and entertainment center at the Meadowlands were on solid financial footing and would be able to deliver everything they had promised.

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> 193,000 jobs added to economy (02/04/2006)
WASHINGTON -- Employers hired briskly in January, boosting payrolls by 193,000 and lowering the nation's unemployment rate to 4.7 percent, the lowest since July 2001.

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> Jobless rate falls in January (02/04/2006)
The nation's unemployment rate dropped to a 4 1/2-year low as businesses cranked up hiring in January, an encouraging sign that the economy started the year on the right foot.

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> Keeping an eye on traffic (02/01/2006)
WOODBRIDGE — Motorists on New Jersey's two major toll roads will be able to get lightning-speed traffic information by spring of next year.

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> Southern New Jersey: Eight-County Region Revs-up and Gets Into High Gear with New Developments (02/01/2006)
No other region in the Garden State is experiencing such vibrant economic growth as Southern New Jersey. From Atlantic City to the City of Camden and all points in between, the eight-county region is busy constructing new office space, expanding academic and healthcare facilities, building technology research parks and incubators and is revving-up for a 4.1-mile professional racetrack in Millville that is expected to create 1,500 jobs.
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> Turnpike authority budget keeps toll prices level (02/01/2006)
EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) - The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has approved a $452 million operating budget that avoids a hike in toll prices while paying for heightened security on the authority's roadways.
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> $2M for bridge improvements (01/31/2006)
MORRISVILLE, Pa. - The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced a $2 million grant yesterday to Stockton for improvements near the commission's bridge linking the borough to Centre Bridge, Pa.

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> '05 banner year for jobs (01/31/2006)
The local employment picture barely brightened in December, but it was enough to cap a record-setting 2005.

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> Parkway bridge work to span the summer (01/29/2006)
Southbound Garden State Parkway drivers crossing the Raritan River on the Driscoll Bridge have a great view of the new, almost completed, adjacent span, but they won't be able to drive on it until October.
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> Jobless fund in trouble, panel says (01/29/2006)
The fund that covers payments to jobless workers in New Jersey is "dangerously close to insolvency," and close to triggering an automatic tax increase of $300 million to $400 million a year on businesses, a special panel set up to study labor issues told Gov. Jon Corzine in a new report. more...

> Slowing U.S. economy a bad sign for N.J. (01/28/2006)
In a potentially troubling development, the nation's economy unexpectedly cooled during the final three months of 2005 and grew at the slowest pace in three years, the government reported yesterday.

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> Netcong Circle on road to oblivion (01/27/2006)
NETCONG -- Despite modifications, the state Department of Transportation plans to eliminate the Netcong circle, replace it with a standard four-way intersection and replace the Route 46 westbound and Route 183 bridges again were met with criticism on Thursday.

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> Advisers: NJ’s finances close to ruin (01/27/2006)
Of The TRENTON -- Budget advisers have suggested that Gov. Jon S. Corzine add sales tax to more items and raise the gasoline tax because the state’s finances are "perilously close to ruin.’’
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> Budget plan eyes harsh options (01/27/2006)
New Jerseyans would face tax increases, state employees would be forced to take an unpaid week off and state worker layoff plans would be formulated under recommendations developed by Gov. Jon Corzine's budget advisory group.

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> Port Authority Taps New Ground Zero Transit Hub Team (01/26/2006)
A joint venture titled Phoenix Constructors has won a $358-million contract to build a new transit center at Ground Zero in Manhattan. The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey announced Jan. 26 that it awarded the contract to a team of Skanska, Fluor Enterprises, Granite-Halmar Construction and Bovis Lend Lease, says Steve Coleman, port authority spokesman. Designed by Santiago Calatrava in conjunction with DMJM + Harris and STV Group Inc., the station will serve the Trans-Hudson subway that runs between New York City and New Jersey and also New York City subway lines via underground passages linking to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority¹s Fulton Street Transit Center. Up to 250,000 daily riders are ultimately expected to use the station.

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> Devils give $100 million guarantee for Newark arena (01/25/2006)
The New Jersey Devils presented a $100 million signed letter of credit to Newark officials Tuesday, guaranteeing the National Hockey League team's stake in the $310 million arena.

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> Corzine Pledges Economic Growth and Ethics Reforms (01/23/2006)
Jon Corzine wasted little time last week in reaching out to business interests. Less than two hours into his first full day as governor, Corzine was detailing his plans to lure companies to New Jersey by placing phone calls to any large employer in the country that is considering relocating.

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> New visions for an old site in Sayreville (01/23/2006)
A vast stretch of waterfront land at the foot of the Driscoll Bridge in Sayreville is a no-man's land, a contaminated remnant of New Jersey's industrial heyday.

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> Transportation taking front seat in Trenton (01/22/2006)
This will be an especially crucial year for transportation policy in Trenton, with much happening that will affect all of us in northwestern New Jersey,

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> Unemployment rate at 4.7% in New Jersey (01/19/2006)
TRENTON -- New Jersey's unemployment rate in December was 4.7 percent, up from 4.6 percent in November, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported Wednesday.

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> Fed Notes Expansion of Economic Activity (01/18/2006)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The economy chugged ahead as the new year opened with manufacturing picking up, employment improving and retail sales rising, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday.

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> Critics: N.J.-N.Y. tunnel doesn't go far enough (01/15/2006)
NJ Transit's grand plans to build a new $6 billion Hudson River tunnel to New York has flaws that could cause delays on the Jersey side, a group of New Jersey rail advocates said.

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> NJ Transit to boost bus runs on busy routes (01/13/2006)
NEWARK-NJ Transit will soon put some of its newest buses into service in Atlantic County and increase service on its busiest runs.
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> No turning back: Devils commit $100M to arena (01/13/2006)
The New Jersey Devils made an irrevocable $100 million commitment to the city of Newark on Thursday - guaranteeing the team's share of the cost of a new hockey arena and keeping the project on course to open in less than two years.

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> A $100M accord on arena (01/13/2006)
Within 11 days, the Devils will provide Newark with a $100 million letter of credit to finance their share of a downtown hockey arena, city and team officials said yesterday, ending months of uncertainty about the project.

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> Inspector general clears lifting freeze on school construction (01/13/2006)
New Jersey's inspector general recommended yesterday lifting a freeze on new contracts by the troubled Schools Construction Corp., but said she has discovered incidents of misconduct and waste so severe a special investigator should be assigned to monitor the $8.6 billion program. more...

> Township gets money for Route 571 work (01/13/2006)
JACKSON: Included among the $2 million in federal funds for road and bridge projects distributed by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority is $315,000 for work to realign Route 571 in Jackson.
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> New port in DRPA plans (01/12/2006)
A deep-water port at the former DuPont Repauno Works in Greenwich Township is among $5 billion in economic development projects the Delaware River Port Authority says could be situated in South Jersey.

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> DRPA unveils $6 billion plan for waterfront (01/12/2006)
Jeffrey Nash, vice chairman of the Delaware River Port Authority, released a blueprint Wednesday for roughly $6 billion in residential, commercial and maritime development along a 50-mile swath of riverfront between Pennsauken and Lower Alloways Creek in Salem County.

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> Transit fund nearing end of the road (01/10/2006)
If New Jersey's depleted Transportation Trust Fund were the Titanic, an iceberg would be looming dead ahead.
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> State's work force continues to expand (01/09/2006)
HELP WANTED: Numerous positions available. Average salary is $59,296. Generous medical and dental-insurance coverage at minimal cost. Full pensions on retirement. Low chance of layoffs.

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> December payrolls decrease (01/07/2006)
Job growth slowed in December -- following a big hiring spurt in November -- with employers expanding payrolls by 108,000, underscoring the sometimes choppy path traveled yesterday. The Labor Department's fresh snapshot of the nation's jobs climate, also showed that the unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent in December from 5 percent in November, as some people left the labor market for any number of reasons.

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> New Jersey roads earn top rating (01/06/2006)
The 2003 repeal of Pennsylvania's motorcycle helmet law netted the Keystone State a mediocre highway safety rating this week while New Jersey drew the top rating available from a national safety group.

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> Work planned to unclog Rt. 1 brake-light alley (01/05/2006)
LAWRENCE - Hoping to improve the southbound traffic flow along Route 1's "brake-light alley" between Nassau Park shopping center and Interstates 95/295, the state plans to extend the existing lane divider near Quakerbridge Road farther north beyond Nassau Park.

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> Cash crisis puts road fixes on hold for months (01/05/2006)
New Jersey has put $175 million worth of road and bridge repairs on hold over the past few months because the state's Transportation Trust Fund is running out of money, highway officials said yesterday.

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> Unemployment, disability insurance adjusted in '06 (01/05/2006)
New Jersey employers and benefit recipients should be aware of the changes in unemployment and disability insurance, and in worker's compensation that took effect with the start of the New Year. more...

> Economy doing'well'despite sore spots (01/01/2006)
Barry Lubin has tracked the upbeat economic statistics and forecasts, but he remains skeptical when he doesn't see customers walking in the door. more...

> Hiring expected in range of industries in'06 (01/01/2006)
Ever since the labor market began improving 2 1/2 years ago, the housing boom has supplied an outsized share of new jobs. But if red-hot real estate is cooling, who will be hiring?

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> 2005 full of ups, downs (01/01/2006)
It was a year of challenge for both businesses and consumers, with the best and worst of Mother Nature and human nature in the spotlight.

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> New York Transit Deal Shows Union's Success on Many Fronts (12/29/2005)
He was excoriated on tabloid front pages and by the mayor and governor. As thousands streamed across the Brooklyn Bridge on a frigid night during last week's transit strike, someone in a car yelled out his name, prefacing it with a curse.

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> Home Sales Down; Labor Market Stable (12/29/2005)
WASHINGTON - A cooling housing market may put buyers in the driver's seat while an improving job market could give workers and jobseekers more leverage, economists say.

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> With Low Bid $90 Million Too High, N.J. Rethinks Causeway Project (12/29/2005)
At a time when some transportation projects are drawing one or occasionally no bids, the good news about the first phase of New Jersey’s Ocean City causeway replacement project is that there were three bidders. more...

> Budget for SCC boosts oversight (12/29/2005)
After a year of criticism and internal strife, the state Schools Construction Corp. yesterday adopted a 2006 budget that would increase administrative spending by about $2.6 million, with the focus on greater oversight and accountability. more...

> World economy expected to expand in 2006 (12/27/2005)
The world economy has broadly withstood a steady two-year rise in oil prices, but despite a slowdown reaching virtually every economic region in 2005, it is expected to continue expanding in 2006, with Asia and North America at the forefront.

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> Road solutions lie in new route (12/26/2005)
Solutions to unsnarling New Jersey's congested highways and mass-transit network come down to getting away from the 1950s model of bigger, wider highways and back to the old-fashioned grid network of streets and building a new Trans-Hudson river rail tunnel, experts said.
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> Downtown project gets under way at long last (12/25/2005)
One of Perth Amboy's most controversial redevelopment projects got under way earlier this month, three years after it was first proposed.

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> The Economy | Year of disasters, except for economy (12/23/2005)
Thumbing through Time magazine's year-in-photos issue the other day, it struck me that 2005 was a disastrous year. I mean literally, as in filled with disasters. more...

> Leaders demand school funding fix (12/23/2005)
TRENTON - Statewide political and educational leaders, including Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, rallied yesterday to demand a massive cash infusion for New Jersey's beleaguered school construction program. more...

> Cody won't act on SCC funding bill (12/23/2005)
Despite pleas from lawmakers at a Statehouse rally yesterday, acting Gov. Richard Codey said he does not expect any action on a bill that would pump $2 billion into the state's troubled school construction program during the lame-duck legislative session.

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> Some Economic Indicators Leave Room for Optimism (12/20/2005)
Home building activity picked up speed in November, the government reported today, indicating that the housing market while off records set earlier this year remains robust in much of the country.

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> Court's school construction ruling brings hope to districts (12/20/2005)
TRENTON -- In a ruling education advocates hope will return a sense of urgency to the stalled school construction program, the N.J. Supreme Court on Monday ordered the state to provide cost estimates for hundreds of previously approved projects that have gone unfunded.

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> Turnpike ending E-ZPass discount during peak hours (12/20/2005)
Tolls for E-ZPass customers on the New Jersey Turnpike will increase by as much as 20 percent during rush hours and on weekends, starting Jan. 1. more...

> NJ Transit to start work on the Raritan Valley line (12/20/2005)
The rail equivalent of passing lanes -- rail siding -- in Whitehouse Station to ease train movements on the western part of the Raritan Valley line should be completed in spring 2007, NJ Transit officials said yesterday.

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> Warren Hills renovations about to start (12/19/2005)
Construction of four classrooms at Warren Hills Regional Middle School will begin next month, part of a $36.8 million district building project approved by voters last year.

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> Workers wanted (12/19/2005)
Manufacturers say they face a shortage of highly skilled workers who can fix robots and other equipment in a 21st century factory, despite the loss of more than 3 million manufacturing jobs since January 2000.
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> Verizon seeks statewide deal to offer cable (12/18/2005)
TRENTON -- In the early 1990s, New Jersey Bell went to the Legislature with a simple request: financial incentives to offset the cost of replacing older copper wires statewide with high-speed fiber optics extending straight to customers' homes.

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> Construction planned at 2 Cherry Hill schools (12/16/2005)
A long-awaited overhaul to the heating and ventilation systems of the district's only two-story elementary schools will begin by April, said Thomas Redmond, assistant superintendent for business.

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> 'Mega base’ to create 2,000 jobs (12/15/2005)
MOUNT HOLLY -- The federal government is expecting to spend $300 million to build the nation’s first-ever "megabase" combining Fort Dix, McGuire Air Force Base and Lakehurst Naval Air Station bringing nearly 2,000 new jobs to the area.
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> New year, new job outlook (12/15/2005)
Despite giving descriptions such as "softer," Manpower Inc. said most employers in the Lehigh Valley and northwest New Jersey either plan to maintain workers or hire more staffers during the first three months of 2006. more...

> Dover OKs $2.2M more for rink, awards construction pact (12/15/2005)
TOMS RIVER — Minutes after approving an additional $2.2 million to build a second ice rink at Winding River Park Tuesday night, the Dover Township Council awarded a $5.39 million contract to Gingerelli Bros. Inc. to construct the facility.
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> $5.7 million road improvement project scheduled for Jackson (12/15/2005)
JACKSON — Work is scheduled to begin in the spring on a $5.7 million improvement project for Bennetts Mills Road between County Line Road and Manhattan Street, county officials said.
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> Gas tax increase remains option for N.J. lawmakers (12/14/2005)
With the election over and the state running out of money for transportation projects, key lawmakers and the incoming governor are once again warming up to the idea of a gas tax increase.
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> The Economy | Getting thrown a flat yield curve (12/14/2005)
Do seafarers still memorize that bit of doggerel as part of their training? Probably not; today's version more likely goes: "Red sky at morning, sailor check Google for the latest satellite image," or something like that. more...

> Rail ridership builds (12/14/2005)
Efforts by NJ Transit to boost the number of riders in Bergen County, particularly on weekends, appear to be paying off.

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> NJ Transit freezes fare hikes (12/14/2005)
NEWARK — NJ Transit officials said the commuter agency will not increase fares for the rest of fiscal year 2006, despite spending $22 million more than budgeted to cover fuel price increases.
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> Retail sales in November gain as gas prices drop (12/14/2005)
WASHINGTON — Retail sales posted a moderate increase in November as plunging gasoline prices left consumers with money to spend at the mall.
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> Voters approve school project in Swedesboro (12/14/2005)
Voters on Tuesday approved a $31.9 million expansion project in the Swedesboro-Woolwich school district, but rejected proposals worth $43.5 million for schools in Hainesport and Chesterfield.

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> Corzine ends his vow to leave gas tax alone (12/14/2005)
After vowing during his campaign that he would not raise the gas tax, Gov.-elect Jon Corzine said yesterday he will reconsider the idea now that gasoline prices have eased and the state's budget gap has ballooned to more than $5 billion.

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> Residents approve $7M school expansion (12/14/2005)
North Brunswick residents approved a $7.4 million bond referendum yesterday, enabling the school district to complete the expansion of the township's high school.

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> Berkeley Heights clears $25.3M school bond (12/14/2005)
With just under a third of Berkeley Heights' registered voters casting ballots, residents passed a $25.3 million bond proposal yesterday that school officials said was necessary to fix the district's aging buildings.

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> Corzine asks business community for support (12/14/2005)
Gov.-elect Jon Corzine yesterday urged the state business community to work with him to address the more than $5 billion state deficit, tapped-out transportation and school construction funds and soaring health insurance costs -- all issues that threaten the state's economic future.

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> Rt.55 extension to the Shore is critical for N.J. (12/13/2005)
We have heard the talk of completing Route 55 to the Shore for years, but still it remains undone. more...

> New year, new job outlook (12/13/2005)
Despite giving descriptions such as "softer," Manpower Inc. said most employers in the Lehigh Valley and northwest New Jersey either plan to maintain workers or hire more staffers during the first three months of 2006. more...

> N.J. Senator Kenny Eyes Gas Tax Hike (12/13/2005)
Speaking today at an event sponsored by the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, Senate Majority Leader Bernard Kenny Jr. (D-Hudson) said he will sponsor a hike in the gasoline tax to raise money for the cash-strapped Transportation Trust Fund. The state fund pays for road, bridge and mass-transportation projects. more...

> Skanska Secures $98 Million Order from NJ Transit (12/13/2005)
Swedish construction company Skanska’s U. S. subsidiaries, Skanska USA Building of Parsippany and Skanska USA Civil of New York City, have secured a $98 million order from NJ Transit to redevelop a facility in Morrisville for the service and maintenance of trains. The expansion will allow NJ Transit’s Morrisville Train Storage Yard to serve 120 rail cars, or double its current capacity. more...

> Jets and Giants Double-Team on $900 Million-plus Stadium (12/13/2005)
Acting-Governor Richard Codey, owners and management for the New York Giants and Jets football teams and state officials have unveiled plans for a new stadium to be built at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford. The Jets and Giants will divide the financing for the stadium, which may cost more than $900 million. more...

> Prof: N.J. economy facing challenges (12/10/2005)
LYNDHURST -- In New Jersey, it's the best of times and the worst of times. And the state faces Herculean challenges if it is to avoid worse times in the future.

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> County seeks support for roads project (12/09/2005)
FLEMINGTON | County officials want Tewksbury and Readington townships to support a long-term, transportation-improvement project that would alter portions of major roads in those townships.

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> Panel seeking fix for Transportation Trust Fund (12/09/2005)
With the state's fund for transportation projects dwindling without an officially proposed solution, an Assembly committee yesterday moved toward trying to restore fiscal discipline to the fund.

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> Healthy growth predicted (12/09/2005)
The tri-county economy will continue to thrive in 2006, according to Stuart G. Hoffman, senior vice president and chief economist for PNC Financial Services Group.

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> Verizon looks to expand into world of cable TV (12/02/2005)
TRENTON -- Verizon, New Jersey's largest telephone provider and biggest single corporate citizen, is seeking to amend state laws to make it easier to distribute cable television service over existing phone lines.

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> Trenton council introduces budget (12/02/2005)
TRENTON - The city council unanimously introduced a $167.2 million municipal budget last night that includes a 4-cent increase in the tax rate.

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> OK light rail extension funds (12/01/2005)
WASHINGTON - President Bush approved federal funding to extend the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail yesterday, as well as $1.3 billion in federal aid for Amtrak.

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> Jobless picture improves (11/01/2005)
Unemployment in the region dipped slightly in September, as people who watch the local job market said Monday that conditions continue to improve. more...

> ON TRACK TO REBORN CITYSCAPE (10/30/2005)
Just a few years ago, the west side of Hoboken was a real estate backwater.

Unlike the town's booming waterfront, the neighborhoods beneath the Palisades were dominated by housing projects, abandoned factories and desolate streets. But NJ Transit's decision to run a light rail line through the depressed area has had a dramatic effect: New luxury buildings are sprouting around two rail stops that opened last year, attracting artists and affluent new residents.

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> Industrial Park South: Ready for huge expansion (10/29/2005)
VINELAND -- Water and sewer lines have been extended to the woodlands surrounding an infamous sandwash at Mill and Oak roads.

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> Downe BOE proposes solution for construction (10/29/2005)
DOWNE TWP. -- The school board has voted to cease negotiations with an ineffective and unresponsive state program to fund school construction and proceed with construction on its own -- at zero impact to taxpayers on the school tax rate.

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> Bridge paves way to future (10/29/2005)
TOMS RIVER — Now frequented by ducks and kayakers, a riverbank near the end of Irons Street will be a construction site by Thanksgiving as work commences on a new southbound bridge crossing.
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> Economy grows briskly (10/29/2005)
The U.S. economy shook off headwinds from hurricanes Katrina and Rita to grow at a faster-than-expected 3.8 percent annual rate in the third quarter, the Department of Commerce reported yesterday.

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> New PATH cars to start rolling in 2008 (10/28/2005)
A more comfortable commute is officially down the line for PATH riders.

A new PATH car - sleeker, with more doors and increased safety features - was unveiled yesterday by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The new cars will be phased in over the entire 340-car fleet between 2008 and 2011, officials said.

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> Redesigned PATH cars offer patrons a 'smoother ride' and more security (10/28/2005)
Sleeker new PATH cars with more doors and security features will be on the tracks in New Jersey and New York beginning in 2008.

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> Road work finally gets drivers out of the loop (10/28/2005)
Victory Circle will no longer be the accident-prone, congested roundabout it has been, once construction to eliminate the circular traffic pattern comes to an end, officials said yesterday.

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> $125G more for makeover of Central Ave. (10/27/2005)
EAST NEWARK - The borough has received a $125,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation for an extreme makeover of its Central Avenue business district.

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> Pennsville to receive grant for road work (10/26/2005)
PENNSVILLE TWP. -- The legislators for the Third Legislative District announced Tuesday Pennsville will receive a grant for $400,000 from the Small Cities Block Grant Program.

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> Perth Amboy unveils details for makeover of brownfields (10/26/2005)
Within three years, Riverview Center, a complex of offices, retail stores and homes amid decorative water fountains, flagpoles and attractive brick courtyards, will become Perth Amboy's new gateway.

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> Borough supports repairs to I-295 (10/26/2005)
PAULSBORO --On Tuesday night the borough passed a resolution supporting the state's planned repairs to certain sections of Interstate 295 -- including the patch of highway where motorcyclist Bruce Pepe was killed in June.

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> Pine Beach gets $110,000 grant to repave roads (10/26/2005)
PINE BEACH — The borough was awarded a $110,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation to repave portions of Monument, Prospect and Huntington avenues in the coming year.
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> DOT to replace Dennis Creek Bridge (10/25/2005)
DENNIS TOWNSHIP—The state Department of Transportation has begun a $6.7 million project to replace the Dennis Creek Bridge on Route 47 and for a traffic light and safety improvements at the intersection of routes 47 and 83. more...

> With new light rail station, line moves closer to Bergen (10/25/2005)
NJ Transit's light rail system in Hudson County will inch a little farther north this weekend - but it is still a ways off from ringing its trolley bell in Bergen County.

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> BRACE FOR TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE (10/25/2005)
Today's pain is tomorrow's gain, or so says the state Department of Transportation as it embarked last night on a five-year, $225 million project to improve the Jersey City approaches to the Holland Tunnel.

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> Ferry riders to Midtown get a gleaming new terminal (10/25/2005)
Hudson County ferry riders now have first-class accommodations waiting for them on the other side of the river.

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> Light rail is gaining steam (10/25/2005)
WEEHAWKEN - In anticipation of the opening of three new stations in the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system, NJ Transit officials yesterday announced the launch of weekend service to and from the Port Imperial station starting Saturday.

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> Lawmaker: Give gas taxes to transportation fund (10/25/2005)
The state can solve its looming transportation funding woes without raising taxes, Sen. Andrew R. Ciesla, R-Brick, said Monday.
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> New $56 million ferry terminal is first of several improvements (10/25/2005)
After surviving a threatened shutdown last winter, ferry service across the Hudson River received a $56 million boost yesterday with the debut of a new terminal on West 39th Street in Manhattan.
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> NJ Transit will launch light rail to Port Imperial (10/25/2005)
NJ Transit will begin running light rail trains to its new Port Imperial Station in Weehawken this Saturday, officials said yesterday. more...

> ROAD HORRORS AT THE HOLLAND (10/25/2005)
Drivers who endure the torturous trip to and from the Holland Tunnel should brace themselves.

It's going to get worse. And it's going to stay that way for a while.
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> New ferry, rail link in the works (10/25/2005)
A new ferry service to Lower Manhattan from Elizabeth is expected to be operational by the end of next year, Union County officials said yesterday. more...

> Road repairs moving along (10/24/2005)
WOODBRIDGE — THE FIRST PHASE of the township's comprehensive road repair program was concluded this week.
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> Vineland on the brink of a $100 million shopping spree (10/22/2005)
VINELAND -- The city projects it will accrue nearly $100 million in Urban Enterprise Zone revenue over the next five years, a huge influx of cash that it hopes to spend on major economic development projects largely centered in the greater downtown area.

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> $1.75M funding vital to railway, county (10/22/2005)
SALEM -- The Delaware River Port Authority approved $1.75 million for the county railroad this week.

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> Good signs posted at business summit (10/22/2005)
MONROE TWP. -- Gloucester County outstrips the rest of New Jersey in its rate of employment, its wage growth and in total job growth. And Gloucester County exceeds the national average in regional home price appreciation as well as in wage and job growth.

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> Groundbreaking begins 'transformation' at CCC (10/21/2005)
GLOUCESTER TWP. -- With a large architect's rendering serving as a backdrop, officials at Camden County College broke ground Thursday morning for the $22 million Madison Connector Building, the first new construction at the college's Blackwood campus in more than a decade.

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> Educators pan SCC's new guidelines (10/20/2005)
Reeling from charges it squandered much of the first $6 billion entrusted to it, the agency managing an overhaul of New Jersey's poorest public schools is developing new building guidelines to help cut construction costs.

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> Dover gets $200K for drainage, construction (10/20/2005)
DOVER -- For the second time in two years, the town has been awarded a $200,000 grant to help pay for drainage and street improvements on Myrtle Avenue.

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> Four years after construction halt, bridge will be finished (10/20/2005)
SHARON, Pa. - Work has finally restarted to finish a new bridge to link the south side of Sharon with the rest of town, nearly four years after a misalignment shut down construction.

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> CRDA lines up $4.5M. for N.Y.-A.C. rail service (10/19/2005)
ATLANTIC CITY --The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority on Tuesday pledged as much as $4.5 million to help NJ Transit establish passenger train service between New York and Atlantic City.
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> Plainsboro gets $230G road grant (10/19/2005)
PLAINSBORO - Plainsboro Road will become more pedestrian-friendly thanks to a grant from the state Department of Transportation, Mayor Peter Cantu said yesterday. more...

> New jobs signal state's strength in Sept. (10/19/2005)
The "help wanted" signs are still out around the state.

Employers added 7,100 jobs in September, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported yesterday, a better-than-average performance.

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> Houses go down, school goes up (10/18/2005)
VINELAND -- Demolition work continues in the heart of Center City, where officials say a new elementary school will rise and serve as a catalyst for economic and community development.

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> Full parkway interchange expected by '09 in Barnegat (10/18/2005)
BARNEGAT TOWNSHIP-Ocean County is aiming to complete a full interchange at exit 67 on the Garden State Parkway in 2009, a county official said Monday night.
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> State gains fed approval on transit aid (10/18/2005)
WASHINGTON -- The federal government has approved New Jersey's transportation improvement program for the next two fiscal years, meaning at least $1 billion will be available for highway and transit projects.

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> Housing aid awarded for 2 Newark projects (10/18/2005)
Housing projects in Newark and South Brunswick designed to provide rental apartments for low-income residents are among 10 projects statewide that were awarded $23.7 million in federal aid yesterday through the state Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.

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> N.J. transportation funding secure (10/18/2005)
New Jersey doesn't have to worry about losing its federal transportation money any time soon.
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> NJ won't lose highway, transit money (10/17/2005)
WASHINGTON -- New Jersey won't lose its federal transportation money any time soon.

Federal transportation officials said Monday that the state had fulfilled financial reporting requirements, enabling highway and transit aid from Washington to keep flowing to the Garden State through 2008.
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> Local business roundup: Millville gets riverfront money (10/17/2005)
MILLVILLE -- The N.J. Urban Enterprise Zone Authority has signed off on Millville's plan to spend $130,000 in sales tax revenue to help redevelop its riverfront.

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> State assembly candidates weigh in on school funding (10/16/2005)
Incumbent Republicans Alex DeCroce of Parsippany and Joseph Pennacchio of Montville of the Assembly's 26th District are facing Democratic challengers Avery Hart of Kinnelon and Kate McCabe of Chatham, and Libertarians Kenneth Kaplan of Parsippany and Anthony Pio Costa of Montville for 2-year seats.

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> Group will promote Rt. 130 (10/13/2005)
HAMILTON - The Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce brought together business owners and government leaders yesterday to discuss how to make the Route 130 corridor a place to stop and shop, rather than a highway to the next town.

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> Hoboken Terminal to rise anew (10/13/2005)
NJ Transit has tapped a Pennsylvania-based developer to transform the largely neglected Hoboken Terminal into the next Grand Central.

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> Candidates: Gas tax hike won't solve transit woes (10/12/2005)
EAST BRUNSWICK -- Taking on two of the state's most pressing financial questions, Democrat U.S. Sen. Jon S. Corzine said he would borrow against toll road revenues to pay for transportation projects if he is elected governor and encourage consolidation of small school districts.

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> NJ Transit envisions upscale revival for Hoboken Terminal (10/12/2005)
For decades, the exterior of the nearly century-old Hoboken Terminal has continued to deteriorate, leaving an eyesore amid the New Jersey waterfront's mix of new commercial, residential and recreational development.

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> Transit Could Play Stronger Role in Emergencies, Officials Say (10/10/2005)
Mass transit’s role in the U.S. is evolving rapidly due to rising fuel prices and hurricanes that highlight the need for efficient mass evacuations. more...

> Roads fund running on empty (10/10/2005)
With the state's fund for transportation projects running dry and gasoline prices at record highs, New Jersey is facing a potential transportation crisis next year that could bring a halt to transportation construction.

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> Princeton Junction redevelopment is on main track (10/07/2005)
WEST WINDSOR - Princeton Junction is a neighborhood defined by commuter trains and acres of parked cars. Now, the township wants to designate as much as 350 acres for redevelopment, giving it power to attract new business, beef up infrastructure, raise money and even take land. more...

> Newark's wards share in $10M (10/07/2005)
One block of Mount Prospect Avenue in Newark's North Ward will get a makeover using a portion of the $10 million resulting from the sale of bonds to finance the downtown hockey arena for the New Jersey Devils, city officials announced yesterday. more...

> County prepares for phase two of recreation park in Old Bridge (10/07/2005)
Middlesex County officials yesterday broke ground for the second phase of Phillips Park in Old Bridge, a $2.4 million project that will result in the construction of a cricket pitch, comfort station, playground and ballfield lighting. more...

> A newer Wheaton Plaza on its way (10/06/2005)
MILLVILLE -- Renovation of the mostly vacant, highly visible Wheaton Plaza shopping center is fully under way.

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> Opening of Home Depot historic night for Newark (10/06/2005)
Moments after the automatic doors of the mammoth 145,000-square-foot Home Depot slid open for the first time last night, Gilbert Barker was strolling the aisles of Newark's first big-box retailer with his family picking up a few items for his home on Muhammad Ali Avenue. more...

> Contract awarded to widen parkway in Ocean County (10/05/2005)
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has awarded the first contract in its plan to widen the Garden State Parkway between Toms River and Stafford Township.
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> Officials announce shares of $3M in transportation funds (10/05/2005)
WEST DEPTFORD -- Senator Stephen M. Sweeney, Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli and Assemblyman Douglas H. Fisher, all D-3rd Dist., Friday announced that 24 communities in District 3 will share $3,022,000 in state transportation funds for local street resurfacing, bridge repairs, and other transportation improvement projects.

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> New arts center at core of college renaissance (10/05/2005)
The $17.5 million arts center that will be started this spring at the College of Saint Elizabeth will sit on a hill overlooking a valley to fulfill its role as a new home for the fine and performing arts and many great works of theology.

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> N.J. may replenish school building fund (10/04/2005)
TRENTON - For the first time since allegations of financial waste began swirling around a New Jersey school-construction program that is nearly broke, legislative steam is building to provide more money for the schools.

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> Funds urged for school construction (10/04/2005)
TRENTON
Weary of holding classes in the school library and faculty lounge, Gloucester City Junior-Senior High School principal Jack Don hoped to persuade lawmakers on Monday to approve funds for a middle school.

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> $60M left for $109M in requests (10/04/2005)
TRENTON -- The leader of the state Schools Construction Corporation said Monday that lack of strategy and no clear direction led the agency to go bust, leaving hundreds of districts statewide in the lurch.

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> $100,000 for school sidewalks (10/04/2005)
BRIDGETON -- State Sen. Steve Sweeney and Assemblymen John J. Burzichelli and Douglass H. Fisher say they helped secure $100,000 in state funding for safety improvements to roads and walkways near schools in Bridgeton. more...

> A shot and a goal achieved for Newark (10/04/2005)
After eight years of lobbying, on and off negotiations, and deals that looked completed only to fall apart, Newark Mayor Sharpe James finally got the chance to preside over the groundbreaking for an arena for the New Jersey Devils hockey team in the heart of the state's largest city yesterday.

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> Hearing explores school-building debacle (10/04/2005)
Five years of frustration over a state school construction program spilled over in a Trenton hearing room yesterday, as lawmakers took testimony about the program's failures and suggestions on how to repair it.

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> 11 city streets being repaved (10/03/2005)
RAHWAY — ELEVEN CITY STREETS will be resurfaced this fall as part of the city's annual program.
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> Newark arena will offer more than just a seat (10/02/2005)
NEWARK - Barstool-style seats aligned at the rear of the arena's main seating.

Ice-level "bunker suites" complete with fireplaces and flat-screen televisions - and maybe even an arms-length view of the Devils players moments before they take the ice.

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> Stadium deal is a victory (10/02/2005)
It took tough, overtime negotiations, but acting Gov. Richard Codey last week got the Giants and Jets to agree that their future lies in building an $800 million stadium that they will share in the Meadowlands.

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> In N.J., a dollar more for an hour's work (10/01/2005)
Today marks one of those rare moments when workers at the bottom of the economic ladder have something to celebrate: The minimum wage in New Jersey goes up by a buck.

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> Towns share $1.3M for street work (09/30/2005)
Six area towns will share $1.3 million in state aid for local street resurfacing, traffic-slowing measures and other transportation improvements, Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, D-Plainsboro, announced.

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> Giants, Jets seal stadium deal (09/30/2005)
After 10 days of nasty negotiations, the Jets and Giants announced a deal yesterday to build an $800 million stadium the teams will share at the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

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> Work proceeds on Route 18 upgrade (09/29/2005)
NEW BRUNSWICK — Construction along Route 18 progresses with installation of a water main along the ramp from Route 1 southbound onto Route 18 northbound during the day, possibly requiring closure of the ramp overnight.
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> Two bridges link the Amboys (09/29/2005)
There are now two fixed-span bridges carrying Route 35 over the Raritan River between Perth Amboy and South Amboy -- and both are open.

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> Parsippany, Madison voters OK expansions (09/28/2005)
Voters approved a total of $95.5 million in three school district referendums on Tuesday.

• Madison voters gave a 1,844 to 910 nod to a $45.9 million question.

• Parsippany schools' $47.6 million referendum passed by 3,119 to 2,521.

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> $150M hotel/conference center to dominate RiverWinds complex (09/28/2005)
WEST DEPTFORD TWP. -- The financial success of RiverWinds is within sight, according to township officials and Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce President Mark Schweiker.

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> Voters in 2 districts OK school building plans (09/28/2005)
Enticed by offers of $20 million in state aid, voters in Parsippany and Madison approved $93.5 million in school construction projects yesterday in what may be a last chance for districts to get help from Trenton to fund such work.

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> $31M in school projects get the green light (09/28/2005)
Nearly $31 million in school projects -- everything from new furnaces to new primary centers -- received approval last night in Summit and New Providence.

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> Jobless rate falls despite flat market (09/27/2005)
The local unemployment rate dropped in August even as job creation remained basically flat.

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> City gets $5.3M to revamp Warren St. (09/27/2005)
Trenton will receive $5.3 million to realign South Warren Street behind the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex.

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> Rowan Blvd. gets $5M green light (09/21/2005)
GLASSBORO -- Property acquisition for a planned roadway to connect Rowan University to Main Street is expected to begin soon now that $5 million in funding has been approved by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA).

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> Area jobless rates down from a year ago (09/16/2005)
Unemployment rates in the region fell in August compared with August 2004, but they stayed about the same as in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said.

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> South Jersey: Region Thrives in 2005 (09/16/2005)
Camden County's Spring 2005 newsletter heralds "Business Booms in Camden County," with its inside pages revealing a whopping 19 major projects that have either been completed in the past few years, are under construction or are planned for construction. They range from Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center's $48-million expansion project (opened in March) to Garden State Park, a $500-million redevelopment project that will ultimately contain a mix of condominiums, various- sized stores, offices, and open and civic space.
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> A bigger box for Quaker Bridge (09/16/2005)
LAWRENCE - The Quaker Bridge Mall on Route 1 would be renovated and expanded to one and a half times its current size under plans that include adding two high-end department stores, mall officials announced yesterday. more...

> NJ Transit is looking up to new train cars (09/15/2005)
New Jersey's first multilevel train pulled into Newark Penn Station yesterday, loaded with expectations from transit officials who are counting on the new passenger cars to curb rail overcrowding.

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> Law firm's commitment boosts Newark project (09/15/2005)
Matrix Development of Cranford announced a major project on Newark's waterfront yesterday that includes a new office tower for the law firm McCarter & English.

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> Transportation authority passes $81 billion plan (09/15/2005)
Even as state officials struggle to find money for next year's road and mass transit projects, a powerful transportation authority has signed off on a plan to spend $81 billion over the next 25 years.

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> Employment picture bright (09/14/2005)
VINELAND -- A survey of Vineland-area companies found half plan to hire more employees by year's end.

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> $55 million mall OK'd in Millville (09/14/2005)
MILLVILLE -- Goodmill Properties LLC, the developer for the proposed $55 million shopping complex near the Route 47/Route 55 interchange, was granted final site plan approval Tuesday night during the city's planning board meeting.

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> $200 million construction continues on Rt. 18 (09/14/2005)
NEW BRUNSWICK — Construction on the $200 million makeover of Route 18 continues this week with excavations during the day along the shoulder of the southbound side of the roadway near Burnet Street. The northbound side island at Paulus Boulevard will be removed for future reconfiguration.
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> Long-range plan seeks $81 billion worth of mass transit projects in North Jersey (09/13/2005)
Even as state officials struggle to find money for next year's road and mass transit projects, a powerful transportation authority has signed off on a plan to spend $81 billion over the next 25 years.

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> County towns await millions in U.S. aid for road work (09/09/2005)
A $286 billion national highway, mass transit and road safety bill will translate in Union County into improvements both to a major traffic artery and important local roadways and bridges.

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> Strykers Road work set to start (09/08/2005)
LOPATCONG TWP. -- After months of discussion, construction finally is slated to begin Sept. 19 to realign Strykers Road.Council gave Mayor Douglas Steinhardt the go-ahead Wednesday night to sign the contract with Tilcon New York Inc., of Wharton, N.J., which was awarded by council in August.

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> Newark okays Mulberry St. condo plan (09/08/2005)
The Newark City Council cleared the way for the creation of a new downtown neighborhood last night when it approved a redevelopment plan for 13.5 acres around Mulberry Street where a developer wants to build a $550 million, 2,000-condominium project.

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> Construction Rises (09/02/2005)
New York, NY – The value of new construction starts increased 1% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $662.0 billion, it was reported by McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Nonresidential building maintained its improving trend of recent months, following its lackluster performance at the outset of 2005. Residential building continued to see robust activity, while nonbuilding construction settled back slightly from an elevated June. For the first seven months of 2005, total construction on an unadjusted basis came to $370.8 billion, 6% above the corresponding period of 2004.
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> Construction Rises (09/02/2005)
New York, NY – The value of new construction starts increased 1% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $662.0 billion, it was reported by McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Nonresidential building maintained its improving trend of recent months, following its lackluster performance at the outset of 2005. Residential building continued to see robust activity, while nonbuilding construction settled back slightly from an elevated June. For the first seven months of 2005, total construction on an unadjusted basis came to $370.8 billion, 6% above the corresponding period of 2004. more...

> Economy Grew at Solid Pace in Second Quarter (08/31/2005)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The economy grew at a 3.3 percent annual rate in the second quarter, slightly less than initially estimated but still a solid performance, especially given galloping energy prices.

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> State confirms money for new $23M school (08/31/2005)
BUENA VISTA -- The Buena Regional School District now has written proof that it will receive $14.4 million from the state's School Construction Corp. to build a new middle school.

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> N.J. incomes stay best in U.S. (08/31/2005)
Incomes rose in New Jersey last year - remaining the highest in the nation - but poverty levels rose as well, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday.

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> Commuter rail plan gets boost of $1.97M (08/31/2005)
A long-sought plan to revive commuter rails on the defunct Lackawanna Cutoff in Sussex and Warren counties has received a $1.97 million federal grant, but the project is still years and millions of dollars away from construction, officials said.

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> Census: N.J. ranks first on income and housing costs (08/31/2005)
TRENTON — New Jerseyans again rank among the wealthiest in the country, but they need those earnings to cover the highest median mortgage payments in the nation, according to 2004 data released yesterday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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> Rt. 1 bridge job a weekend wonder (08/29/2005)
TRENTON - Sparing both drivers and taxpayers time and money, the state Department of Transportation not only turned a potentially two-year-long bridge replacement project on Route 1 into a three-day job, but also shaved $1.5 million off its cost.

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> Rt. 1 bridge replacement blitz under way (08/27/2005)
TRENTON - The race to replace three Route 1 bridge decks began last night, with crews working through the night to remove the bridge deck on the southbound bridge over the Olden Avenue exit ramp.

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> New megabase shot in arm for N.J. (08/27/2005)
LAKEHURST — When military personnel from the nearby naval base arrive for lunch at Salvia's Deli, Bakery and Cafe downtown, they're likely to get a little extra service and a larger helping of food. more...

> Crews clear way for Rt. 18 work (08/24/2005)
With Rutgers University gearing up for the start of the fall semester, crews are working around the clock to build temporary lanes designed to minimize the impact of the Route 18 widening project in New Brunswick.

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> Project to ease Route 18 bottleneck (08/24/2005)
Motorists who take Route 18 through East Brunswick and New Brunswick can take heart. Help is on the way that could significantly shorten commuting time.

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> Train station to get face lift (08/23/2005)
WOODBRIDGE — Work will begin next month on a $23 million overhaul for the Woodbridge train station, its first major renovation since it was built in the 1930s. more...

> Mulling new roads for old Manalapan (08/22/2005)
MANALAPAN — If you place a map of Manalapan circa 1889 on top of a contemporary road map of the township, a startling fact leaps out: No new major community roads have been built here in more than a century. Then as now, the main thoroughfares have remained the same; only the names and the amount of asphalt have changed.
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> New $15M Reservoir Bridge reopening to Rt. 202 traffic (08/20/2005)
BOONTON -- The new Reservoir Bridge, which carries Route 202 between Boonton and Parsippany over a portion of the Jersey City Reservoir, will open to traffic Wednesday following a 21/2-year construction project.

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> District eligible for $9.5M in state funds (08/19/2005)
If approved by voters next month, a $48 million package of improvements and additions to seven Parsippany schools would add no more than $122 to the average homeowner's tax bill in a single year. more...

> Easier going on the roads more traveled (08/19/2005)
DEPTFORD TWP. -- A $90 million project to connect routes 42 and 295 is slated to begin construction as early as next spring if the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) gets permission to build on a landfill, a spokesman said Wednesday.

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> Gateway plan progresses (08/19/2005)
NEW BRUNSWICK — The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to designate the Somerset Street-Easton Avenue area "in need of redevelopment," bringing the $127 million Gateway Center project a step closer to fruition.
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> $7.1M pact OK'd for airport expansion (08/17/2005)
The South Jersey Transportation Authority on Tuesday awarded a $7.1 million contract for improvements to the check-in area of the Atlantic City International Airport, a key step in the expansion of the airport.

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> Corzine talks $3.9M for bridge (08/13/2005)
BRIDGETON -- With the bridge that will be replaced serving as the backdrop, U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine announced along the Riverfront Friday afternoon that $3.9 million in federal funding will be coming back to the state to help fund the replacement of the Broad Street bridge.

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> New York City Announces $700-million Bioscience Complex in Manhattan (08/11/2005)
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Aug. 10 plans to build what he says will be New York City's largest commercial bioscience center. He said the city has selected Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc., Pasadena, Calif., to develop the $700-million East River Science Park, which will be an 870,000-sq-ft facility built on the campus of Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. The city will lease the site to Alexandria in hopes of attracting pharmaceutical and healthcare firms as tenants. Bloomberg claims the privately-financed project will create 4,000 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs over the next decade. The city has selected architect Hillier Inc., Princeton, N.J., to design the project, which will include two laboratories and two office towers totaling 542,000 sq ft in its first phase, set to break ground next year, and 330,000 sq ft in its second phase. These will be built in two phases, starting next year. Sources say other project team members have not yet been selected.

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> Central N.J. projects gain highway funds (08/11/2005)
Middlesex County

Widening of Route 1 and intersection improvements in South Brunswick, $6.8 million
East Coast Greenway bicycle and pedestrian path from New Brunswick to Hudson River, $800,000
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> Bush releases funds for transit projects (08/11/2005)
MONTGOMERY, Ill. — Projects that will widen Route 1 in South Brunswick, expand the Route 440/State Street interchange in Perth Amboy and improve a roadway near New Jersey Turnpike Interchange 12 in Carteret are funded under a massive transit-funding bill signed yesterday by President Bush.
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> FROM DREAM TO REALITY: Town sees coming complex as welcome sight (08/08/2005)
PENNS GROVE -- The tide is changing in this gray Salem County village, soon to be home to a $65 million, 195,000-square-foot waterfront complex a developer promises will be "Disneyesque" in appeal.

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> Record Transport Bill Heads for Enactment (08/08/2005)
At last. After nearly two years of delays and weeks of grueling Capitol Hill negotiations, a new, long-term transportation bill–the largest public works measure in U.S. history–is about to become law. On Aug. 10, President Bush is expected to travel to House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s Illinois district to sign the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, ... more...

> Federal bill's signing to provide state with highway project dollars (08/08/2005)
HADDON TOWNSHIP — Between the leafy elegance of Haddonfield and urban-lite Collingswood is decidedly suburban Haddon Township.
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> Hiring heated up in July (08/06/2005)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. employers cranked up their hiring in July, adding more than 200,000 jobs in a summertime show of confidence in the economy's staying power. The unemployment rate held steady at 5 percent.

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> Payroll, wages up across economy (08/06/2005)
U.S. employers cranked up their hiring in July, adding more than 200,000 jobs in a summertime show of confidence in the economy's staying power. The unemployment rate held steady at 5 percent.

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> The thrill of the open road (08/05/2005)
BRICK — Nearly three years after construction on Ocean County's largest road project began, local and county officials celebrated the completion of that work with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon. more...

> $11.3M for public transit (08/03/2005)
MOUNT HOLLY - Burlington County is in line to receive $11.3 million in federal funds to improve public transportation and safety.

A total of $3.3 million will be used to help fund vehicles and equipment for the BurLink shuttle system over the next four years, and $8 million has been earmarked for the reconstruction of a 2.8-mile stretch of county Route 530, also known as South Pemberton Road, according to Rep. Jim Saxton.

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> Hoboken hits jackpot with $15M in transit funding (08/03/2005)
HOBOKEN - Rep. Robert Menendez won his home city the lion's share of dollars in the latest round of transportation funding that passed the House of Representatives and the Senate last week.

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> Land swap for bridge replacement (08/02/2005)
BRIDGETON -- City council unanimously approved a resolution Monday night that will allow the Route 49/Cohansey River bridge replacement project to move forward.

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> N.J. nets $8B for highway projects (07/30/2005)
WASHINGTON — A transportation bill approved by Congress on Friday will continue to shortchange New Jersey, even though it promises a 30 percent boost in federal highway aid.
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> State to receive $8 billion in federal aid for highways (07/30/2005)
A transportation bill approved by Congress on Friday will continue to shortchange New Jersey, even though it promises a 30 percent boost in federal highway aid.

The Garden State is one of 25 states that pay more into the federal Highway Trust Fund than they get back for road projects.

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> Streetscapes, roads in S.J. funded by bill (07/30/2005)
The following are South Jersey projects to be funded by the federal highway bill:


$50 million for PATCO rolling stock acquisition and renovation for the line between Philadelphia and Lindenwold. more...

> South Amboy access-road bridge to be fixed (07/30/2005)
SOUTH AMBOY — Construction to replace the deteriorating Conrail and access-road bridge spanning Lower Main Street is expected to begin in the next few weeks.
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> $3.9 M slated for Cohansey River Bridge (07/30/2005)
Up against its summer recess, Congress on Friday approved a massive $286.4 billion transportation bill with $53.5 million attached for roadway and other transportation projects in South Jersey, including $3.9 million for the Route 49/Cohansey River bridge replacement project in Bridgeton.
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> Harrison told: No threat to new high school project (07/30/2005)
HARRISON - Construction of the new high school will proceed as planned, despite a published report listing the $11.9 million project as one of many suspended by the financially beleaguered state Schools Construction Corporation. more...

> Highway, transit funding en route (07/30/2005)
A $286.4 billion federal transportation bill being approved by Congress yesterday includes millions to renovate Trenton's train station, erect noise barriers in Hamilton and design a wider Route 1 in South Brunswick. more...

> Work on Union juvenile center to begin in October (07/29/2005)
UNION COUNTY — Construction of a new $39 million juvenile detention center on a four-acre site in Linden is scheduled to begin in October, now that the financing for the project is in place.
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> Road-and-rail windfall for N.J. (07/29/2005)
WASHINGTON -- Congress is expected to give final approval today to a $286.4 billion highway and mass transit bill that includes a 50 percent boost in transit aid for New Jersey and over $400 million earmarked for specific projects in the state.

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> NJ Transit approves face-lift for Woodbridge station (07/29/2005)
The Woodbridge Train Station on the North Jersey Coast Line is getting a face-lift, including construction of a larger waiting area, heated platform shelters and restrooms accessible by wheelchairs.

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> New Jersey may receive $306M in federal funding (07/29/2005)
WASHINGTON -- Congress is on the verge of approving $286.4 billion in highway and mass transit money for the states, sending lawmakers home for their summer vacations to bear big gifts of roads, bridges and jobs.

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> Agency OKs construction at 59 schools (07/28/2005)
TRENTON — The state Schools Construction Corp. on Wednesday doled out the last of the $6 billion allocated by the state Legislature for school construction in the state's most impoverished school districts.
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> Transportation Bill Nearly Complete; Stopgap #11 Signed, Extending (07/28/2005)
As congressional staffers were putting finishing touches on a long-delayed, multi-year transportation bill, the House and Senate approved, and President Bush signed into law, yet another stopgap measure to continue the flow of federal highway and transit funds through July 30. The latest extension, which Bush signed July 28 and Congress cleared the previous day, is the 11th stopgap since September 2003. more...

> OK FOR TRAIN TUNNEL (07/28/2005)
NEWARK - NJ Transit's board of directors approved a route known as the "Locally Preferred Alignment" for a planned $6 billion passenger rail tunnel that will stretch deep beneath the Hudson River bed from Secaucus to a new station in Midtown Manhattan.

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> Next stop 34th St., NJ Transit decides for its new tunnels (07/28/2005)
Charting the ride for generations of Manhattan-bound commuters, NJ Transit yesterday selected a route for the two extra Hudson River rail tunnels they are planning, saying the tunnels would lead to a new train station at 34th Street, deep below Macy's. The entire project would cost about $6 billion, the agency said.

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> County receives millions in grants (07/28/2005)
Essex County lay claim to nearly a quarter of the $16.9 million in grants being handed out by the Legislature in mainly Democratic- controlled districts. more...

> Largest-Ever UV Plant OK’d For New York City Supply (07/04/2005)
Ultraviolet disinfection, long used to treat wastewater and, in recent years, drinking water, will be scaled up to an unprecedented 2 billion gallons per day for New York City’s main water supply. Site preparation for the $597-million project is scheduled to begin Aug. 1.

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> Dover may get FedEx, 345 jobs (06/30/2005)
DOVER -- A developer has proposed building a FedEx Ground distribution center on the town's former landfill that could create 345 new jobs and pay $230,000 in annual taxes.

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> In Irvington's East Ward, a $35 million rebirth (06/30/2005)
While some have written Irvington off as a blighted urban community with no future, others have been planning its rebirth, township officials said yesterday as they unveiled $35 million worth of redevelopment projects proposed for the depressed East Ward.

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> $60M proposal for Cramer Hill (06/29/2005)
While others haggle over redevelopment in the city, the Salvation Army has been quietly putting together a proposal to build a $60 million community center in the Cramer Hill section.

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> County college expansion advances (06/28/2005)
After seven years of delay, Union County College is moving forward with plans to nearly double the size of its downtown Elizabeth campus.

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> Retail complex planned in Bernards Twp. (06/21/2005)
A Bernards Township developer has proposed building an upscale 50,000-square-foot retail complex on Martinsville-Liberty Corner Road to cater to employees of the corporate office buildings throughout that area.

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> Job Market Rebounds For the Class of 2005 (06/20/2005)
This year’s construction job market for members of the college Class of 2005 could be a better graduation gift than a new car from Mom and Dad. Those trained in civil engineering and construction fields are academia’s new hot commodities as industry employers staff up and offer them more options–and more money.

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> County to spend $4.8M for 911 center (06/17/2005)
FLEMINGTON -- Hunterdon County officials are planning to spend almost $4.8 million to improve and expand the county 911 center in Franklin Township. more...

> Newark makes two moves toward redevelopment (06/17/2005)
The Newark City Council approved two pieces of legislation that will have a major impact on development in the city. One will create an entirely new downtown neighborhood on 13.5 acres, and the other will make it easier to transfer city-owned land to developers.

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> U.S. economy expanding, Fed report says (06/16/2005)
The economy expanded across the United States from mid-April through May as tourism, real estate and manufacturing strengthened and the job market improved nationwide, the Federal Reserve said in a regional survey issued yesterday.

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> County freeholders agree to bond more than $6 million for road, bridge projects (06/16/2005)
TOMS RIVER — The freeholders on Wednesday announced the county will bond more than $6 million for several road and bridge projects.
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> PRIDE OF THE YANKEES: A NEW HOME IN 2009 (06/16/2005)
NEW YORK -- The Boss is building a new house but promises it will still be home.

It just puts him in a more exclusive neighborhood.

Sitting alongside New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York Gov. George E. Pataki at a jammed news conference in the Yankee Stadium club, owner George Steinbrenner said the Yankees' $800 million retro-style ballpark scheduled to open in 2009 will become the same kind of baseball mecca his current home is -- just a block away.

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> Yankees Unveil Plans for $800 Million Park (06/15/2005)
NEW YORK - Babe Ruth got a short right-field porch in the original Yankee Stadium. Alex Rodriguez won't be getting similar assistance in New York's new $800 million ballpark.

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> N.J. might construct LNG pier (06/15/2005)
Hoping to get around a nagging border dispute with Delaware, state officials are considering financing construction of a pier for BP's liquefied natural gas terminal.

The state is considering floating between $50 million and $100 million in tax-exempt bonds to build the pier.

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> Hospital plans $235M expansion (06/15/2005)
NEPTUNE — Jersey Shore University Medical Center plans to embark next year on a $235 million expansion that will include a new parking deck, new buildings and state-of-the-art equipment, hospital officials said Tuesday. more...

> Hunterdon to boost emergency center (06/15/2005)
A $4.5 million expansion of Hunterdon County's emergency services center will improve public safety while protecting the environment, according to county officials.

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> State unemployment dips below 4 percent (06/15/2005)
The New Jersey economy continues to gain strength and churn out jobs.

The state's unemployment rate declined to 3.9 percent in May, from 4.2 percent in April, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported yesterday.

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> Union County plans to resurface 14.77 miles of roads this summer (06/11/2005)
UNION COUNTY — Union County will resurface 14.77 miles of county roadway in 14 municipalities during the summer months.
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> Rt. 46 road work gets green light (06/01/2005)
DOVER -- After 15 years of discussion and two delays in the process, the state Department of Transportation will begin the long, 18-month process of buying up some land along Route 46 this summer to make way for its $51 million traffic improvement plan. more...

> Construction spending hits record level (06/01/2005)
WASHINGTON - Construction spending rose a healthy 0.5 percent to a record level in April, as office construction surged and activity in the red-hot housing market hit an all-time high, the government reported Wednesday.

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> County gets $3M for railroad (06/01/2005)
SALEM -- The New Jersey Department of Transportation awarded a $3 million grant to the county Tuesday to fund improvements to the Salem County Short Line Railroad. The grant is the largest funding ever for the county railroad.

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> Bush Signs New Transportation Bill Extension (06/01/2005)
Federal highway and mass transit funding will continue for another month following enactment of a bill that extends the programs through June 30. President Bush signed the latest extension into law on May 31. It is the seventh such stopgap since Sept. 30, 2003, when the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century expired.

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> Pfizer expansion could mean twice as many jobs (06/01/2005)
The number of jobs at Pfizer's operations in Morris Plains could more than double, to 5,000, under the drug maker's expansion plans for the 175-acre campus, a top executive said yesterday as Acting Gov. Richard Codey broke ground on a $200 million research and development facility.

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> Pfizer Kicks Off $500 Million Expansion (05/31/2005)
New York City's Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) Tuesday held a groundbreaking ceremony for a $500 million expansion of its facilities in Morris Plains and Parsippany. The expansion calls for the addition of 1.2 million sq. ft. of space over the next six years and is expected to keep more than 2,000 jobs in the state.
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> House, Senate Pass 7th Extension for Highway, Transit Programs (05/26/2005)
With no deal yet in sight on a multi-year transportation bill, Congress has approved another stopgap to keep federal highway and transit money flowing. The new, 30-day extension would be the seventh stopgap since Sept. 30, 2003, when the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, the last big highway and transit statute, expired.

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> Growth Marks a Return to Prosperity (05/26/2005)
For large general contractors, 2004 was a solid year for business. After three years of sluggish markets and uncertainty, activity picked up in most market sectors and in most regions. The turnaround wasn’t spectacular, just strong enough to keep construction firms optimistic, but not idealistic, about the next few years. "We’d been building toward last year for the past four years," says Doug Barnhart, CEO of building contractor Douglas E. Barnhart Inc., which made one of the biggest moves on the Top 400. "We plan on continuing to grow, but not at last year’s levels."

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> N.J. breaks ground for bridge in Lindenwold (05/25/2005)
Construction is under way on a bridge to replace the century-old steel span that arches over the railroad tracks at United States Avenue.

State Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere was on hand Tuesday morning to celebrate the official groundbreaking for the $6.7 million bridge, which is expected to be completed by August 2006.

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> Weekly Jobless Claims Fall (05/19/2005)
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits declined by a seasonally adjusted 20,000 to 321,000 for the week ending May 14, the Labor Department said Thursday. It was the biggest drop seen in a month.
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> Jobs data suggest state's in good shape (05/18/2005)
So much for any thoughts New Jersey's economy might be stumbling.

The state Department of Labor reported yesterday New Jersey added a robust 9,600 jobs during April, marking an abrupt turnaround from an unusually weak first quarter. The results mirrored the national economy.

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> Defiant Senate approves $295B for highways (05/18/2005)
WASHINGTON -- The Republican-controlled Senate yesterday brushed aside a presidential veto threat and passed a $295 billion highway bill, arguing that massive spending on bigger and better roads was necessary to fight congestion and unsafe roadways.

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> New Jersey's unemployment rate dips again in April (05/17/2005)
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- The state unemployment rate dipped to 4.2 percent in April, down a tenth of a percent from March, and more than a full point lower than a year earlier, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported Tuesday.

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> Crossing the bridge by year's end (05/17/2005)
MANTOLOKING — One of the largest construction projects in Ocean County history is within budget and on schedule, as county officials declared that the new $21.5 million Mantoloking Bridge will fully open for motorists by year's end.
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> Surprise: N.J. finds $1B more to spend (05/13/2005)
SOUTH ORANGE -- A stronger economy than was expected just two months ago will generate an extra $1 billion in tax collections for the state government through June 2006 -- setting off a wave of political maneuvering over what to do with the windfall.

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> Extra $500M. might go to N.J. taxpayers (05/13/2005)
TRENTON - Higher-than-expected income-tax returns have given the state another $500 million to balance the budget, acting Gov. Richard J. Codey announced Thursday.
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> State's fiscal picture takes $1B upturn (05/13/2005)
A robust economy has delivered an unexpected gift to the state -- a $1 billion windfall that will help restore taxpayer rebates, acting Gov. Richard Codey announced yesterday.

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> Contract OK'd for station project (05/12/2005)
NEWARK - The New Jersey Transit Board of Directors yesterday approved a $53 million contract with Thomas P. Carney Inc. of Langhorne, Pa., for renovations to the Trenton Train Station, paving the way for the long anticipated project to advance in earnest. Preliminary work is already under way.

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> Codey to reveal plans for widening Parkway in Ocean County (05/11/2005)
Pushing the second major road project of his brief tenure, acting Gov. Richard J. Codey today is expected to announce plans to widen the Garden State Parkway south of Toms River, a chronic choke point on the congested highway.

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> Salem to get $100G for sidewalk repairs (05/09/2005)
SALEM -- State Sen. Stephen Sweeney and Assemblymen John Burzichelli and Douglas Fisher, all D-3rd Dist., announced last week Salem City will receive $100,000 in state funds from the Transportation Trust Fund.

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> 274,000 jobs added to April payrolls (05/07/2005)
Hiring around the country picked up briskly in April, with employers boosting payrolls 274,000 and raising hopes of better days ahead for jobseekers and the economy as a whole.

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> P.A. moves on rail links for seaports (04/28/2005)
A $460 million project to expand rail capabilities at the region's seaports was fast-tracked yesterday by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Meanwhile, board chairman Anthony Coscia, a proponent of the project, was re-elected chairman.

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> Rowan pledges $1M to fix up downtown (04/28/2005)
GLASSBORO -- Since arriving at campus seven years ago, Rowan University President Donald Farish has spoken frequently about the importance of a harmonious relationship between borough and university.

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> EXIT 14A, ROUTE 440 MAY GET FEDERAL AID (04/27/2005)
Bayonne hopes to cash in on a new federal transportation initiative now being considered by Congress.

Officials said the container port proposed for a portion of the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor and other local port-related businesses could get a big boost if federal lawmakers include the "Projects of National Significance" initiative as part of a new five-year transportation bill.

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> Codey to sign minimum wage bill (04/26/2005)
TRENTON -- Acting Gov. Richard Codey is scheduled to sign a bill today raising New Jersey's $5.15 hourly minimum wage by $2.

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> 'Rowan Blvd.' to get cash infusion (04/22/2005)
GLASSBORO -- As much as $7 million will be invested by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) into a project to connect the main campus of Rowan University to the borough's downtown with a commercial roadway.

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> Airport project receives approval (04/19/2005)
Years after a $2.4 million project was first proposed at Central Jersey Regional Airport in Hillsborough, near the Manville border, plans have received approval from the Hillsborough planning board.

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> Florham Park approves $3M in equipment, repairs (04/18/2005)
FLORHAM PARK --The town council appropriated more than $3 million during its regular meeting Tuesday night for an assortment of projects throughout the borough. About $2.2 million of this will be funded through bonds. Some of the projects are:

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> Freeze lifted on state aid for school construction (04/17/2005)
Following nearly a week of panic by suburban school officials, the New Jersey agency that controls billions of dollars in school construction aid announced Friday that a freeze on grants to local districts -- the result of an investigation by the state inspector general -- has been lifted.

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> Giants, N.J. seal deal (04/15/2005)
EAST RUTHERFORD — "When other states are building stadiums on the backs of taxpayers, New Jersey has said no," acting Gov. Codey said Thursday as the Giants announced they will foot the estimated $750 million bill to build a new, 80,000-seat football stadium in the Meadowlands.
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> Giants, N.J. agree on stadium deal (04/14/2005)
The state and the Giants reached a deal yesterday for a new stadium in the Meadowlands, giving team co-owners Wellington Mara and Robert Tisch the right to build a $750 million facility next to the existing Giants Stadium.

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> Road work gets the green (04/14/2005)
After being stalled for years, construction on several high-profile road projects will begin in the coming year under the state Transportation Department's $2.7 billion capital budget released yesterday.

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> Minimum wage workers get raise (04/13/2005)
TRENTON - While it's pocket change to some, Geovanny Pena says the $2 minimum wage raise signed into law yesterday will be life altering for her and her two children.

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> $43M from Homeland Security for area port, transit upgrades (04/13/2005)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security yesterday announced two grants totaling nearly $43 million earmarked for the New Jersey/New York metro area.

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> Developer gets OK to extend Pohat road (04/06/2005)
POHATCONG TWP. -- Township officials agreed Tuesday to allow the company redeveloping the abandoned Laneco Plaza to extend Greenwich Road from Route 22 to Bliss Boulevard.

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> Fed: Jersey economy continues to expand (04/06/2005)
New Jersey's steadily marching economy isn't likely to retreat before year's end, with factors from unemployment to wages all favorable, a top official of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said yesterday.

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> IN MILLVILLE: Shopping center gets OK (04/05/2005)
MILLVILLE -- The largest proposed shopping center in city history sailed through a Planning Board review Monday night.

The board unanimously voted to give preliminary approval to a site plan for what's estimated as a $70 million investment that would bring major retailers like Target and Kohl's to Cumberland County while creating hundreds of new jobs and millions in tax revenue. A final approval is expected to occur shortly.

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> Court clears Perth Amboy's path for $65M retail, housing project (04/05/2005)
The final hurdle blocking the start of construction of King's Plaza, a $65 million retail and housing development in Perth Amboy, has been removed and city officials expect work to begin later this year.

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> Improvement work begins on Rt. 46, nearby roads (04/01/2005)
Survey work has already begun in Fairfield for a state road-widening project that will affect portions of Route 46 along with sections of Two Bridges, Little Falls and Fairfield roads.

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> Jets on goal line, set to score new stadium (04/01/2005)
NEW YORK - A proposed $1.9 billion stadium along the Hudson River designed to lure the 2012 Olympics to New York City cleared its highest hurdle yet yesterday, winning the blessing of the state agency that owns the land and handing a major victory to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

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> Veterans Memorial construction set to begin (03/31/2005)
VINELAND -- The launch of the $12.5 million Veterans Memorial Intermediate School addition and renovation is just days away.

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> DOT details $6.4M plan to widen Rt. 46 (03/30/2005)
FAIRFIELD -- Temporary road congestion may be in store for drivers on Route 46 in the Fairfield Road area once the state Department of Transportation kicks off its $6.4 million improvement project later this year, but the plan ultimately should reduce accidents and improve traffic flow, officials said.

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> Bill offers money for repairs to local dams (03/29/2005)
ALLOWAY TWP. -- The state Senate has approved a bill that would make $110 million in loans available statewide for dam restoration and repairs, including at several dams in Salem County.

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> Road improvements are planned in Brick (03/27/2005)
BRICK — The beginning of spring marks the beginning of a construction season designed to improve several of the township's roads.
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> Route 571 improvements ahead (03/25/2005)
WEST WINDSOR - Improvements to several intersections along county Route 571 will be made by mid-June.

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> $1M will start Route 1 project (03/22/2005)
SOUTH BRUNSWICK - A federal highway spending bill recently passed by Congress includes $1 million to fund the beginning stages of a project that eventually will widen the 6.7-mile stretch of Route 1 here.

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> Senate Committee Approves Same Transit Funding as House (03/21/2005)
In another step towards a new multi-year transportation bill, a Senate committee has approved legislation authorizing $44.3 billion over the 2005-2009 period for the federal mass transit program, the same amount the House and President Bush recommended over that span. But panel members indicated they will press to increase that funding when the measure comes to the Senate floor, maybe in April. more...

> Construction Begins on Meadowlands Xanadu Project (03/21/2005)
Arlington, Virginia-based The Mills Corp. (NYSE:MLS) and Cranford's Mack-Cali Realty (NYSE:CLI) announced the start of construction on Meadowlands Xanadu Monday following approvals from the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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> DOT: Rte. 40 'targeted' for construction (03/19/2005)
ELMER -- Approximately four miles of U.S. Route 40 will be reconstructed -- possibly beginning later this year -- in what is a $11.5 million project, according to the state Department of Transportation.

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> Jobless Claims Fall for 1st Time in Month (03/17/2005)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of new people signing up for unemployment benefits last week declined for the first time in a month, an encouraging sign that the jobs market may be gaining traction.

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> Unemployment rate rises, but N.J. gains jobs (03/16/2005)
New Jersey's unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent in February, up from the startlingly low 3.9 percent rate for January, which marked a nearly four-year low.

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> Senate Panel Clears Highway Bill, in Line with House Version (03/16/2005)
A new transportation bill has made more progress in Congress, as a Senate committee approved a five-year bill that would provide about $190 billion in highway funding through 2009. That five-year amount is in line with the six-year level in the bill the House passed on March 10 and the six-year sum recommended by the Bush administration. But Senate committee members said they felt their bill's funding wasn't adequate, indicating they expected efforts on the floor to add more money to the legislation.

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> N.J. to boost base wage (03/15/2005)
TRENTON - A proposal to raise New Jersey's minimum wage by $2 to $7.15 an hour secured final legislative passage yesterday as the Assembly approved the rate's first substantial increase in more than a decade.

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> Wage hike receives final legislative OK (03/15/2005)
TRENTON -- New Jersey will increase its minimum wage by $2 -- from $5.15 to $7.15 -- over the next two years under legislation approved Monday by the Assembly.

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> Assembly OKs $2 minimum wage hike (03/15/2005)
TRENTON -- A move to swell the wages of the Garden State's lowest-paid workers cleared its last legislative hurdle Monday when the Assembly passed a two-step, $2-per-hour increase in New Jersey's minimum wage.
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> Minimum wage bill delivered to Codey (03/15/2005)
A move to swell the wages of the Garden State's lowest-paid workers cleared its last legislative hurdle yesterday, when the Assembly passed a two-step, $2-per-hour increase in New Jersey's minimum wage.
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> $2M center coming to Millville (03/15/2005)
MILLVILLE -- Plans for a $2 million professional and retail center in the city's downtown area were announced Monday by city officials, as well as principals in the project.

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> Federal dollars to fund Hudson transit projects (03/15/2005)
NEWARK - The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, the regional body that distributes federal transportation funds across 13 counties, approved its 2006 fiscal year capital construction program yesterday, earmarking $2.2 billion in highway, bridge and mass transit funds.

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> No strings on road money? (03/11/2005)
WASHINGTON — New Jersey would be free to apply tough anti-corruption laws to highway contractors under a transportation bill the House overwhelmingly approved Thursday.
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> Saxton obtains $4 million to help create Route 9 bypass in Berkeley (03/11/2005)
BERKELEY — A 2.2-mile extension of Western Boulevard could create a Route 9 bypass in Berkeley and Lacey townships by 2010, with help from $4 million in federal highway aid approved Thursday by the House of Representatives, Rep. H. James Saxton, R-N.J., said Thursday.
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> House gives green light to bill that includes $7M for Rt. 22 (03/11/2005)
WASHINGTON -- The House overwhelmingly passed a transportation bill Thursday that would distribute $284 billion to states for highway and transit projects through the end of the decade, but not enough, critics say, to cut the nation's lengthening commutes.
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> Music to their ears: Officials break ground on school addition (03/11/2005)
DUNELLEN -- Construction to triple the size of Lincoln Middle School got under way Thursday as officials broke ground on an addition that will house students in grades 6-8.
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> REAUTHORIZING TEA-21 (03/11/2005)
The revived effort in Congress on a new transportation bill has moved a step forward, with House approval of legislation to provide $284 billion for federal road and transit programs through 2009. But the bill, which the House passed March 10 on a lopsided 417-9 vote, faces the threat of a presidential veto over a provision that seeks, in effect, to reopen the bill in 2006 to add more funds. more...

> N.J. to get $260M for highways after Congress OKs amendment (03/11/2005)
WASHINGTON (AP) - With little opposition, a House committee yesterday approved an amendment to a massive highway spending bill that would limit the influence of political contributors when it comes to the awarding of government contracts.

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> Pay-play ban put in House road bill (03/11/2005)
WASHINGTON -- An unusually united House yesterday passed a $284 billion, six-year highway and transit bill, after adding a provision that would allow New Jersey's anti-pay-to-play law to apply to federally funded transportation contracts.

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> Voters add cash for new Union school (03/09/2005)
UNION TWP. -- Voters on Tuesday approved a referendum allowing the township school district to spend $2.9 million on building and repair projects. more...

> Asselta seeks local workers for Rt. 52 work (03/09/2005)
SOMERS POINT - The new Route 52 causeway will be the most expensive public project in southern New Jersey.

State Sen. Nicholas Asselta said he wants local workers to get a cut of the $300 million contracts.
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> New Jersey jobless rate declines to 2001 levels (03/09/2005)
In another sign of New Jersey's robust economy, the state unemployment rate fell to an eye-catching 3.9 percent for January, the lowest level in nearly four years. more...

> Repairs to bridge shift to fast lane (03/09/2005)
In an effort to speed repairs on the aging bridge that carries Route 280 between Newark and Harrison, state transportation officials have decided to put off plans to add extra lanes to the structure.

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> Sayreville to address commuters' top concern: Parking (03/09/2005)
The Sayreville Borough Council decided last night to fund construction of a commuter parking lot and look into funding renovations to the boat launch at the River Road park.

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> Voters OK $1M for Parkview renewal (03/09/2005)
WESTVILLE -- It won't be cheap, but the taxpayers have decided their children are worth it.

The board of education succeeded in passing its $1.129 million bond referendum on Tuesday evening. 156 people voted for the referendum and 96 voted against it. According to board secretary Linda Albright, the money will be used for much needed renovations to the Parkview Elementary School, which was built in 1953.

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> Voters approve school projects in Fair Haven (03/09/2005)
FAIR HAVEN — Voters in Tuesday's referendum approved two questions that will allow more than $12 million to be spent for an expansion, renovations and to add air conditioning in the district's two schools.
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> Retaking Trenton's riverfront (03/07/2005)
For decades, boosters of Trenton have dreamed of turning busy Route 29 -- the major access to the Statehouse complex for thousands of workers -- into a narrow boulevard. They talked of turning the vast sea of state-owned parking lots surrounding the complex into upscale housing and shops, of restoring the park that once graced the Delaware River.

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> February job growth best in four months (03/04/2005)
WASHINGTON - U.S. employers added more than a quarter-million jobs in February - the most in four months - in a bright sign that the labor market was on the mend. more...

> U.S. Economy Added 262,000 Jobs in February (03/04/2005)
The nation's employment growth surged ahead in February, the government reported today, confirming that the economy remained on a path of robust and sustained growth.

The Labor Department said employers added 262,000 jobs last month, twice as many as in January and the biggest increase since October last year.
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> As mall falls for arena, jobs rise (03/04/2005)
Cedric Gordon watched yesterday as a huge construction claw ripped into the side of the Renaissance Mall at Broad and Lafayette streets in Newark. more...

> REAUTHORIZING TEA-21 (03/04/2005)
Giving a boost to prospects for a new surface transportation bill, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has approved a $283.9-billion measure that would fund highway, transit and safety programs through fiscal 2009. As expected, the funding total in the committee's bill, approved March 2 on a unanimous vote, is the same amount that President Bush recommended for the legislation last month.

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> Airport gets OK to extend a runway (03/03/2005)
The Federal Aviation Administration endorsed a controversial Philadelphia International Airport plan yesterday to extend one of its runways to 6,500 feet, enabling its use by larger jets as a way to reduce delays at one of the nation's most congested airfields. more...

> $284B highway bill gets jump-start in the House (03/03/2005)
WASHINGTON -- A House committee yesterday cleared the road for action on a six-year $284 billion highway and mass transit bill, a major jobs and infrastructure initiative that stalled last year over a money dispute between the White House and Congress.

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> 23 Burlco towns to get roads fixed (03/03/2005)
The Burlington County Board of Freeholders is proposing $25 million in road and bridge improvements this year in 23 of the county's 40 municipalities.

One of the major bridge projects is a $1 million rehabilitation of Hilliard's Bridge Road, which was damaged in the July 12 flood that affected roads and homes near the Rancocas Creek in several municipalities. The road has been closed since then.
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> N.J. takes step toward a wider Turnpike (03/01/2005)
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority took the first step yesterday toward widening the Turnpike from Exit 8A in Monroe to Exit 6 in Mansfield.

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> Turnpike to consider replacing 35 bridges (03/01/2005)
Highway officials may have to rebuild as many as 35 bridges that span the New Jersey Turnpike in Middlesex, Mercer and Burlington counties.

The 35 state, county and municipal bridges cross the Turnpike within a 20-mile stretch where officials are planning to widen the highway. In many cases, a wider Turnpike simply would not fit under the existing bridges, officials said.

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> Four-year widening of Route 18 to start (02/26/2005)
If New Brunswick is the heart of central New Jersey, then Route 18 is like a clogged artery.

The state highway is congested during the morning and evening rush as commuters travel to and from the bustling city that is home to Rutgers University, the county seat, two major hospitals, and scores of new office buildings and homes.

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> Roadway project aimed at 5 streets (02/25/2005)
RUTHERFORD - The borough is putting out a bid for a contractor to begin construction on a roadway project to renovate five streets riddled with potholes and storm drains that spill water back into the streets.

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> Economic Growth Is Stronger Than Expected (02/25/2005)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The economy grew at a solid 3.8 percent annual rate in the final quarter of 2004 - stronger than previously estimated- an encouraging sign that the business expansion was firmly entrenched at the start of the new year.

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> New Brunswick to get Gateway Center (02/25/2005)
Officials from New Brunswick, Rutgers University and the New Brunswick Development Corp. unveiled plans yesterday for a $127 million addition to the city skyline. more...

> Bridgewater plan would lift road over Rt. 22 (02/24/2005)
County officials yesterday revealed the design of a proposed overpass that would send motorists on Chimney Rock Road right over Route 22 in Bridgewater Township.

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> Building project at former fair site approved (02/24/2005)
RARITAN TOWNSHIP -- Wal-Mart and Lowe's will be coming to the former Flemington Fairgrounds after the township Planning Board granted preliminary approval Tuesday for the proposed 447,000-square-foot Raritan Town Square.
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> Route 66 mall approved despite lawsuit threats (02/24/2005)
TINTON FALLS -- The Planning Board Wednesday denied a request by the Asbury Park Press to reopen a public hearing on the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets mall and unanimously endorsed the project's site plan. But it set out 27 pages of conditions for final approval.
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> Rutgers gets $11M grant for law school (02/23/2005)
The Economic Recovery Board of Camden on Tuesday unanimously approved $11 million in state funds to help Rutgers University expand its law school here.

The money comes from the Economic Recovery and Municipal Rehabilitation Act, which gives city institutions $175 million in state aid. The board oversees the distribution of the funds.

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> State UEZ $480K funding Bridgeton, Millville projects (02/17/2005)
TRENTON -- The state Urban Enterprise Zone Authority approved the funding of two local projects on Tuesday.

The authority, which assists the states' urban areas by creating private-sector jobs and public and private investment opportunities, granted a combined $480,000 in funding requests to both Millville and Bridgeton.

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> 'Transit Village' tag gives Journal Square shot at more funding (02/16/2005)
With the awarding of a $100,000 planning grant, Jersey City was named the state's 15th "Transit Village" yesterday - a designation that puts the city in line to receive additional funding for economic, housing and commercial projects in and around the Journal Square transportation hub more...

> Bush’s Big Squeeze Hits Construction (02/15/2005)
Those who predicted President Bush would aim to put the clamps on construction spending were right. Bush’s $2.57-trillion budget plan for fiscal year 2006 does ask for severe cuts in many infrastructure accounts. But it has a silver lining, proposing $283.9 billion over six years for the long-sidetracked surface transportation bill. The figure is a sharp hike over the level the White House supported last year but industry officials warn it may not be a large enough sum to clinch a deal on the crucial legislation. more...

> Path is clear for $2 hike in minimum wage (02/15/2005)
Legislation that would raise the state minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.15 an hour over a two-year period moved forward yesterday in both houses of the state Legislature.

The state Senate passed the measure, 26-10, without debate. Earlier in the day, the Assembly Labor Committee approved a lower house version of the bill after a lengthy discussion.

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> State will replace Rt. 38 footbridge (02/12/2005)
With three teenagers struck while trying to cross busy Route 38 near the Cherry Hill Mall since May - one of them fatally - the state said Friday it plans to rebuild a pedestrian bridge that was knocked down more than five years ago.

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> Unused bridge to be repaired (02/10/2005)
Union County officials said yesterday the state Department of Transportation will repair and renovate the Gordon Street Bridge that spans an unused rail line between Roselle and Roselle Park.

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> Vineland's new middle school project back on schedule (02/09/2005)
VINELAND -- School District Superintendent Clarence Hoover wasn't kidding in September when he predicted "rapid movement" on the district's new facilities within six months.

After working toward groundbreakings on two new schools for several years following difficulties with state financing and changes to conceptual plans, it now appears a middle school slated for North Mill Road is on schedule to break ground in March and be completed by September 2006.

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> County gets $1.3M road repair funds (02/09/2005)
SALEM -- The South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization announced $1.3 million in funding last week for transportation improvements in the county for fiscal year 2006.

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> New Jersey Transit Is Set to Urge a New River Tunnel for a Commuter Link to Midtown (02/09/2005)
Two days after President Bush threw his financial support behind a rail link under the East River, New Jersey officials are to make a pitch today for a different rail tunnel, this one under the Hudson River. more...

> Newark, Devils make arena a reality (02/03/2005)
The city of Newark and the New Jersey Devils signed formal agreements yesterday to build an 18,000-seat arena that officials said will bring hockey downtown by 2007 and restore Newark as a powerful regional destination.

The contracts mark the first time the city has entered into a binding legal agreement that spells out what city residents will get for their $210 million investment of public money into a facility with a current pricetag of $310 million.

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> County unveils Paulsboro overpass (02/03/2005)
WOODBURY -- The county announced a $16 million project Wednesday to build a 400-foot overpass and a roadway leading to the future British Petroleum (BP) port and industrial park site in Paulsboro.

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> Construction has best year since 1996 (02/01/2005)
WASHINGTON - Construction spending shot up 1.1 percent in December, capping a year in which building activity posted the best performance since 1996.

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> $10M awarded for water projects (02/01/2005)
Nearly $10 million in state funds will be divvied up among several Gloucester County communities and institutions to help with various water projects.

Among those receiving funding are Clayton, Glassboro and Logan Township Municipal Utilities Authority as well as Rowan University in a project that will also benefit the Pitman Golf Course.

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> Group: Gas-tax hike will fund transit work (02/01/2005)
WESTFIELD -- Enact a gas tax now and make sure all the money goes for transportation.

That's the message the Alliance for Action will bring next week to a transportation summit in Trenton.

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> Bridge commission agrees to refinance $32M of debt (02/01/2005)
SOLEBURY TWP., Pa. -- The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission voted Monday to refinance a $32 million debt when it borrows $40 million to fund local transportation projects.

The commission voted last month to borrow the $40 million to fund projects that are outside commission property but enhance transportation near commission bridges. Commission Executive Director Frank McCartney said he expects the funds to be acquired by the end of February.

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> Town adds heft to push for transit (01/30/2005)
South Brunswick officials have agreed to hire professional lobbyists to seek state and federal government funds to help finance the township's transportation needs.

The township council is tentatively scheduled at its meeting Tuesday to consider retaining a Washington, D.C., firm to lobby the federal government for funds to widen Route 1.

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> Hillsboro committee: Keep current Rt. 206 bypass design (01/28/2005)
HILLSBOROUGH -- The Township Committee has thrown its support behind state transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere's decision to construct the Route 206 bypass at its current design.
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> Governor relaxes pay-to-play ban to save U.S. road aid (01/27/2005)
Acting Gov. Richard Codey issued an executive order yesterday that allows state transportation officials to resume awarding contracts to road construction and engineering firms that have made substantial political donations, saying he needed to preserve hundreds of millions in federal highway funding.

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> City expands Route 440 plan (01/27/2005)
Despite objections, the Bayonne City Council has unanimously voted to accept a recommendation from the Planning Board to designate additional properties along the Route 440 Corridor East as an area in need of redevelopment.

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> School project to proceed (01/26/2005)
Voters approved a $32.4 million school construction proposal last night that will finance expansions at five district schools.

The proposal passed by a comfortable margin, with 1,402 in favor and 845 against the plan that calls for adding dozens of classrooms, small-group instructional rooms, nurses' offices and conference rooms at the four elementary schools — Arthur M. Judd, John Adams, Livingston Park and Parsons.
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> Special district funding plan approved (01/25/2005)
HACKETTSTOWN -- Council on Monday set the fees to be paid by the owners of property within the new special improvement district designed to boost the downtown economy.

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> Highway improvement projects OK'd (01/25/2005)
SALEM -- Policy Board of the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization approved twelve Fiscal Year 2006 highway improvement Local Lead projects, the total costs of which come to $8.7 million.

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> $2.35M for highways (01/25/2005)
VINELAND -- The policy board of the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) approved $2.35 million worth of Cumberland County roadway construction projects for fiscal year 2006 at its reorganization meeting on Monday.

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> $100 million for city's schools (01/24/2005)
In addition to all of the private investment coming into Asbury Park's waterfront and downtown areas, the state is poised to pour more than $100 million into the city's school district to construct, renovate and expand buildings that are, in at least one case, nearly 100 years old.
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> Township gets funds to fix roads (01/23/2005)
SOUTH BRUNSWICK: Township officials have received a little help from the state to pay for some much-needed road projects.

At a meeting Tuesday, state Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, D-14th Dist., presented a $400,000 check to Mayor Frank Gambatese and the Township Council. The funds will be used for repairs on Ridge Road and Kingston Lane.

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> Jobless rate dips to 4.2% in N.J. (01/22/2005)
New Jersey's unemployment rate declined to 4.2 percent in December, from 4.4 percent in November, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development said Friday.

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> New name, new space for ACMC (01/20/2005)
ATLANTIC CITY - - AtlantiCare is dropping the city's name from the regional medical center, but Atlantic City will get a $98 million hospital expansion as consolation.

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> CHS to build new hospital (01/20/2005)
TRENTON -- Capital Health System is planning to open a state-of-the-art E-hospital within five years on Princess Road in Lawrence Township.
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> Codey demands Feds release road funds (01/20/2005)
Faced with contradictory statements from the federal government on whether money for state highway work is being withheld, acting Gov. Richard J. Codey yesterday demanded the money be immediately released. more...

> Woodbridge mayor lauds development (01/20/2005)
A $160 million warehouse project off Port Reading Avenue was touted yesterday by Woodbridge Mayor Frank Pelzman as the "biggest and most ambitious" development plan approved by the township in the past year.

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> Planning Board endorses Route 440 redevelopment plan (01/20/2005)
Despite the objections of a local chemical plant, the Bayonne Planning Board has endorsed an expanded Route 440 Corridor East redevelopment plan.

In voting unanimously two weeks ago to recommend that the City Council now include 20 acres in the Constable Hook area owned by AGC Chemicals America, board members expressed the hope that the plan can go forward to replace under-used eyesores with attractive large-scale retail development.

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> OK for major redevelopment (01/20/2005)
The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency has unanimously approved an innovative partnership between a community group and a developer to build a $25 million residential and commercial project in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood.

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> Freeholders OK plan to build park (01/20/2005)
The Burlington County Board of Freeholders approved Wednesday a $3.7 million construction plan to develop a park in Delanco on the former Pennington farm.

The proposed Pennington Park will be developed built as a nature preserve with 3.2 miles of trails for hiking and roller blading as well as picnic facilities, playgrounds, shelters, a wildlife observation deck and restrooms.

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> Jersey official puts on national transit hat (01/15/2005)
New Jersey Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere is going to spend a lot of time riding the train back and forth between Trenton and Washington the next few months.

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> Franklin, developers review Rt. 27 corridor (01/14/2005)
FRANKLIN: It's been more than 10 years since talk of redeveloping Route 27 in the township began.
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> Big plans for The District (01/14/2005)
MILLVILLE -- New and exciting ways to draw individuals to the Glasstown Arts District were discussed and approved by members of the city's development corporation during the group's Thursday meeting. more...

> Pilesgrove's plans to renovate municipal building move forward (01/13/2005)
PILESGROVE TWP. -- The township is pushing forward with plans to overhaul the municipal complex on U.S. Route 40.

On Tuesday, committee members unanimously awarded a contract to Vineland-based Capri Construction totaling roughly $1.9 million for the numerous renovations.

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> Hotel to rise in Hamilton (01/13/2005)
HAMILTON - The largest municipality in Mercer County and the eighth largest in the state is finally getting its first hotel, a long-coveted addition to the burgeoning development along Route 130.

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> South Amboy waterfront is eyed for development (01/13/2005)
More than 80 acres of industrial property along South Amboy's waterfront is being recommended for redevelopment.

A consultant hired by the city's planning board found that five waterfront properties are underused and in need of redevelopment.

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> Newark seeks $64 million to 'finish' schools (01/12/2005)
The $2 billion state-funded school construction program will see 70 projects and 40 new buildings built for Newark's kids over the next decade.

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> Codey seeks increase in minimum wage (01/12/2005)
TRENTON -- In an announcement some lawmakers called "long overdue," acting Gov. Richard J. Codey called for a $2 dollar-an-hour increase in New Jersey's minimum wage over the next two years.
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> $2 increase in minimum wage might affect 200,000 (01/12/2005)
In an announcement some lawmakers called "long overdue," acting Gov. Richard J. Codey called for a $2-an-hour increase in New Jersey's minimum wage over the next two years.

A new business and labor advisory council would also "recommend regular increases" in the wage, in order to "ensure that the minimum wage keeps pace with the cost of living," Codey said.

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> Compiling a to-do list of transit projects (01/11/2005)
New Jersey transportation officials began putting together this year's $2.6 billion package of highway and mass transit projects yesterday, even though they are not sure where they are going to get all the money.

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> County gets aid for ferry project (01/11/2005)
Union County has received a $9.5 million federal grant to build a terminal and launch a new ferry service that is expected to carry up 1,200 commuters a day between Elizabeth and Lower Manhattan.

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> Route 47 widening budgeted at $7.5M (01/11/2005)
GLASSBORO -- Hoping to relieve congestion along a mile-long stretch of state Route 47, the New Jersey Department of Transportation is investing $7.5 million to widen the road and add left turn lanes at six intersections. more...

> Swedesboro unveils redevelopment plan (01/11/2005)
A proposal to redevelop a generous portion of this tiny borough's downtown, along with two crumbling industrial sites, was presented to the public for the first time Monday night.

The presentation before the borough's combined planning and zoning boards was for public comment only and no vote was taken.

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> State to study repairs for two aging bridges (01/11/2005)
NEWARK -- Two aging bridges in Hunterdon and Somerset counties will be on their way to rehab thanks to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.

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> New year, new look at several Wharton sites (01/10/2005)
WHARTON -- The council plans to focus this year on a number of major infrastructure upgrades, as well as the much-awaited cleanup of the superfund site on Main Street, said Mayor William Chegwidden.

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> Bayonne expanding Route 440 redevelopment zone (01/10/2005)
Despite the objections of a local chemical plant, the Bayonne Planning Board has endorsed an expanded Route 440 Corridor East redevelopment plan. more...

> 2.2 million jobs created last year (01/08/2005)
U.S. employers added 157,000 workers overall to their payrolls in December, bringing the year-end total of new jobs to 2.2 million, the best showing in five years. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.4 percent.

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> Morristown transit village a go (01/07/2005)
MORRISTOWN -- The planning board voted 8-1 Thursday night to approve the $50 million Highlands transit village project. The vote came after more than a dozen hearings going back to 2001.

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> Perth Amboy gets green light to build retail-housing project (01/07/2005)
A three-judge appeals panel has upheld the Perth Amboy Planning Board's approval of a plan to build a $65 million retail and housing development known as the King's Plaza project.

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> $1.5M to revitalize key city storefront (01/07/2005)
WOODBURY -- Sixty years ago, people came from all over to shop in downtown Woodbury.

Boutiques sold the latest fashions from New York and there wasn't anything that couldn't be bought right here.

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> State tags $3 million for road barriers (01/06/2005)
A stretch of Route 295 in Burlington County where an East Brunswick man was killed in a car crash last month will be equipped with barriers designed to prevent vehicles from crossing into oncoming traffic, state officials said yesterday.

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> Economists say state will add jobs in'05 (01/06/2005)
New Jersey is expected to add more than 60,000 jobs in 2005, just below the estimated 70,000 jobs gained last year, two economists said yesterday.

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> Turnpike officials keep Rt. 92 process moving (01/06/2005)
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has reapplied to the state for the environmental permits needed to fill nearly 13 acres of wetlands to build Route 92, a controversial, $300 million connector road between Route 1 and the Turnpike in South Brunswick.

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> State tags $3 million for highway barriers (01/06/2005)
A stretch of Route 295 in Burlington County where an East Brunswick man was killed in a car crash last month will be equipped with barriers designed to prevent vehicles from crossing into oncoming traffic, state officials said yesterday.

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> Fed sees ongoing N.J. economic growth (01/05/2005)
New Jersey's economy is chugging along steadily, with the state's unemployment rate at a three-year low, the construction industry strong and few hurdles, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said yesterday.

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> Completed subway tunnel links Newark to its future (01/05/2005)
For the past two years, crossing Mulberry Street in Newark to get from her office at Park Place to the parking garage has been a challenge for Angela DiGiovanni.

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> World Construction Spending Nears $4 Trillion for 2004 (01/03/2005)
The 55 countries with the largest construction markets spent $3.9 trillion on construction in 2004, according to study by Global Insight Inc., a Waltham, Mass.-based economic consulting and research firm. It projects that the overall world market for construction will grow by 2.6% in 2005 and show an average annual growth rate of 2.6% through 2008. In nominal dollars not adjusted for inflation, the world market’s annual growth rate would be 6.7%. more...

> New year promises more growth (01/02/2005)
Like the slogan for a laundry detergent, 2005 will likely be 'new and improved' for much of Sussex, Warren and Morris counties.

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> Schools, homes and upgrades in the works (01/01/2005)
Now that 2004 is in the past, what's in store for Cumberland County in the New Year?

The Daily Journal asked a few questions to find out what officials believe and hope the future holds for residents:

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> Good progress seen in Rte. 41-42 work (01/01/2005)
DEPTFORD TWP. -- Local officials say they are pleased with the ongoing massive road project in town, which has at times caused delays and is not expected to be completed until 2006.

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> $100M facility will be built in three phases on 707 acres of land (12/31/2004)
MILLVILLE -- Hardly a week seemed to pass in 2004 without a major development project being unveiled here, but none captured imaginations the way the N.J. Motorsports Park has done.

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> 'Pike moves on Route 92 construction (12/30/2004)
Applications filed this week by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority regarding the construction of Route 92 are reapplications for environmental permits which had expired, officials said.

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> Borough wins bid for NL plant tract (12/29/2004)
SAYREVILLE: The Sayreville Economic and Redevelopment Agency can acquire the 400-acre tract of waterfront property owned by NL Industries but must pay at least $32 million, the cost of the land if environmental damage had been remediated, an appeals court ruled yesterday.
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> Gas tax hike may fuel road repairs (12/29/2004)
TRENTON - Acting Gov. Richard Codey is considering raising New Jersey's gasoline tax to shore up the state's dwindling roadwork fund, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

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> Sayreville given court go-ahead to get riverfront land for redevelopment (12/29/2004)
A state appeals court has upheld Sayreville's right to acquire 400 acres of the former NL Industries Inc. site, clearing the way for the borough to move ahead with plans to develop the long-neglected waterfront property.

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> Crash-prone intersection to be realigned (12/27/2004)
FLEMINGTON -- Hunterdon County is moving ahead with a plan to improve sight lines at the accident-prone intersection of Routes 513 and 519 by realigning Route 513 in Alexandria Township. more...

> Housing authorities to get $80 million for upgrades (12/27/2004)
Thousands of residents of subsidized housing in New Jersey - including those in Hoboken, Union City and West New York - got a last-minute Christmas gift last week, after federal officials agreed to a complex arrangement that advances 21 housing authorities $80 million to renovate old buildings. more...

> Districts trying to meet their growing needs (12/26/2004)
Completion of more than $90 million worth of construction highlighted activity in Gloucester County's 28 school districts during 2004.

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> Upgrades to routes 1 and 9 begin in fall (12/26/2004)
RAHWAY: A plan to make improvements to routes 1 and 9 between Woodbridge and Linden is in its final design phase, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
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> The Tale of the Cooper’s Cave Bridge - (12/24/2004)
After 3-1/2 years of construction, the replacement of the Route 9 bridge that spans the Hudson River between the city of Glens Falls and the village of South Glens Falls, NY has come to a successful completion. The $17 million bridge, which is owned by the New York State Department of Transportation, was delayed one year due to a third party utility delay. The new span combines striking architecture with functionality to move traffic more efficiently in the ever growing downtown area between these two population centers.
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> Pfizer gives Morris County millions of reasons to smile (12/23/2004)
Pfizer Inc.'s plans in Morris County go well beyond the $100 million expansion the pharmaceutical giant is preparing in Parsippany.

A $400 million expansion is under way in Morris Plains and tax records show the company just purchased two parcels, totaling 11 acres, in Parsippany for $10 million.

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> A problem road goes straight (12/23/2004)
Drivers traveling along Route 206 in Byram can kiss the dreaded S-curve along Cat Swamp Mountain goodbye.

A $14 million state project to straighten the road and remove rock outcroppings that obstruct drivers' views is under way, and a new white barrier and scores of tree stumps greet motorists passing through the sharp bend.

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> Construction to renovate, expand CCC campus (12/22/2004)
VINELAND -- The biggest building boom in Cumberland County College's 38-year history is on its way to growing even larger.

College trustees Tuesday night passed a resolution seeking approval to spend $3 million to expand two key buildings and renovate two others
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> Parking deck opens in downtown Rahway (12/22/2004)
Rahway officials will unveil a new $11.4 million parking deck today, a major component in the city's downtown redevelopment plan.

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> Bridge commission unveils $40M plan (12/21/2004)
SOLEBURY TWP., Pa. -- The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission on Monday approved a plan to borrow $40 million for unspecified projects that deal with traffic near bridges along the river.

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> Road grants for county communities (12/20/2004)
Several Cumberland County communities have been awarded Transportation Trust Fund Grants, allowing them to use the money to continue improvement efforts to local roadways.

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> States' Budget Pictures Get Brighter (12/20/2004)
State budgets are continuing their gradual climb out of their worst fiscal hole in decades, governors and state budget officials say. But increased Medicaid costs are keeping states from a faster rebound.

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> $1.5M to be spent to repair Lacey dam (12/20/2004)
LACEY -- From Frank Picheo's front yard this time of year, he can watch sea gulls and ducks walk across the Lower Lake, which has just started to freeze over.
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> Condos lead way in town upgrade (12/19/2004)
The first phase of Bloomfield's $160 million downtown redevelopment project will be the construction of a six-story condominium complex just behind the Bloomfield train station.

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> 10 municipalities get share of $2.9M road repair grant (12/18/2004)
Ten Gloucester County municipalities in the Third Legislative District have been earmarked to receive portions of a $2.9 million state grant to fund road repair projects. more...

> State kicking in $25 million for Pfizer expansion in Morris (12/17/2004)
Pfizer Inc. is expected to launch a $100 million expansion in Parsippany, and state officials yesterday approved $25 million in tax breaks for the company under a new program that rewards businesses for keeping jobs in New Jersey.

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> DRPA approves $197.9M budget (12/17/2004)
CAMDEN -- A bi-state, regional transportation and bridge authority approved its 2005 operating budget Wednesday, which will not force increases of tolls or train fares, officials with the Delaware River Port Authority announced. more...

> Pfizer Plans $500 Million Expansion in New Jersey (12/16/2004)
The New Jersey Commerce Commission Thursday named the first recipient of a new program aimed at giving large companies already located in the state incentives to increase their payroll and presence in the state. The program is called the Business Retention and Relocation Assistance Act, or BRRAG. more...

> Alloway voters OK $3.4M school projects (12/15/2004)
ALLOWAY TWP. -- Residents approved both questions of a $3.4 million referendum that will, among other upgrades, make more space for students attending the K-8 school here.

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> Pittsgrove passes school bond (12/15/2004)
PITTSGROVE TWP.-- Voters on Tuesday passed a bond referendum that called for repairing all schools in the district.

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> Parkway to remove Cape May red lights (12/15/2004)
Folks who drive on the Garden State Parkway in northern and central New Jersey have plenty to complain about.

From the Driscoll Bridge, across the Union toll plaza and out through Essex County, traffic jams are relentless and routine.
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> Voters back school construction spending (12/15/2004)
Residents in three Middlesex County municipalities approved more than $156 million for school construction projects yesterday.

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> $10.8 million school plan wins in Franklin (12/15/2004)
An intense campaign to make the public aware of the need for more classrooms at Franklin Township School paid off last night as voters in the Hunterdon County district approved a $10.8 million expansion and renovation plan.

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> Somerville school projects approved (12/15/2004)
Voters in the Somerville school district overwhelmingly approved a plan yesterday that calls for spending an additional $15.4 million for renovations and construction at the district's three schools.

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> After past rejections, city voters OK repairs (12/15/2004)
WOODBURY -- The two-part $23 million Woodbury School referendum was approved by voters Tuesday night.

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> Township project lists gain pair of approvals (12/15/2004)
WASHINGTON TWP. -- Voters Tuesday approved a two-question, $16.3 million bond referendum, giving the school district the go-ahead to fund several projects including new heating and air conditioning for two middle schools and security upgrades.

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> Pittsgrove passes school bond (12/15/2004)
PITTSGROVE TWP.-- Voters on Tuesday passed a bond referendum that called for repairing all schools in the district.

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> Voters OK school projects in 3 towns (12/15/2004)
Three Middlesex County school districts gained approval yesterday for nearly $132 million in school projects.

East Brunswick

Voters approved an $81.4 million school expansion and construction project that will address facility needs at three schools.

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> Six towns OK school projects (12/15/2004)
Educators exulted in a clean sweep Tuesday, as voters approved school-improvement projects worth more than $120 million in six South Jersey towns.

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> Voters OK millions in school projects (12/15/2004)
SOMERVILLE -- Voters in Somerville, Franklin, Hunterdon County, and Westfield approved school construction projects Tuesday, with price tags totaling $25 million for taxpayers in those districts. more...

> Hunterdon voters approve money for Franklin schools (12/15/2004)
FRANKLIN (Hunterdon) -- Township residents gave a thumbs up and more money to the school district by approving two referendum questions Tuesday for an expansion and renovation project. more...

> Voters OK work in 2 schools (12/15/2004)
Voters Tuesday approved plans to expand Manasquan Elementary School and build a new middle school in Upper Freehold, while residents in Neptune City voted against proposed improvements and additions at Woodrow Wilson School.
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> Andover, Warren Hills OK school renovations (12/15/2004)
Voters in Andover in Sussex County and Warren Hills in Warren County approved school spending plans for renovations and additions yesterday. more...

> Morris towns to get $3.9M for road repairs (12/14/2004)
Morris County towns will get $3.9 million in grants this fiscal year out of a state funding package for road improvements, the state Department of Transportation announced Monday.

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> 408 cities and towns to share $67.5M transit aid (12/14/2004)
With the state fund that pays for transportation projects running on empty, Department of Transportation officials yesterday announced that 408 cities and towns will share $67.5 million in coveted state aid for street improvements. more...

> State vows to unravel knot from Parkway to 280 west (12/14/2004)
Anyone who has ever driven through the tangle of ramps connecting the Garden State Parkway and Route 280 in Essex County knows what a mess it can be.

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> Parsippany bridge project is completed (12/14/2004)
A $1.2 million project to replace the bridge over Troy Brook in Parsippany was completed over the weekend, allowing a segment of South Beverwyck Road to reopen to traffic.

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> House, Senate Panels Seek to Reintroduce Transport Bills Early in 2005 (12/14/2004)
House and Senate committees plan to get started early in 2005 on reviving the becalmed multi-year transportation bill, a key lawmaker and congressional staffers say. Soon after the 109th Congress convenes in January, legislators want to introduce bills that are similar to the versions that passed the House and Senate this year, committee aides told an American Road and Transportation Builders Association conference on Dec.9.

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> Towns share $60M in state transit aid (12/14/2004)
TRENTON -- New Jersey transportation officials announced yesterday that 408 municipalities will divide $60 million in state aid this fiscal year for local road improvements.

Department of Transportation Commissioner John F. "Jack" Lettiere Jr. joined a handful of mayors at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities building to unveil the grants, which range from $30,000 to $352,000.

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> Federal funds for Meadowlands eco-park (12/13/2004)
After four years of effort, Congressman Steve Rothman, D-Fairlawn, recently secured $1.43 million from Congress to study and restore 8,400 acres of the Meadowlands that will become the Meadowlands Environmental Park.

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> State coughs up $40 million for Center City school (12/10/2004)
VINELAND -- After more than four and a half years in the making, the Center City community school is a go.

John Spencer, chief executive officer of the N.J. Schools Construction Corp., signed a grant agreement Thursday that is expected to pump about $40 million into the area of Sixth and Montrose streets, a state spokesman confirmed Thursday evening.

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> MILLVILLE DEVELOPMENT: Property co. offers retail center plans (12/10/2004)
MILLVILLE -- A firm that hopes to build a $45 million shopping center off North Delsea Drive now is envisioning an opening as soon as summer 2006.

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> Construction Climbs (12/10/2004)
NEW YORK, NY – New construction starts increased 4% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $592.7 billion, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Gains were reported for nonresidential building and nonbuilding construction (public works and electric utilities), while the residential sector fell slightly. Through the first ten months of 2004, total construction on an unadjusted basis came to $495.3 billion, up 9% from the same period in 2003.
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> Morris unveils $34.5M capital plan (12/09/2004)
Replacing a Morristown parking garage, expanding the county emergency radio system to municipalities and continuing demolition and building rehabilitation at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital are among the top items in the 2005 Morris County capital budget unveiled Wednesday more...

> Newark Airport plans $280M expansion (12/09/2004)
Newark Liberty International Airport's cramped Terminal B, which handles dozens of daily international flights, will undergo a $280 million expansion as part of a five-year construction project the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is expected to approve today.

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> County proposes $220M for projects (12/09/2004)
An expanded county judicial complex, renovations to the County College of Morris administrative facility, restoration of Historic Speedwell, and continued development of the county's new Greystone park are some of the big-ticket items in a $220 million six-year capital budget unveiled yesterday by the Morris County freeholders.

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> Millville clears land sale, pushes $5M in upgrades (12/08/2004)
MILLVILLE -- City commissioners approved the sale of land to developers of a proposed motorsports park and approved a major $5 million infrastructure construction project for the municipal airport Tuesday night.

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> Cranford Crossing project finally gets off the ground (12/05/2004)
After five years, a felony arrest, flooding and other problems, construction is finally under way on the much-anticipated $16 million Cranford Crossing redevelopment project in downtown Cranford.

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> $84M school bond referendum set Dec. 14 (12/03/2004)
EAST BRUNSWICK: Lawrence Brook Elementary School principal Christine Raymond walked toward a narrow corridor within her school where a group of pupils prepared to practice the violin more...

> Carteret unveils $93 million schools upgrade (12/02/2004)
CARTERET: School officials unveiled a state-approved facilities plan last night that includes construction of a new middle school, additions to a majority of the district's school and major renovations if voters approve an estimated $93 million bond proposal in a referendum in March. more...

> NJ Turnpike will be expanded (12/01/2004)
The New Jersey Turnpike would be widened from Mansfield to Monroe under a proposal to ease rampant congestion that is expected to be announced today by acting Gov. Richard J. Codey.

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> Codey wants 20 miles of Pike widened (12/01/2004)
Launching one of the state's biggest highway projects in more than a decade, acting Gov. Richard Codey wants to widen 20 miles of the New Jersey Turnpike in Central Jersey, transportation officials said.

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> Rutgers-Newark starts dorm project (12/01/2004)
Rutgers-Newark broke ground yesterday on its first new dormitory in 14 years, calling the $51 million project the first step in dramatically increasing the number of college students living in the state's largest city.

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> Franklin gets $125G grant (12/01/2004)
FRANKLIN: The Department of Community Affairs has awarded the township a $125,000 Neighborhood Preservation Grant.
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> New Jersey Set to Expand Turnpike (12/01/2004)
NEWARK, Nov. 30 - For the first time in 20 years, New Jersey officials have proposed a significant expansion of the New Jersey Turnpike, an estimated $1.3 billion project that would add lanes to a stretch of roadway long known as an infuriating bottleneck. more...

> Jersey City mulls partnership in Bergen-Lafayette (11/29/2004)
An innovative partnership between a developer and a community association could bring a $25 million residential and commercial project to Jersey City's Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood.

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> Parkway works to ease Sayreville Rt. 9 exits (11/28/2004)
For motorists who use one of the state's most congested interchanges, help is on the way.

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> $1.25M on way for South Amboy train station (11/27/2004)
SOUTH AMBOY: The city's train station will receive another $1.25 million in federal funds for improvements.

The funds, part of a $388 billion federal appropriations bill, would go toward engineering work to create an elevated platform at the site, where a woman lost her life in 2002 when she was struck by an oncoming train.

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> Center City gets $525K for upgrades (11/24/2004)
VINELAND -- The city will receive about $525,000 over the next five years to preserve and revitalize about 30 blocks in the southeast quadrant of Center City that will surround a planned community school, the state Department of Community Affairs said Tuesday. more...

> N.J. sees economy improving (11/24/2004)
TRENTON - New Jersey businesses predict the upcoming year to be their most successful since the onset of the recession four years ago, according to results of an annual survey released Tuesday by the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

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> Grant to improve Valley neighborhood (11/24/2004)
WEST ORANGE: West Orange was awarded a five-year grant yesterday to establish a Neighborhood Preservation Program in its Valley neighborhood by the state Department of Community Affairs.

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> Codey: Repairs in the fast lane (11/24/2004)
Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey Tuesday called for state transportation officials to speed up important road projects in southern New Jersey and elsewhere in the state. He also outlined some roads which need to get done sooner than later.

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> Codey attacks I-295 bottleneck (11/24/2004)
A long-awaited, comprehensive highway project received a boost from the state's new governor Tuesday when he announced work on the intersection of Route 42 and interstates 295 and 76 would begin three years ahead of schedule.
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> U.S. bill funds N.J. beach, town work (11/23/2004)
Congress has approved a budget that, while austere in some areas, still provides tens of millions to New Jersey to resand its beaches, redesign its air space and revitalize its communities. more...

> More dredging to benefit ports (11/22/2004)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is gearing up for the next phase of deepening the Port Jersey Channel between the former Military Ocean Terminal at Bayonne and Global Terminal on the Bayonne/Jersey City border. more...

> Wal-Mart expected to generate nearly $1M in taxes for Edison (11/21/2004)
EDISON: The Wal-Mart slated for Route 27 should bring a financial boon to the township.

Township officials expect the new development, sandwiched between Vineyard Road and Interstate 287 near the Metuchen border, to generate $920,000 in taxes.

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> M.R. gets $100K for Hall Road work (11/20/2004)
MAURICE RIVER TWP. -- Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew announced Friday that Maurice River Township will receive a $100,000 grant from the Transportation Trust Fund for the resurfacing of Hall Road.

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> 9/11 memorial gets $7M boost from P.A. (11/19/2004)
TRENTON - The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will contribute $7 million for the construction of the state's 9/11 memorial in Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

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> Elizabeth to convert brownfield into jobs (11/18/2004)
A 1 million-square-foot warehouse complex that will generate up to 460 jobs and nearly $17.5 million in tax relief for Elizabeth residents will be built on a brownfield site just south of Newark Liberty International Airport, city officials said.

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> $8.2 million bond OK'd to develop Otken land (11/18/2004)
NORTH BRUNSWICK: The Township Council Monday night adopted a $8.5 million bond measure to begin developing the former Otken Farm into a recreational facility.

The money will be used to start Phase 1 work on the 105-acre property. It would include building the majority of the baseball and soccer fields on the section of the farm nearest to the Northeast Corridor railroad line, officials said.
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> Wal-Mart wins planning approval in Edison (11/17/2004)
The Edison planning board approved a Wal-Mart store in Edison that would be built on Route 27 next to an existing members-only warehouse store.

The plan, submitted by Short Hills-based K&K Developers, calls for a Wal-Mart supercenter, a second retail store, a bank, a restaurant and 1,683 parking spaces sharing a 38-acre tract with the Costco store on Vineyard Road.

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> $19 million for NY Waterway? (11/17/2004)
The Hudson County Improvement Authority may bail out the fiscally strapped NY Waterway ferry company by paying off a $19 million loan floated to the company by the bank JP Morgan Chase, according to Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise.

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> Del Val expansion work begins (11/15/2004)
ALEXANDRIA TWP. -- School officials are celebrating the start of the long-awaited project to expand Delaware Valley Regional High School.

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> Despite Higher Interest Rates, Markets Move Ahead (11/15/2004)
As representatives of the "dismal science," construction economists are proving an optimistic lot this year, judging by a review of several industry forecasts for 2005. Cheered by this year’s robust growth rates, the strongest since the late 1990s, economists appear confident that 2005 will set a new record for overall construction volume. However, construction will reach this new height with a different market mix as nonresidential building and public works take over the role of growth driver from the homebuilding market. more...

> Route 33 project nears its finish (11/14/2004)
PALMER TWP. -- Within two weeks, four lanes of traffic will cross the Bushkill Creek on Route 33 for the first time in almost a year.

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> $1.92M upgrades OK'd for buildings (11/11/2004)
TRENTON - The Trenton Housing Authority's board of commissioners yesterday approved paying nearly $1.92 million to a contractor to renovate 298 of its apartment units by Dec. 31.

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> $2.55M in aid for 4 towns (11/11/2004)
Four Hudson County communities will receive a total of $2,550,000 in "extraordinary aid" from the state for fiscal year 2005, it was announced this week by state Community Affairs Commissioner Susan Bass Levin.

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> Work on park to start in Linden (11/10/2004)
After two years of delay, builders will break ground Friday for a park in downtown Linden that will include an amphitheater, a restaurant and 21,000 square feet of office space.

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> $900,000 in aid for city (11/10/2004)
BRIDGETON -- The city received word Tuesday that it will be awarded $900,000 of extraordinary aid from the state Department of Community Affairs, the highest amount granted to fiscal-year-operating municipalities in the state.

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> $900,000 in aid for Millville (11/10/2004)
MILLVILLE -- City officials received good news on Tuesday when they were informed that the state is awarding them $900,000 in extraordinary aid for the fiscal year 2005 budget.

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> Work set to start on gas site (11/09/2004)
The site of a proposed $500 million natural gas facility along the Delaware River is about to heat up with activity.
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> City, Wal-Mart extend contract deadline (11/08/2004)
VINELAND -- A November deadline for the city and Wal-Mart to enter into a contract for redevelopment of the former Jamesway shopping center site has been extended until next year.

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> School construction projects progressing (11/08/2004)
MILLVILLE -- Both of the district's construction projects -- the child family center and Lakeside Middle School -- are moving forward and school officials are eagerly awaiting their openings in the near future.

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> Behemoth in The Bronx Swings into Final Position (11/08/2004)
With the aid of nature and technology, workers last month placed a 4.8-million-lb steel swing truss span on a new center pier in New York City with less than 1 /8 -in. tolerance. more...

> New Jersey Schools Agency Pushes To Be Best in Class (11/08/2004)
It took more than 25 years of litigation before the state of New Jersey agreed to equalize public schools in rich and poor communities. Two years after a single state-run school construction agency was formed and funded to the tune of $8.6 billion, new facilities gleam in the state’s oldest and densest neighborhoods. But the story is far from over as the New Jersey Schools Construction Corp. copes with unforeseen costs and political uncertainty over dwindling funds for hundreds of facilities yet to be upgraded.

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> $4.8M will help Roxbury school expansion plan (11/06/2004)
ROXBURY -- The board of education recently awarded more than $4.8 million in construction contracts to complete the third phase of a $26.9 million school construction project that was approved by voters two years ago.

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> Nation's job report good news for Jersey (11/06/2004)
The nation's employers added 337,000 jobs last month, nearly double the number economists expected, putting New Jersey on track for its strongest employment growth since the last economic boom in 2000.

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> Cedar Grove Lane widening is planned (11/06/2004)
FRANKLIN: Somerset County will hold a hearing next month on a $2.5 million project to widen a busy section of Cedar Grove Lane in order to improve traffic flow.
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> Labor Market Snaps Out of Lull to Add 337,000 New Jobs (11/05/2004)
The labor market snapped out from its summer lull to add 337,000 new jobs in October, the biggest increase since March, the Labor Department reported today, raising hopes that businesses are overcoming years of intense caution and beginning to move aggressively to hire workers. more...

> Tropicana expansion to be open by Nov. 25 (11/05/2004)
ATLANTIC CITY - It boasts of upscale retailers, chic restaurants and trendy nightclubs all wrapped up in sizzling Latin-flavored architecture.
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> Collingswood Circle is going (11/05/2004)
Construction is about to begin on a project that would eliminate the Collingswood Circle.

The $26 million project will go out to bid in December and construction is scheduled to begin in the spring, said Marc Lavorgna, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.

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> Council on verge of moving ahead on open space (11/04/2004)
EASTON -- Two years after voters in Northampton County gave the go-ahead for a $37 million open space program, county council is poised to put the plan in motion.

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> $30 million fund to help preserve the Highlands (11/04/2004)
Critics of the sweeping effort to preserve the northern Highlands have always questioned where supporters would get the money to compensate property owners.

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> Towns' project planning gets boost from grants (11/04/2004)
Municipalities have needs and the Somerset County freeholders did what they could to fulfill them last night, handing out small grants for everything from senior housing to economic development to "eco- heritage tourism."

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> $258,000 in grants will boost county's planning (11/04/2004)
SOMERVILLE -- Some Somerset County communities will be able to fund planning for projects such as senior housing, bike paths and traffic relief through $258,000 in grants approved by county freeholders Wednesday night. more...

> Harrison votes to rezone farm for village district (11/03/2004)
HARRISON TWP. -- Township committee voted unanimously Monday to rezone a 58-acre tract of farmland between U.S. Route 322 and Woodland Avenue from residential to commercial in order to create a village business district for shops, restaurants and additional parking for downtown.

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> Carneys Point awarded $400,000 in grants for YMCA (11/02/2004)
CARNEYS POINT TWP. -- The YMCA of Salem County closed its pool in May because the roof above could have collapsed, forcing hundreds of residents to find a different place to swim last summer.

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> Project will rework Verona crossroads (11/02/2004)
With an eye on improving safety and easing congestion, authorities announced yesterday a plan to rework the intersection of Bloomfield and Pompton avenues in Verona, an unwieldy crossroads that averages two accidents a week.

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> Navy Starts Tests of New Pier That Could Be Future Wave (11/01/2004)
The U.S. Navy now is testing a $2-million modular hybrid pier section in San Diego that may provide an inexpensive and long-range solution to its berthing needs. The precast, lightweight concrete structure requires few piles and can support 140-ton mobile cranes. more...

> Transit village wins OK; planners cite benefits (10/30/2004)
HAMILTON - After nearly two years in the planning, the second leg of the township's proposed transit village development is going to be built.

The plan to build 680 one- and two-bedroom apartments, town houses and condominiums on the site of the former American Standard toilet factory off Princeton Avenue was approved by a unanimous vote of the nine-member planning board early yesterday morning, following a marathon, seven-hour hearing
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> Brunswick Square Mall to expand (10/29/2004)
The owners of the Brunswick Square Mall in East Brunswick yesterday announced a $5 million, 22,924-square-foot expansion of the 22-year-old Route 18 shopping hub. more...

> State approves $408 million in school projects (10/28/2004)
New Jersey's school construction program kicked into high gear yesterday as state officials approved $408 million for work in the state's neediest communities. The approvals set the stage for the construction of eight schools and major renovations to two more. more...

> East Brunswick mall may grow (10/28/2004)
EAST BRUNSWICK: The township today will announce plans to expand the Brunswick Square Mall by 35,000 square feet.
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> Marina community proposed for Glo. City (10/28/2004)
A blighted stretch of waterfront in this blue-collar town would be transformed into a $250 million marina community under a plan being pursued by city government and five prominent developers.

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> Xanadu looms large in East Rutherford race (10/27/2004)
EAST RUTHERFORD - Xanadu, the $1.3 billion entertainment and shopping complex, is expected to affect the entire region, perhaps nowhere more than East Rutherford.

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> Big plans, big earnings for Borgata (10/27/2004)
ATLANTIC CITY - The literal translation of the Italian word "borgata" is village. But at its dizzying rate of growth, Atlantic City's Borgata is well on its way to becoming an entire city.
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> Millville considers high-rise (10/27/2004)
MILLVILLE -- A four-acre plot in the 200 block of South 2nd Street is being eyed as a possible site for a 101-unit, five-story senior citizens' high-rise.

Housing Authority commissioners Tuesday night voted 6-0 to approve a contract with Philadelphia-based Bitonti Development Company LLC. The firm would organize the $18 million project with a mix of public and government financing.

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> TRENTON -- An $8 million development on remediated property promises low, moderate and market rate housing for future homeowners. (10/27/2004)
Architect Karen Nichols of KNTM Architect delivered a detailed presentation to City Council members and two concerned residents who have lived near the Calhoun Street property through the worst of times.
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> Going with the flow (10/27/2004)
The Garden State Parkway's one-way toll program is expanding to include the Essex, Bergen and Barnegat toll plazas, officials said yesterday. more...

> New rail station in the distance (10/27/2004)
Bayonne is getting a fourth station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit system - but don't look for trains pulling in anytime soon.

Mayor Joseph V. Doria Jr. said yesterday that NJ Transit, which operates the rail line for 21st Century Rail Corp., has put out architectural plans for the newest Bayonne station, at Eighth Street, where the old Central Railroad once operated a station.

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> Logan looks at whole new 'town' (10/27/2004)
LOGAN TWP. -- A developer is proposing a 420-acre "town" for the Repaupo section here that could bring several thousand new housing units to the township, potentially doubling its population, should the proposed project receive township approval.

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> MHA plans 101-unit senior housing (10/27/2004)
MILLVILLE -- The city's housing authority has entered into an agreement with a Philadelphia developer to conduct pre-development work relating to the proposed construction of a 101-unit senior housing complex.

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> Groundbreaking set today for road at Mill Pond Park (10/27/2004)
MILLTOWN: The borough is scheduled to hold a groundbreaking ceremony today for a $280,000 connector roadway and parking facility that will give pedestrians greater access to Mill Pond Park. more...

> Haddon Twp. to repair athletic fields (10/27/2004)
HADDON TWP.
Township commissioners approved an agreement with the school board to spend $2.3 million to refurbish the Recchino athletic fields on Crystal Lake Avenue.
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> PennDOT approves $2.5 million for road improvements (10/26/2004)
HANOVER TWP. -- The cities of Easton and Bethlehem have inched closer to securing grant money to pay for major streetscape and sidewalk improvement projects.

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> Watch Woolwich grow, officials say (10/26/2004)
WOOLWICH TWP. -- A week after officials announced plans to balance residential and commercial development here, a groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday for what was touted as the largest pre-kindergarten and child care facility in the county.

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> Transit Officials Celebrate New York’s Once and Future Subway Second Avenue line heralds new era of rail construction (10/25/2004)
The world’s most comprehensive subway system, New York City’s 722 miles of track and 468 stations, has made it through 100 years. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and carrying five million daily riders, the transit net has survived largely due to rehabilitation efforts of engineers more...

> Casino agency approves $192 million in upgrades (10/25/2004)
The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority took action on a number of fronts last week aimed at expanding and improving gaming halls and the boardwalk.
The agency, which invests gambling-generated dollars in development projects statewide, gave preliminary approval for a combined $192 million worth of casino expansions and boardwalk upgrades to be done at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa, Bally's Atlantic City, Showboat Casino-Hotel and Caesars Atlantic City.

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> $4 million expansion for Settlement school (10/25/2004)
The Settlement Music School - a Philadelphia-based school of the arts with branches in the region - tomorrow will begin a $4 million expansion in Camden, allowing enrollment to grow from 200 to 700 students in new quarters across from City Hall.

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> Safety Shutdown Kicks Off $800-Million Improvement (10/25/2004)
The owners of three large nuclear units in New Jersey plan to spend more than $800 million over the next five years on engineering and construction to correct nagging problems at the facilities, upgrade the units, and improve their reliability and profitability. more...

> Carneys Point to receive $1.2M for flood project (10/24/2004)
CARNEYS POINT TWP. -- After months of waiting, Carneys Point officials announced Friday that the township will indeed receive a more than $1.2 million federal grant for its flood mitigation project.

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> Borgata plans $347M. tower (10/22/2004)
ATLANTIC CITY - The new kid on the block is growing up awfully fast.

Buoyed by phenomenal success in its first 15 months of operation, the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is planning a $347 million expansion that will add a new 45-story hotel tower to the megaresort.
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> Senior facility gets a boost (10/22/2004)
SALEM -- State officials confirmed Thursday that Stand Up for Salem Inc. and developer R.H. Tourtelot Company will receive over $2.3 million in funding to develop the Colonial Square Apartments complex into a senior living facility. more...

> Freeholders okay food-waste plant for Woodbridge (10/22/2004)
A Boston-based company cleared the first hurdle last night in plans to build a food-waste processing plant in Woodbridge, when the Middlesex County freeholders gave their unanimous approval.

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> Work on water plant set to begin (10/22/2004)
WASHINGTON TWP -- It's been close to 16 years since radium was first detected in a water well in town; today officials will break ground on a near $4 million treatment plant that will eradicate the radioactive metallic chemical element in the municipality's drinking water.

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> EPA OKs $20.6M cleanup (10/22/2004)
SAYREVILLE: The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized plans for cleaning up the Horseshoe Road and Atlantic Resources Corp. Superfund sites.

An EPA warning sign on the fence around Horseshoe Road Superfund site in Sayreville.

The combined $20.6 million cleanup calls for excavating 62,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and debris and lengthy monitoring of ground water on the adjoining sites, which total about 17 acres.

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> Jackson gives OK to hotel variance on I-195 site (10/22/2004)
JACKSON -- After months of hearings, Mitch Leigh's estimated $450 million to $600 million Jackson Commons hotel-commercial complex has taken a step forward.

The township Board of Adjustment, voting 7 to 0 on Wednesday, granted the "Man of La Mancha" composer a variance to build a 240-room, 67,000-square-foot hotel at the southwest corner of Interstate 195 and Route 527.

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> Developers unveil condo plan for vacant hotel (10/21/2004)
The former Hotel Easton could soon become home to residents living in 30 to 35 Manhattan-style luxury condominiums, developers Peter Koehler and Theodore Kheel announced Wednesday in a news release.

They also said the 10-story building on the 100 block of Northampton Street will include premium commercial space on the first floor. Built in 1927, the building has been vacant since 1990.

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> TRENTON -- Hamilton gave Trenton a $4.78 million grant to build affordable housing in the township, eliciting thanks from Mayor Doug Palmer but sneers from City Council President Paul Pintella. (10/21/2004)
The windfall of New Jerseymoney for Trenton stems from state land-use regulations that let towns transfer to other municipalities their obligation to permit housing for all income levels.
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> Palmer `flips' on redevelopment plan (10/21/2004)
TRENTON - A developer's plan to demolish and remake about 10 blocks of the city's South Ward created controversy and sparked protests earlier this year.

Now, Mayor Douglas H. Palmer says he will hire a consultant to come up with a new idea for the area: one that will be assured his support.

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> Canal commission approves Wendy's restaurant in Franklin Twp. (10/21/2004)
Those looking for burgers and fries on Easton Avenue will soon have another choice, as the Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission yesterday again approved a Wendy's in Franklin Township.

The commission had granted a waiver in 1999 for construction on part of a lot near the jug handle for John F. Kennedy Boulevard. But that approval expired while the township contested the project.

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> 850 letters back Stop & Shop plan for Heights store (10/21/2004)
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company presented Jersey City acting Mayor L. Harvey Smith and the City Council with copies of more than 850 letters supporting construction of a Stop & Shop in the Heights rather than a school more...

> Wal-Mart: Deptford big enough for 3 (10/21/2004)
DEPTFORD TWP. -- Corporate representatives from Wal-Mart are confident that this region's market can accommodate three of their stores within Deptford's borders.

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> Harrison vote clears way for retail business (10/21/2004)
HARRISON TWP. -- Several residents in Kayla's Way and surrounding developments have lost a key battle in their fight to prevent a property on Walters Road and Route 322 from being rezoned commercial.

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> Canal panel OKs Wendy's permit (10/21/2004)
FRANKLIN: Developers of a controversial Wendy's restaurant on Easton Avenue have received approval from the Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission to continue construction.
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> Carlstadt moves to block Xanadu and save wetlands (10/20/2004)
New Jersey's $1.3 billion Xanadu project hit a new obstacle yesterday as Carlstadt, the town where it will be built, said it asked the Army Corps of Engineers to issue a stop work order.

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> Township officials attempt to woo commercial development (10/20/2004)
When Keith Antonides settled in Woolwich with his wife almost six years ago, he saw seemingly endless acres of open space and wide-open possibilities.

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> DOT promises Helmetta funds for new storm-drain system (10/20/2004)
State Department of Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere yesterday committed nearly $270,000 to replace Helmetta's antiquated storm-drain system, which backed up in heavy rains last month and flooded 60 homes.

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> Kearny, Secaucus work to cut flooding (10/20/2004)
Although the state has awarded more than $100 million to municipalities for clean water projects, some politicians feel New Jersey needs to provide more grants to help lighten the burden of improving the infrastructures of older towns. more...

> Authority plans to apply again for grant (10/20/2004)
EASTON -- Easton Housing Authority officials Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to apply again for federal dollars to redevelop Delaware Terrace.

The authority's board of commissioners voted last month to apply for a HOPE VI grant for the project through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. That decision was contingent on a pledge of matching dollars from city council.

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> Chathams referendum to carry $22.3M tag (10/20/2004)
CHATHAM -- After months of collecting public feedback about building options intended to handle the district's burgeoning enrollment, the school board issued its $22.3 million verdict Monday night.

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> Jackson planners' denial may end up in court (10/20/2004)
JACKSON -- The Planning Board's unanimous denial of the proposed 1,641-unit Leigh at Jackson residential development is likely to wind up in court.

The development -- a combination of single-family homes, town houses and condominiums on 500 acres -- is the residential component of "Man of La Mancha" composer Mitch Leigh's plans for about 1,000 acres of mostly woods and fields he owns at Interstate 195 and Route 527.

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> Neighbors favor redevelopment of old CECOM site in Tinton Falls (10/19/2004)
TINTON FALLS -- There would be no love lost among many residents living in the shadow of the Army's former Communications-Electronics Command building if the six-story hulk at 600 Tinton Ave. is torn down.
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> County seeks bids to clear property (10/19/2004)
JACKSON -- In a further move to dualize a three-mile stretch of County Line Road, the Ocean County Board of Freeholders is seeking bids to clear property between Jackson Mills-Freehold and Bennetts Mills roads.

The overall project, estimated at $10 million, is to turn that stretch of County Line Road into a divided roadway with a median. The initial clearing will cost an estimated $1 million, said Ocean County Engineer Ronald A. Lotrecchio.

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> Mount Olive OKs plan to build H.S. access road (10/19/2004)
MOUNT OLIVE -- Township council hit a few bumps in the road during a public hearing Monday night, but that didn't stop them from unanimously approving a proposal to build a second access driveway to Mount Olive High School through a half-acre of protected open space. more...

> Major roads key to growth in Woolwich (10/18/2004)
WOOLWICH TWP. -- Other than being heavily traveled roadways, three major arteries in Gloucester County have something in common and township officials are hoping to use that to their advantage in drawing businesses to town to offset taxes.

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> State vows additional low-income housing funds (10/18/2004)
A rally in Trenton last week resulted in a promise from lawmakers that the state will provide an additional $15 million in low-income rental housing assistance, for a total of $25 million this budget year.

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> Stalled plans, rising costs cut school fund availability (10/18/2004)
With $6 billion in the pipeline to bring an end to dilapidated, ill-equipped schools in New Jersey's poorest districts, officials have allowed themselves the luxury of the grandest dreams.

In Trenton, plans call for a $57 million-plus K-8 school that will renovate abandoned factories that once spun wire rope for the Brooklyn and Golden Gate bridges. It would be linked with a children's science museum and, at some point, possibly a medical arts high school.

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> State proposes pedestrian bridges along Route 22 (10/17/2004)
If you build shopping centers, even along one of the busiest and most dangerous highways in the state, they will come.

By car.



But how will the low-wage workers at major chain stores who cannot afford a car get to their jobs?

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> Big money being spent but it's not enough (10/17/2004)
Shock waves reverberated last month when state Schools Construction Corp. chief John Spencer revealed that New Jersey's $8.6 billion school construction fund will run out in early 2006, far earlier than many expected.

But as legislators ponder whether to spend billions more, they may find their frustration mounting as they try to grapple with the critical question of whether the state has spent its money efficiently or encountered waste.

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> School construction quandary (10/17/2004)
From the beginning, the task of improving school facilities in poor school districts has been a complex morass of court battles, competing political interests and governmental operations.

In 1998, the state Supreme Court ordered the state to remedy problems with "crumbling and obsolescent" inner-city school buildings.

The initial estimate for that work was $2.7 billion based on a report that year issued by a Superior Court judge.

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> Council advances contested land deal (10/16/2004)
CHATHAM TWP. -- The township committee Thursday night took a step toward implementing its controversial plan to purchase 40 acres of the Kirby tract on Shunpike Road.

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> U.D. Revising master plan (10/15/2004)
UPPER DEERFIELD TWP. -- A year later and the township is once again looking to revise its master plan for development.

Mayor Ken Hill said that although the state only requires township planning boards review their master plans every six years, there's no time to wait.

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> Morris to sprinkle $1.79M among parks (10/15/2004)
New golf course bunkers, restored gardens and renovations to an equestrian complex are among projects in the Morris County park system that are expected to share in $1.79 million from a voter-approved trust fund in 2005, officials said yesterday.

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> Mount Holly earmarks $1.5M for land (10/13/2004)
MOUNT HOLLY - The township council has earmarked another $1.5 million in bond money for revitalization efforts in the community, half of which will be used to buy more properties in the Mount Holly Gardens neighborhood and half of which will be used to help fund the acquisition of 11 acres along the Mount Holly Bypass.

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> Chathams school expansion plan gaining voters' support (10/13/2004)
CHATHAM -- If a special meeting Tuesday was any indication, township and borough residents support the school district's multimillion dollar expansion plan and favor the more expensive option that would keep the current grade configuration, rather than moving fifth graders to the middle school.

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> Route 29 improvement plan faces scrutiny (10/13/2004)
TRENTON -- A proposed state Department of Transportation plan that includes the construction of a 3-foot barrier along a portion of Route 29 faced sharp criticism last night.

City Council vice-president Annette Lartigue accused DOT officials of disregarding the wishes of city residents who live along a corridor notorious for deadly accidents.
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> Developer poised to begin race track construction (10/13/2004)
MILLVILLE -- Plans for the largest economic development project in the city's history are on track and moving full speed ahead, developers for the proposed N.J. Motorsports Park said Tuesday.

Construction of the racing-themed resort "hopefully" will begin late next spring or early summer, developer Lee Brahin told members of the Greater Millville Chamber of Commerce.

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> Ballpark site project OK'd (10/13/2004)
WILLIAMS TWP. -- Township supervisors granted final approval Tuesday for Ashley Development Corp's Cedar Park project, three days before the governor wants final details about competing baseball proposals on his desk.

Ashley proposes 66 townhouses, an 84-room hotel, an 8,000- to 10,000-square-foot restaurant and 41,000 square feet of retail space on the 41.63-acre property off Cedarville Road.

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> NJ Transit unveils broad rail plan (10/13/2004)
NJ Transit has drawn up plans to link Bergen and Passaic train riders to Manhattan - without a transfer - through a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River.

"This means a one-seat ride for Bergen County customers to midtown Manhattan for the first time ever," NJ Transit Executive Director George Warrington said Tuesday. "The power of this cannot be overstated."

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> Panel gets look at mall redevelopment plan (10/13/2004)
A Rustic Mall representative presented conceptual redevelopment plans for the 12.5-acre mall site last night to the Manville Borough Council.

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> Plan would turn tainted property into ballfields (10/13/2004)
A former industrial site in Berkeley Heights, contaminated with oil and asbestos, would be transformed into recreation fields, and possibly include a senior citizens center, under a plan agreed to by the township and Union County.

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> Seabreeze project is a go (10/13/2004)
FAIRFIELD TWP. -- Residents of Seabreeze will be happy to find out that the township will proceed with a million-dollar redevelopment of the coastal area beginning next summer.

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> Senate approves $110 million bill to buy land in Highlands regions (10/12/2004)
The U.S. Senate has approved a long-discussed bill to provide $110 million over the next decade for land purchases in the environmentally important Highlands regions of New Jersey and nearby states.

The bill, passed by a unanimous consent vote Sunday night, includes key changes from the original proposal. The money is not guaranteed as a line item in the federal budget but would come from the general fund, requiring states to reapply each year, officials said yesterday.
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> Tunnel vision (10/11/2004)
The challenge for transportation officials was daunting: How would they build a new train station deep beneath one of New Jersey's most densely populated cities?

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> Super Wal-Mart proposal moving ahead in Pennsville (10/10/2004)
PENNSVILLE TWP. -- A Wal-Mart Supercenter could be coming here, a short walk from the retail giant's current location.

On Sept. 27, the township planning board OK'd a conceptual site plan for a shopping center on Route 49 near Lighthouse Road that includes the more than 220,000 square-foot facility plus another large retail space, multiple pad sites and a gas station.

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> Towns fight what's coming down the Pike (10/08/2004)
Hoping to avoid having to mount a solo legal challenge in future years, the Franklin Township Council this week agreed to consider allocating $10,000 to help South Brunswick resist a proposed New Jersey Turnpike extension.

The road, known as Route 92, would cut through the southern end of the township.

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> Zoners OK 46-home development (10/08/2004)
MILLVILLE -- Despite some opposition, the city's zoning board agreed Thursday night to grant a use variance for a purposed residential housing community on South 2nd Street.

Michael Fabrikant Associates, an applicant from Morganville, was granted a use variance to subdivide 46 lots for single-family dwellings in a R-MH (residential, mobile home) zone.

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> New role, new face for old E. Brunswick mall (10/08/2004)
Plans for an upscale retail center featuring high-end boutiques were announced yesterday for a nearly vacant strip mall between Route 18 and Summerhill Road in East Brunswick.

Summerhill Square, the new "lifestyle center," will be unlike any shopping mall within a 15-mile radius, said developer Robert Pagano of Glen Rock.

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> Randolph residents to vote on $24.7M school expansion (10/08/2004)
A year after Randolph residents defeated a $42 million school expansion plan, the district will ask voters to approve two proposals to expand the high school and renovate other facilities.

Voters will head to the polls Dec. 14 to decide on the $24.7 million, two-part plan that the board of education unanimously approved this week.

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> Work to remove Route 1 signal (10/08/2004)
After years of congestion and months of construction, the traffic light at Route 1 and Nassau Park Boulevard will be removed and the highway's northbound interchange with the boulevard closed on Tuesday, the state Transportation Department said yesterday.

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> County allocates $7.4M in federal funds (10/08/2004)
The Montclair Historical Society will renovate a building to meet the standards of the American Disabilities Act. FOCUS, a nonprofit in Newark, will improve the heating and air conditioning system at its headquarters. And the town of Millburn will buy a new van to carry seniors to the grocery store and other places. more...

> 'Gentler' barriers on tap for Route 78 (10/08/2004)
Trying to make Route 78 danger spots a bit safer, the state Department of Transportation is installing new median barriers on two stretches in Hunterdon and Warren counties.

The department chose the two areas in Greenwich Township and Clinton, Clinton Township and Lebanon, after looking at four years of accident data, said spokesman Marc La Vorgna yesterday.

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> Plastic bridge connects recycling to construction (10/08/2004)
SHAMONG TOWNSHIP - Scientists on Thursday heralded - Rutgers scientists developed and patented the process for making the plastic used for the bridge.

New Jersey Division of Solid & Hazardous Waste Director John Castner called the bridge here an engineering and scientific marvel. It is 54 feet long, 15 feet wide and, according to scientists, capable of supporting a fully loaded fire truck at 72,000 pounds.
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> Parcel purchased for Landings project (10/08/2004)
PERTH AMBOY: The $600 million Landings at HarborSide redevelopment project along the city's waterfront is progressing with the purchase of a one-acre parcel on Rector and Commerce streets, where a residential building featuring 135 units will be built.

Landings at HarborSide LLC has purchased the former Samson Electrical Supply Co. building on the corner of Rector and Commerce streets for $1.8 million. The site is scheduled to be developed by Westminster Communities, the development and construction division of Kushner Cos. in Florham Park, into the third residential building in Phase I of the project. The building will feature 135 housing units.

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> St. Mary introduces latest expansion (10/08/2004)
Always a hectic place, St. Mary Medical Center will be even busier over the next few years - not only with patients, but with construction.

The Middletown hospital's latest expansion project was approved unanimously by the township supervisors recently.

St. Mary officials plan to tear down a 30,000-square-foot administrative services building and put up an 89,000-square-foot, four-story medical offices building. The plan also calls for constructing a 386-space parking garage adjacent to the new medical offices building and adding 515 spaces to the existing parking garage.

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> Municipalities vow to raise stink over plant (10/08/2004)
PHILLIPSBURG -- Plans to expand Phillipsburg's sewer plant are progressing, and the move has officials in the surrounding municipalities concerned.

Town leaders this week agreed to request proposals from engineering firms with the intent of hiring one to obtain permits and complete the paperwork needed for expansion of the South Main Street plant.
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> Tuskes to make repairs to water basin (10/08/2004)
NAZARETH TWP. -- Township supervisors Wednesday accepted ownership of the roads inside Charles Tuskes' Creekside Estates housing development at Route 946 and Penn Allen Road.

Tuskes' CMC Development Corp. will be responsible for maintaining the roads for another 18 months, township Engineer Al Kortze said. The township will hold a letter of credit worth $261,818 until the maintenance period expires.

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> Newark arena for Devils 'a done deal' (10/07/2004)
NEWARK - The New Jersey Devils' goal of moving to Newark is nearly complete.

Two Newark City Council votes Wednesday in favor of a $310 million arena that would be the centerpiece of a downtown redevelopment plan had Mayor Sharpe James, his staff and other arena supporters exchanging hugs and hearty handshakes at the conclusion of four hours of debate
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> Dennis Twp. firm gets $12.2M. contract for N. Wildwood sea wall (10/06/2004)
NORTH WILDWOOD - The reconstruction of the city's aging sea wall is set to begin early next year.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received five bids for the project and the winning bidder was Agate Construction Company of Ocean View, Dennis Township, with a bid of $12.2 million for a new stone sea wall along the Hereford Inlet.
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> Vote on land confiscation postponed (10/06/2004)
MILLVILLE -- The City Commission pulled back Tuesday night from giving itself authority to seize eight commercial properties being hotly sought for use by the proposed developer of a $40 million shopping center along the Route 47-Route 55 corridor.

Officials had planned to use the meeting for a public hearing and final vote on an ordinance introduced last month. The ordinance would enable the city to exercise eminent domain over those eight properties, including a Pizza Hut and a Goodwill thrift store, with an eye to sell them to shopping center developer Goodman Properties.

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> Pennsville ups contract for company fixing roads (10/06/2004)
PENNSVILLE TWP. -- The township is upping its contract with a Delaware company to make additional improvements to Union Street and Parkwood Road.

During a special meeting recently, the committee unanimously approved spending an additional $8,260 to remove and replace a portion of the concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk there.

more...

> Nearly 300 support revitalization effort (10/06/2004)
ELSINBORO TWP. -- Much has been accomplished in the last five years, but those gathered Tuesday night at the Salem Country Club turned out because they know their continued support is needed for Salem City to continue on its road to revitalization. more...

> Flemington breaks ground on senior center project (10/06/2004)
FLEMINGTON -- By this time next year, local senior citizens living on a fixed income will have another housing option available to them.

Construction is scheduled to begin in about two weeks on what will become a senior residence complex at the corner of Church and Broad streets, on the site of the former county garage. The complex, being built by Pennrose Properties Inc. of Philadelphia, will have 60 units of affordable housing, 51 one-bedroom units and nine two-bedroom units for seniors who meet income guidelines. It will be called the Church Street Senior Residence.

more...

> With great fanfare:Xanadu! (10/06/2004)
EAST RUTHERFORD -- At a lavish ceremony featuring supermodel Christie Brinkley and a snowboarder handing over an oversized check, state officials and developers signed a lease they said paves the way for the $1.3 billion Xanadu sports and entertainment complex to open by spring 2007.
more...

> Taming traffic (10/06/2004)
Blue herons soar through the Meadowlands, but drivers often just sit there. And sit there. And sit there.

Now a proposal to tame the traffic and break the bottlenecks has moved forward in the state Senate and caught the attention of local officials in the 14-town Meadowlands district.

more...

> Signing is festive occassion at Xanadu (10/06/2004)
With an ex-supermodel and a somersaulting skier highlighting the festivities, state officials and developers celebrated the beginning of the construction phase of a $1.3 billion retail and entertainment center at the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

Christie Brinkley led the gala lease-signing for the Xanadu complex, which culminated with the delivery of a $160 million payment from the Mills Corp. of Virginia and Mack-Cali Realty of Cranford to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the state agency that operates to complex.
more...

> Burning questions (10/06/2004)
Mitchell Hersh is the chief executive at Mack-Cali in Cranford, one of two developers of Xanadu, the $1.3 billion entertainment and retail center that will be built around the Continental Airlines Arena.

more...

> Millville housing plan OK'd (10/05/2004)
MILLVILLE -- City planners gave unanimous approval Monday evening to a conceptual plan for 950 houses in eastern Millville, a development that would be the largest housing community ever built in Millville.

The vote culminated more than 11 hours of hearings over the general development plan for The Preserve at Holly Ridge.

David Meiskin, a principal for one of the developers, estimated the project won't be back before the board for a hearing about its site plan for at least six months.

more...

> Morristown planners consider redesigns (10/05/2004)
Morristown Planning Board members said last night they were surprised that plans to redesign the Speedwell Avenue intersection at Early and Spring streets were so well accepted last week.

The plan to curve the last 500 feet of Early Street to link it to Spring Street was proposed in August by town engineer William Deane, who is expected to unveil an alternate intersection design soon, said board Chairman Scott Whitenack.
more...

> 'Big-box' store plan prevails for Fairgrounds (10/05/2004)
Over vociferous objections from Mayor Jeffrey Marshall, the Raritan Township Committee killed a proposal last night to curb the scope of development at the old Flemington Fairgrounds.

On a 3-2 vote, the committee stuck with the current zoning that allows "big-box" stores in the proposed retail development off Route 31. The proposal is anchored by a 166,724-square-foot Lowe's home improvement center and a 146,371-square-foot Wal-Mart.

more...

> Manville awaits details on shopping mall plan (10/05/2004)
In one week Manville borough officials hope to get a redevelopment plan from Rustic Mall LLC.

Representatives for the mall were supposed to present redevelopment plans for the 12.5-acre site on Sept. 27, but asked borough officials for more time.
more...

> Planning board OKs Holly Ridge (10/05/2004)
MILLVILLE -- After hearing close to 11 hours of testimony -- between two previous meetings -- city planners unanimously decided Monday night to approve the latest general development plan submitted for the Preserve at Holly Ridge.

more...

> Tract eyed for zone change (10/05/2004)
BURLINGTON CITY - The city council has asked the local land use board to determine whether the Washington Avenue area could be declared a redevelopment zone.

Such a designation would enable the city to offer developers financial incentives, such as tax breaks.

more...

> Xanadu deals gets sports authority OK (10/05/2004)
The state will spend $26.8 million to preserve 600 acres of wetlands in the Meadowlands as part of an agreement with developers of a massive retail and entertainment center in East Rutherford.

The deal, unanimously approved yesterday by the board of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, sets the stage for a lease signing ceremony today. The sports authority is the state agency that operates the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

more...

> Old Bridge accepts land from builder for open space and possible school (10/05/2004)
The Old Bridge Township Council yesterday formally accepted 235 acres from Woodhaven Development, with 220 acres to be kept as open space and 15 as a potential school site.

The donation is part of the agreement Woodhaven negotiated with Old Bridge while getting approvals for its 2,000-home development in the southern portion of the township in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
more...

> Tunnel project is chugging along (10/05/2004)
The challenge for transportation officials was daunting -- how would they build a new train station deep beneath one of New Jersey's most densely populated cities?

Getting the trains through was not the problem. The 121-year-old Weehawken rail tunnel through the Palisades was already being used by freight trains and simply needed to be expanded and modernized to carry the trolley-like cars of NJ Transit's Hudson County light rail system.
more...

> Project to transform landfills into golf courses and condos (10/05/2004)
A forbidding stretch of trash and polluted marsh in the Meadowlands -- an area the size of 600 football fields -- is getting a massive makeover that will replace garbage with golf courses, condominiums and hotels.

In a project of unusual scale, workers recently began cleaning the area by sealing or "capping" millions of tons of refuse with construction debris and recyclable materials, which will be topped with layers of dredged soils.

more...

> County wants to speed intersection work (10/05/2004)
RARITAN TOWNSHIP - Hunterdon County officials are dropping plans to lobby the state for interim intersection improvements at Case Boulevard and Route 202 to make it safer for school buses going to and from a new middle school.

Instead, county freeholders told state Department of Transportation officials they support speeding up the timetable to build a permanent intersection with traffic signals at Case Boulevard and Route 202. more...

> H.S. work dropped from bond (10/05/2004)
EAST BRUNSWICK: Financing of a two-phased school construction-and-expansion project will no longer include work at East Brunswick High School thanks to a $6.8 million agreement between the township and the Board of Education.

As a result, on Dec. 14 voters will be asked to approve a $81.4 million bond package in the first of two referenda, which will address overcrowding, facility and infrastructure needs, school officials said. If work at the high school were included, the proposal on the December ballot would be $3.8 million higher.

more...

> EPA to hear opinions on Superfund site repair (10/04/2004)
BUENA -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is asking for residents' input tonight as it decides how to repair an ailing plant at the Superfund site.

The plant is operating far below its capacity, which has caused a plume of contaminated groundwater to migrate south of Wheat Road.

more...

> As expenses mount, school-building fund shrinks (10/04/2004)
TRENTON -- Four years into an $8.6 billion state-financed school construction spree, the money is running thin, the agency overseeing the building and renovation projects reports.

But the hundreds of school construction projects statewide -- including those in Phillipsburg -- that have not been finished appeared safe as of last week.
more...

> North Brunswick wins funds for upgrade plan (10/04/2004)
NORTH BRUNSWICK: A $100,000 county grant has been awarded to the township and will be used for the Livingston Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project.

The disbursement comes from the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders and is awarded annually to municipalities seeking funding to refurbish downtown and business districts.

more...

> Hope VI breaks ground on first 2 phases (10/04/2004)
BRIDGETON -- The old Monroe Street School is gone. So are the old Glass Bar and Seibel & Stern buildings.

Gone are pieces of the city's past as officials eagerly anticipate one of the few projects where material progress is actually being made, one that they're banking on to help reverse the fortunes of this impoverished city.
more...

> Feds will aid cleanup of base (10/03/2004)
WOOLWICH TWP. -- The federal government will fund $60,000 for environmental testing of a former Cold War-era missile base that officials here want to use for commercial development and open space.

The request for the U.S. General Services Administration, owner of the land, to pay for site remediation came from the Woolwich Township PH-58 Nike Base Advisory Committee, officials said.

more...

> Route 31 Widening Project Should be Completed This Fall (10/02/2004)
FLEMINGTON - Drivers can rejoice. The orange barrels around the massive $49 million Route 31 widening project, which has been plagued by delays, will be coming down this fall.

"The Route 31 dualization is almost complete," said Mark Rollo, state Department of Transportation Division of Project Management program manager. more...

> Reauthorizing TEA-21 (10/01/2004)
With a multi-year transportation bill stalled on Capitol Hill, Congress has approved, and President Bush signed into law a measure to continue federal highway and transit programs for eight months. The House passed the legislation on Sept. 30 by a 409-8 vote, the Senate approved it without objection later that day and Bush signed it that night. more...

> Questions remain on Xanadu deal as lease-signing nears (09/30/2004)
Just days before a lease-signing ceremony, Meadowlands officials and developers of a massive retail and entertainment complex remain locked in heated negotiations.

While both sides insisted yesterday they expect to resolve the major issues before the Tuesday night signing, they said the agreement would include a series of "material conditions" that must be met before the agreement can take effect.

more...

> Toll plazas in works for sports complex ramps (09/29/2004)
New Jersey Turnpike officials are moving ahead with plans to build a new toll plaza on two ramps that connect the highway to the Meadowlands sports complex.

The ramps -- which serve traffic coming from and going to points north of the Meadowlands, such as the George Washington Bridge and Route 80 -- have been free to motorists ever since the sports complex opened in the 1970s.
more...

> Forum to review road-widening plan (09/23/2004)
Plans to improve Route 518 between Route 206 and Province Line Road in Montgomery will be discussed during a public forum tomorrow.
The Somerset County Engineering Office is hosting its third meeting to gather input from the township and explain plans to the public, said Dan Ciesla, county principal highway engineer. After this meeting it will be up to the municipality to decide if it wants to proceed with improvements, Ciesla said.

more...

> Camden Council schedules vote on plan for Cramer Hill (09/23/2004)
CAMDEN
City Council will vote Thursday on approving a neighborhood plan for Cramer Hill that has some critics concerned even though they helped to draft it.
The Cramer Hill Tomorrow Plan differs from the $1.2 billion redevelopment plan that outlines a redevelopment project for the neighborhood.

more...

> Vote on ex-Army property postponed (09/23/2004)
TINTON FALLS -- The Borough Council last night stalled a vote on an ordinance that would change the zoning on the Army's former Communications-Electronics Command property. more...

> SOCH breaks ground for health village (09/23/2004)
By ERIK LARSEN
MANAHAWKIN BUREAU
STAFFORD -- Ground was broken yesterday for the first phase of Southern Ocean County Hospital's long-awaited $60 million "health village."
Nexus Properties Inc., of Lawrence Township in Mercer County, is financing the planned 450,000-square-foot campus, which is across the street and just west of the hospital on Route 72, next door to Summerville Assisted Living.

more...

> Honeywell acquires polluted tract in settlement (09/23/2004)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JERSEY CITY -- Church leaders and environmentalists said yesterday that a multimillion dollar settlement between two companies over contaminated land may be an effort by the new property owner to avoid a court-ordered cleanup.
On Monday, W.R. Grace and Co. announced the agreement to sell Honeywell International 32-acres of chromium-tainted property for $62.5 million, plus any responsibility for problems from the contamination.

more...

> Plainfield office complex nears completion (09/23/2004)
BY ROBERT E. MISSECK
Star-Ledger Staff
Plainfield officials have been struggling for over three decades to turn a 4.5-acre downtown parcel into an income-producing property and spur an economic renaissance in the surrounding area.

more...

> Old Bridge starts expanding waterfront park (09/22/2004)
BY PATRICK JENKINS
Star-Ledger Staff
Middlesex County officials yesterday began the second phase of the Old Bridge Waterfront Park construction, starting work on a $1.8 million beautification of a mile- long tract along the Raritan Bay.

more...

> Schools busy with construction work (09/01/2004)
Wednesday, September 1, 2004
Courier-Post staff
Millions of dollars in construction projects are under way at tri-county school districts. For some students and staff, they'll see such things as new or renovated classrooms, new air conditioning and upgraded athletic fields when class resumes in the coming days.


more...

> Parkway expands its one-way toll plan (09/01/2004)
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
BY JOE MALINCONICO
Star-Ledger Staff

The Garden State Parkway is going to expand its one-way toll program to include the ramps at Exit 105 in Tinton Falls.
Starting Sept. 12, southbound motorists who exit the Parkway at Exit 105 will not have to pay the 35-cent toll. Drivers who use that entrance heading north would pay 70 cents.
Exit 105 is a few miles north of the Asbury Park toll plaza, which on Sept. 12 also will convert to one-way tolls.

more...

> Gold Coast hits pay dirt (08/31/2004)
Ongoing construction has revitalized Jersey City into a desired destination to live and work

Monday, August 30, 2004
BY STEVE CHAMBERS
Star-Ledger Staff

Three decades ago, the Jersey City waterfront was a wasteland of abandoned rail yards and decaying brownstones, the worst of which were heroin shooting galleries.
Four waves of development later, the downtown historic districts boast some of the nicest brownstone blocks in the Garden State, wholly restored beauties that once couldn't be given away for $7,500 but now sell for up to $1 million. The waterfront has seen so much growth that Jersey City now has more office space than Denver, Cleveland or Kansas City, and young families are starting to rethink flight to the suburbs.

more...

> Housing boom puts homes near industry (08/31/2004)
Companies raise concerns about safety

Sunday, August 29, 2004
BY JEFFERY C. MAYS
Star-Ledger Staff

The several blocks surrounding Wright Street at Avenue A in Newark's Ironbound section form an industrial paradise.

Need a place to park a big rig and shipping container? There are several storage areas. How about a couple of thousand of pounds of crab legs, fruit or ice? Take your pick of wholesalers at the Miller Street Marketplace. Slabs of marble or stone? Matrix Stone is hard to miss.

"This is like an industrial McDonald's," said Nick Meola, owner of Crab Kings on Miller Street. "We are bringing industry into the area."
Soon though, all the industrial tenants will have some new neighbors. Not new stores or competitors, but people. more...

> E. Hanover rejects plan for Wegmans, condos (08/31/2004)
Residents' traffic concerns behind officials' decision not to back project at Varityper site

Thursday, August 26, 2004
BY PAUL NELSON
Star-Ledger Staff

It's back to the drawing board for a Manhattan developer now that East Hanover officials have said they will not support a proposal to build a supermarket and age-restricted condos on a former township industrial site.

Council members Susan Tietjen and Joseph Musso on Tuesday released a joint statement expressing their opposition to the proposal for the property. The pair said they will vote against it after hearing residents' concerns during an Aug. 17 public hearing. more...

> Carteret embarking on $1B overhaul (08/31/2004)
Redevelopment project carries hope of transforming community

Sunday, August 29, 2004
BY SUE EPSTEIN
Star-Ledger Staff

Carteret is just months away from the start of more than $1 billion in redevelopment projects that will take it from one of the poorest towns in Middlesex County to one of the most prosperous.

Within weeks, the borough council expects to condemn 30 acres of property just east of New Jersey Turnpike Interchange 12 so that a developer can start work on the first phase of what local officials hope will become a mini-Raritan Center, the industrial complex in Edison that is one of the state's largest distribution centers. more...

> More units approved for Michelin property (08/31/2004)
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
BY BETH KRESSEL
Star-Ledger Staff

The Milltown Borough Council approved changes to a redevelopment plan for the former Michelin Tire Co. tract that would allow up to 324 units of senior housing to be built, borough officials said yesterday.

Councilman Sean Leary was the lone dissenter in the 4-1 vote and Councilwoman Patty Murray abstained from voting, said Borough Clerk Michael Januszka.
"It was too much information I think to review in the short amount of time we were given," Leary said. more...

> E. Brunswick to vote on $85.3 million school expansion plan (08/31/2004)
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
BY CHANDRA M. HAYSLETT
Star-Ledger Staff

East Brunswick middle school students have been crammed into classrooms for years.
The majority of the district's elementary school students are placed where there is room, so they don't even know the concept of a neighborhood school.

But come December, district officials will ask voters to approve an addition at Hammarskjold Middle School, to add spacious classrooms at Central and Lawrence Brook elementary schools and to finally complete renovations at East Brunswick High School that the district could not afford to finish in 1999.

more...

> Borough preparing to fend off growth plan (08/31/2004)
Small-town Lebanon fears redevelopment
Tuesday, August 31, 2004

BY CATHERINE JUN
Star-Ledger Staff

When Mary Ann Durange, 41, moved with her family from Brooklyn to Lebanon Borough in 1995, the town of just over 1,000 people was a welcome change for the mother of two.
"There's a sense of community," she said. "You know everybody, everybody knows you, everybody knows your kids ... it's a positive atmosphere."

For residents like Durange who treasure a small-town lifestyle, the state's proposal to designate most of Lebanon and its neighboring municipalities as a suburban growth area is unappealing, even dreadful.
more...

> Haddon Twp. postpones vote on DyDee bond (08/31/2004)
Wednesday, August 25, 2004

By LAVINIA DeCASTRO
Courier-Post Staff
HADDON TWP.

Township commissioners on Tuesday night postponed their approval of a $5 million bond ordinance intended to fund the redevelopment of the former DyDee Wash diaper-laundering plant.

Commissioners were to vote on the ordinance, which was approved on first reading in June. It will be reintroduced during a Sept. 7 special meeting.

Township Clerk Denise Adams said the township's bond council recommended the vote be postponed so language and information in the ordinance can be corrected.
Roughly 80 residents packed the township's municipal building to speak against the measure.

Some residents have said they fear the money will be used to buy their properties to make way for the project, whether or not they are willing to sell.

Developers want to demolish the long-vacant plant and erect five buildings in its place. The buildings would house 16 townhomes, 96 apartments and 112 lofts. The project also calls for 27,000 square feet of retail space, 27,000 square feet of office space, a clubhouse, a parking deck and a pool.

Fieldstone Associates - the Doylestown, Pa., firm planning to redevelop the six-acre Haddon Avenue site - has until Sept. 3 to privately acquire a string of occupied properties at the site.

If the developer does not buy the properties within the allotted time, the township can buy them through eminent domain because the DyDee site sits in its redevelopment zone.
more...

> Summer flooding highlights dam flaws (08/31/2004)
By Jennifer Moroz

Inquirer Staff Writer

Experts say New Jersey has one of the strongest dam-safety programs in the country. But after 18 Burlington County dams burst and 28 more were damaged under heavy rain last month, weaknesses glared.

Flooding sent 800 people running from inundated homes downstream, prompted the declaration of a federal disaster zone, and wreaked an estimated $50 million in damage. more...

> July Construction Jumps 5% (08/31/2004)
New York, N.Y. - August 25, 2004 - New construction starts in July climbed 5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $595.1 billion, it was reported by McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. July showed stronger activity for each of the construction industry's main sectors - nonresidential building, residential building, and nonbuilding construction (public works and electric utilities). For the first seven months of 2004, total construction on an unadjusted basis came to $342.4 billion, 10% higher than the corresponding period of 2003. more...

> EPA Finds More Work Needed on Sewer Overflows (08/31/2004)
enr.construction.com - 08/27/04)
By Tom Ichniowski

Although there has been some improvement around the country in curbing sewer overflows, there still is more work to be done, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says. EPA has estimated it will take nearly $140 billion over 20 years to cut overflow volume significantly, but a new report from the agency doesn't recommend increased funding. more...

> School renovations to deliver new rooms and wings this fall (08/05/2004)
Camille Johnson is looking forward to not having to get on a shuttle bus and travel 2.3 miles from Old Bridge High School's east campus to the west campus. more...

> State looks for way around bond ruling (08/05/2004)
As a sign of the state's dire financial straits, the McGreevey administration has been brainstorming ways to circumvent last week's Supreme Court decision barring long-term borrowing to finance short-term spending. more...

> -- Preserve At Holly Ridge --: Revisions bring new life to huge housing project (08/05/2004)
MILLVILLE -- A conceptual plan for the largest residential construction project in city history is alive again after an unusual special hearing Wednesday night before the Planning Board. more...

> Linden high-rise plan spurs political outcry (08/05/2004)
Buildings in Linden don't exactly scrape the sky. Aside from a few apartment houses and smoke stacks, it's a decidedly low-rise town, where lawnmowers get far more use than elevators. more...

> Linden mayor's son proposing a 20-story building (08/05/2004)
LINDEN: The son of Mayor John T. Gregorio is proposing building a 20-story residential and commercial building on a section of West Elizabeth Avenue that is under consideration for designation as a state Transit Village. more...

> Milltown planners OK change for ex-tire plant (08/05/2004)
MILLTOWN: Changes to a redevelopment plan for the former Michelin Tire Co. plant were unanimously approved by the Planning Board on Tuesday. more...

> Business park may finally get voted on in Waretown (08/05/2004)
WARETOWN -- The Ocean Township Land Use Board is expected to vote tonight on an application for a nine-lot subdivision off Route 9, but the fate of that project ultimately may be decided by a Superior Court judge. more...

> Seaside Heights pulls southeast area from redevelopment zone (08/05/2004)
SEASIDE HEIGHTS -- The Borough Council last night approved an ordinance removing the "area in need of redevelopment" designation from the southeast section of the town, leaving improvements in the area up to residents. more...

> Maplewood puts land acquisition on hold (08/04/2004)
The Maplewood Township Committee tabled an ordinance last night to acquire by eminent domain a Springfield Avenue retail strip for its new police station. more...

> Township to rezone Pulda Farm (08/04/2004)
The North Brunswick Township Council approved plans yesterday to rezone the 70-acre Pulda Farm for a planned adult community. more...

> New 'Smart Growth' map ruffling feathers in Washington Twp. (08/04/2004)
WASHINGTON TWP. -- Members of a local grass roots group and officials with the town's Environmental Commission say they smell potential trouble brewing because of a new law described by many as development friendly and a new "Smart Growth" map being prepared by the state. more...

> Perkins Center for the Arts to add Collingswood building (08/04/2004)
The Perkins Center for the Arts soon will open a satellite office in Collingswood. Art classes at the center's new home, the now vacant Carolfi Studios building on Irvin Avenue, are scheduled to start this fall. more...

> Somers Point considering two new redevelopment plans (08/04/2004)
SOMERS POINT - Hot on the heels of last month's redevelopment plan, the city is considering two additional plans, according to City Councilman Carmen Marotta. more...

> Main Street Wildwood exults in growth of business investment (08/04/2004)
WILDWOOD - The buzz caught Valerie and Jim Boothroyd's attention. The couple already owned a store, the Painted Cottage in downtown Collingswood, when they decided to open a second shop in downtown Wildwood at 3003 Pacific Avenue. more...

> DOT sets meeting on Route 29 work (08/03/2004)
The state Transportation Department has scheduled a public meeting for Thursday to discuss its proposed changes to Route 29 in Trenton. more...

> Downtown condo complex planned (08/03/2004)
A developer has filed plans with Bayonne to build a 145-unit condominium complex on the site of the old Boulevard Bus Co. in the city's Downtown area. more...

> Long Hill residents want township to build sidewalks (08/02/2004)
LONG HILL -- Sometime within the next couple of weeks, Mathew Abraham will don a dhoti, a traditional Indian loincloth, take up a seat under an umbrella at the side of Valley Road and stop eating. more...

> School is called engine for renewal (08/01/2004)
The $89 million performing arts center magnet school planned for the heart of East Orange will be more than just a school. more...

> How developer landed the land (08/01/2004)
For nearly a decade, Middlesex County College officials coveted a five-acre parcel of government surplus land next to its cramped Edison campus, hoping to convert an old Army warehouse on the parcel into much-needed job training classrooms. more...

> Somerville sees need to upgrade facilities for emergency service (08/01/2004)
The Somerville police station sits in a dilapidated, converted beer warehouse, the rescue squad and one firehouse are in the middle of a flood plain, and the three other firehouses are running out of room. more...

> Edison celebrates start of firehouse renovations (07/30/2004)
Edison Fire Chief Robert Campbell walked out of Edison Firehouse No. 2 yesterday afternoon a bit dusty. more...

> Homes planned for North Ward (07/30/2004)
TRENTON - Ten new homes are expected to be built in the North Ward by a Pennsylvania developer with assistance from the New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency. more...

> $1.6M in transit funds to brighten Hudson streetscapes (07/30/2004)
Four Hudson County communities will receive a combined $1.6 million in federal transportation funding to facilitate municipal streetscape improvement projects. more...

> Bush Signs Fifth Transport Bill Extension (07/30/2004)
Federal highway and transit programs will continue into September under another stopgap transportation bill, which President Bush signed into law on July 30. more...

> Expressway a hard sell for man who had it built (07/30/2004)
When the Atlantic City Expressway opened to traffic 40 years ago Saturday, critics dubbed it Farley's Folly, in honor of Frank `Hap' Farley, the powerful state senator from Atlantic County who got the roadway built. more...

> Borgata set for $200M. expansion Project aims to add gaming restaurants and retail space (07/30/2004)
Borgata made good on its reputation as the casino to beat in Atlantic City, muscling its way to the top of the pack in its first year of operation. more...

> Hammonton Town Hall to get Route 30 location (07/30/2004)
HAMMONTON - Town Council has deserted its plan to build the new town hall on Vine Street and decided instead to purchase and renovate the One White Horse Center at the intersection of the White Horse Pike and Route 206. more...

> Officials dispute need for new middle school (07/30/2004)
EGG HARBOR CITY - Fast forward two seasons to winter. The temperature is in the low- to mid-30s, and classrooms in Fanny D. Rittenberg Middle School have windows wide-open. more...

> Hilltop Conservancy to hear from developer (07/28/2004)
The Hilltop Reservation stands as the last, highest piece of a once 240-acre park slowly opened to development, and the Hilltop Conservancy wants to preserve the trails and wildlife from further encroachment. more...

> Ford plans to finish demolition of plant on Rt. 1 by spring (07/28/2004)
Ford Motor Co. hopes to complete razing its 100-acre Route 1 plant by the spring, despite some problems getting demolition permits from Edison. more...

> Burlington Twp. moves to meet school needs (07/28/2004)
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP - With a school population that more than doubled in the last decade, and enrollment climbing at the rate of 250 a year, the board of education hopes to get two school expansion projects under way by the end of this year. more...

> $30M bridge will carry traffic over rail tracks in Secaucus (07/28/2004)
SECAUCUS - Officials from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority met with residents of southern Secaucus last week to discuss plans to construct a bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad's Croxton Yards. more...

> Woodbury to hold referendum (07/28/2004)
Voters who turned down an $18.8 million school repair bond issue in April will have two choices and a higher price tag in a Dec. 14 referendum. more...

> Torricelli puts cleanup of toxins on fast track (07/20/2004)
A year into his supervision of one of the largest toxic-waste cleanups in the nation's history, former Sen. Robert Torricelli has sped up the long-stalled Jersey City project, bringing in $1.1 million for himself and his contractors in the process. more...

> Anti-sprawl effort is all over the map (07/20/2004)
Recent moves designed to make it easier to build in designated growth areas -- even as the state is stepping up efforts to rein in sprawl elsewhere -- have some towns worried. more...

> Developer eyes future projects in Bayonne (07/20/2004)
Bayonne's western shoreline continues to attract the interest of developers. more...

> Sen. Inhofe Gives Transportation Conferees 48 Hours to Accept Plan (07/20/2004)
With federal transportation programs facing a July 31 funding cut-off, Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.) offered House and Senate negotiators one last-ditch effort to reach a compromise on July 20. more...

> Vineland schools set to get $160M. for renovation, construction (07/20/2004)
VINELAND - Almost $160 million of state money will be spent to renovate old schools and build four new ones in Vineland over the next few years, with at least one slated to open in September 2006. more...

> R&D Market Is Industry’s New Testing Lab (07/19/2004)
Construction industry firms have long followed science, designing and building structures that allow research to move from untested concept to proven reality. more...

> Plan Board OKs cell tower, apartments (07/17/2004)
HOBOKEN - The Hoboken Planning Board has granted preliminary and final subdivision approval for a major building project on Adams Street. The developer, Adams Street Development LLC, will be creating two five-story multi-family buildings. The first building will consist of 90 low- and moderate-income residential units, while the second will consist of 76 market rate units. more...

> 12-story, 300-unit project wins OK (07/16/2004)
NORTH BERGEN - The Planning Board has voted unanimously to approve a 12-story, 300-unit luxury apartment building on River Road on the Hudson River waterfront. more...

> Deptford OKs Wal-Mart plan (07/16/2004)
DEPTFORD TWP. -- A Wal-Mart at the corner of Delsea Drive and Cooper Street can open once it is built and traffic signals are placed at three interesctions, the planning board decided Wednesday. more...

> Planning board approves Franklin master plan (07/16/2004)
FRANKLIN TWP. -- The township planning board approved the master plan this week, after more than a year of working on the details. more...

> The cleanup begins (07/16/2004)
Towns assess damage, await word on federal aid. more...

> MAY HOLD: Galloway tables land deal after complaints (07/16/2004)
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP - A public hearing on the construction of a catering facility, restaurant and police department substation at the intersection of Pitney and Collins roads will be held July 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Galloway Township Municipal Complex on Jimmie Leeds Road. more...

> Hamilton considers power plant (07/16/2004)
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP - In the first of what will probably be numerous late-night meetings, about 300 people jammed into Hamilton Township's municipal meeting room to oppose plans to build a power plant near the township's border with Egg Harbor Township. more...

> Turnpike approves $250M in debt (07/15/2004)
New Jersey Turnpike officials voted yesterday to borrow $250 million to pay for various improvements to the highway, including $78 million for work at Interchange 12 in Carteret. more...

> $200M in county college aid on the way (07/14/2004)
Every county college in the state will have the funds to build one or two new classroom buildings under legislation signed by Gov. James E. McGreevey yesterday. more...

> More low-income housing planned (07/14/2004)
The McGreevey administration will amend its affordable housing plan, still in the proposal stage, to provide more apartments and houses for low-income residents. more...

> Monroe planning board faces suit over development (07/14/2004)
WOODBURY -- A developer that had proposed building more than 30 homes on Mink Lane is suing Monroe Township's planning board for refusing to grant permission to side-step local zoning ordinances for several of the proposed houses. more...

> Changes delay report on Newark arena, development (07/13/2004)
Plans for the redevelopment of downtown Newark are undergoing substantial changes, delaying a crucial report from a commission evaluating the project and its new $310 million arena. more...

> Harrison seen as ideal for stadium (07/13/2004)
The spirit of soccer in the United States can be found at a fenced-in playground known simply as "the Courts" on Frank Rodgers Boulevard in downtown Harrison. more...

> Senior housing plan debated (07/13/2004)
PITMAN -- Approximately 125 residents faced borough council Monday night to participate in a public hearing on creating an age-restricted overlay district. more...

> Franklin supermarket protest planned (07/10/2004)
FRANKLIN: Angry township residents plan to rally tomorrow to protest the proposed rezoning and condemnation of their property to allow construction of a supermarket off Franklin Boulevard. more...

> Jersey City plans Junction project (07/09/2004)
Hudson County residents can look forward to a revamped Junction area in Jersey City and a remodeled Bergen Point in Bayonne, thanks to two new grant awards from the state Department of Transportation. more...

> Somers Point passes plan to redevelop Bay Avenue (07/09/2004)
SOMERS POINT - City Council unanimously passed a redevelopment plan Thursday night that seeks to encourage small businesses along the Bay Avenue district while limiting the growth of Shore Memorial Hospital. more...

> Newark gets affordable housing funds (07/08/2004)
Newark is to add 119 affordable residences, thanks to just-approved state and federal funding for the construction and rehabilitation of rental housing units, officials said yesterday. more...

> Newark starts to build 56 townhouse units (07/08/2004)
The Newark Housing Authority has begun a 56-unit townhouse development that will bring the agency one step closer to its goal of building 1,777 low-income homes throughout the city. more...

> House Fails to Make Counter-Offer in Transport Bill Conference (07/08/2004)
Congressional negotiations over a new, long-term transportation spending bill hit a snag July 7 when the House failed to put a counter-offer on the bill's overall funding on the table. more...

> Board considers apartment plan (07/08/2004)
A Marlton developer unveiled plans Wednesday night for an upscale apartment complex for senior citizens on Howard Boulevard that would feature a clubhouse with indoor swimming pool, billiard hall, movie theater, fitness center and other amenities. more...

> North Brunswick votes to rezone site for age-restricted housing (07/07/2004)
The North Brunswick Township Council introduced an ordinance last night to rezone the 70-acre Pulda Farm so that age-restricted housing can be built on the site. more...

> Clearview construction on pace (07/07/2004)
A nearly $40 million construction project within the Clearview Regional school district is well under way and expected to be completed by September, Superintendent Michael Toscano said Thursday. more...

> Somers Point expected to OK redevelopment plan (07/07/2004)
SOMERS POINT - A long-sought plan designed to shape the future of Bay Avenue and Shore Road will likely be passed at the City Council meeting Thursday. more...

> Millville Hospital conversion delayed (07/07/2004)
MILLVILLE - The sign in front of the former Millville Hospital building on High Street and Harrison Avenue reads: "Coming Soon - Senior Citizen Apartments." more...

> New entrance aids traffic flow on Pike (07/06/2004)
Last year, New Jersey Turnpike officials measured the size of Fourth of July traffic jams at Interchange 1 in Salem County in miles. But yesterday, they could have counted the number of cars backed up at that toll plaza on their fingers. more...

> Present library expected to be converted to senior citizen housing (07/06/2004)
Thirty years after moving into "temporary" quarters, the Free Public Library of Monroe Township is nearing a move across Main Street. more...

> Plan adds housing for seniors (07/06/2004)
MILLTOWN: A New Brunswick-based developer, picked by the borough to transform the former Michelin Tire Co. plant, has requested some changes in the overall redevelopment plan, borough officials said. more...

> Town's renewal creating hot market for homes (07/05/2004)
GLOUCESTER CITY - When Eli and Sarah Renshaw went house-hunting last year, they knew what they wanted: a reasonably priced home with low property taxes and a safe, family-oriented neighborhood close to their Center City jobs. more...

> City BOE ponders another attempt at bond referendum (07/04/2004)
WOODBURY -- The deadline to hold a second referendum to fund repairs throughout the district has passed, setting up a vote later this month that could put another question to voters in December. more...

> Mold removal on tap at 2 schools (07/04/2004)
The township school district will spend nearly $1 million for the second phase of mold cleanup at two middle schools. more...

> Developer aims to transform Bergen Point with apartments (07/02/2004)
The old Boulevard Bus Co. site in Bayonne's Bergen Point section will be getting a major facelift if a developer's pitch to build more than 100 new apartments is welcomed by the city. more...

> Repair to shut road (07/01/2004)
MOUNT HOLLY - Smithville Road from Route 38 south to Newbold's Corner Road is scheduled to be closed to through traffic beginning Tuesday so county highway crews can replace a deteriorating bridge, said Freeholder Director Vincent R. Farias. more...

> Agency seeks local input on pipeline (07/01/2004)
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP - The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has launched its "pre-filing" environmental review of Williams' Transco's plan to expand a natural gas pipeline through the township and is seeking input from residents, officials and anyone else interested in the project. more...

> Camden approves Cramer Hill plan (07/01/2004)
City council members voted 6-1 Wednesday to approve the $1.2 billion Cramer Hill redevelopment proposal despite the pleas and threats of litigation of neighborhood residents and businesses. more...

> New Brunswick may become special retail zone (07/01/2004)
NEW BRUNSWICK: The state sales tax will be cut in half in part of New Brunswick if Gov. James E. McGreevey signs a bill that would make the city an Urban Enterprise Zone. more...

> Nutley plans $14.9M school referendum (06/30/2004)
Nutley voters will have a chance in September to decide whether to approve a $14.9 million bond referendum to finance the renovation of Franklin Middle School. more...

> Developer asks to revise plan for tire plant (06/30/2004)
The Milltown Planning Board heard a request last night to change the redevelopment plan for the former Michelin Tire Co. factory situated between Ford Avenue and Mill Pond in the tiny borough. more...

> Borough plans for project (06/30/2004)
HIGHTSTOWN - The borough unveiled a draft of its proposed redevelopment plan this week that outlines specific requirements for the Main Street redevelopment area, including the rug mill on Bank Street. more...

> Woodbury Heights OKs Super G plan (06/30/2004)
WOODBURY HEIGHTS -- The borough's zoning/planning board has given the go-ahead on plans to build a 58,700-square-foot Super G store on Route 45, township officials said. more...

> McGreevey urged to veto smart-growth bill (06/30/2004)
Sparking what they say will be a major campaign Tuesday, environmental justice, conservation and civil rights groups from across New Jersey urged Gov. James E. McGreevey to veto a controversial smart-growth bill. more...

> Officials unveil ideas for Route 70 (06/30/2004)
State transportation officials acknowledged Tuesday that they're not going to eliminate congestion on Route 70, one of the most heavily traveled routes in South Jersey. more...

> Builder moves to buy W. Orange battery factory (06/29/2004)
After its proposal to turn the Edison Battery Factory into a $140 million complex with a new library and glistening tower was rejected by the West Orange Township Council, New York builder Terramark LLC didn't go back to the drawing board. more...

> $3.7M bond authorized (06/29/2004)
PRINCETON TOWNSHIP - In a 4-0 vote, the township committee adopted a $3.7 million bond ordinance last night that authorizes financing for various capital improvements, mostly road and sewer projects. more...

> Edison firehouse repairs OK'd (06/29/2004)
EDISON: The Township Council has approved a $1.5 million contract for repairs to Firehouse 2, which has been shut down since mid-April. more...

> Vote on Crossroads stalls (06/29/2004)
OLD BRIDGE: Township Council members delayed adoption of an ordinance on redevelopment of the 500-acre Crossroads tract off routes 9 and 18 last night. more...

> Renovations going smoothly (06/29/2004)
ABERDEEN -- The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District's $38.5 million school renovation plan is proceeding on time and under budget, according to project managers who appeared before the Board of Education last night. more...

> Inflation Makes Its Move (06/28/2004)
If you are feeling nostalgic for the 1970s, forget about dusting off the lava lamp. Go to a construction bid closing these days where estimators are having flashbacks to ’70s-style materials price inflation. more...

> Change in plans for Morristown station (06/25/2004)
The developer for Highlands at Morristown Station promised members of the Morristown Planning Board last night a virtual tour of the proposed retail/apartment complex. more...

> Freeholders OK bids on bridge (06/25/2004)
MOUNT HOLLY - The Burlington County freeholders this week unanimously approved construction bids to replace the River Street Bridge in Smithville Park in Eastampton. more...

> Building contracts approved for parks (06/25/2004)
MOUNT HOLLY - The Burlington County freeholders approved construction contracts for two new county parks this week. more...

> Shipyard apartments clear hurdle (06/25/2004)
HOBOKEN - The Planning Board has approved the fifth section of the Shipyard complex, the 1,160-unit residential development on 14th Street and the waterfront that is more than half complete. more...

> Monroe Twp. roads in need of improvement (06/25/2004)
MONROE TWP. -- Two accident-prone intersections here are at the top of the township's priority list for needing improvement. more...

> House, Senate Pass One-Month Transport Bill Extension (06/25/2004)
Congress has approved legislation to keep federal highway and transit programs going for another month, as negotiations continue to move slowly on a long-term successor to the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. more...

> Old steel plant getting new look (06/25/2004)
The smell of fresh concrete lingered in the air Thursday as commercial real estate brokers got a sneak peek at a property billed as a model for Gov. James E. McGreevey's "smart growth" development plans. more...

> Engineering firm seeks input on parkway plans (06/25/2004)
MIDDLE TOWNSHIP - The long process of unclogging the Garden State Parkway's clog-prone exit 10 began with a feasibility study last month. more...