Route 92 study awaited by authorities
By: David Campbell , Staff Writer
Princeton Packet, 05/20/2003
Transportation forum decides to withold an endorsement.
WEST WINDSOR — The Central Jersey Transportation
Forum decided Friday to withhold an endorsement of Route 92 until
members have had an opportunity to review environmental findings by the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The New York District of the Army Corps has said its
draft environmental impact study of the roadway could be released this
month.
On Friday at Sarnoff Corp., the forum discussed
whether to approve a draft letter to Gov. James E. McGreevey that urges
the governor to "ensure that Route 92 is constructed as soon as
possible."
But a discussion among forum members indicated the
group is far from reaching consensus on the matter. Members chose to
wait until the Army Corps releases its draft environmental impact
statement on the roadway before deciding whether to endorse the project.
In the meantime, however, forum members agreed to
draft a letter to the governor affirming its findings that Route 92 is
a vital component of a package of roadway, mass transit and legislative
initiatives needed to adequately address the region's traffic problems.
The Army Corps began its environmental review in 2000
after stepping in to resolve a conflict between the federal
Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of
Environmental Protection.
The DEP issued a wetlands permit to the New Jersey
Turnpike Authority, which proposed Route 92, against the EPA's
recommendation the roadway not be built and permits not be issued.
The proposed 6.7-mile limited-access roadway would
link Route 1 in the vicinity of its intersection with Ridge Road with
Exit 8A of the New Jersey Turnpike. The proposed roadway would cut
through the northern tip of Plainsboro Township and run east to west
through much of South Brunswick along Friendship Road.