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Route 92 on the Ropes
July 26, 2004
Mobilizing the Region,
A Weekly Bulletin from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign

Joining a growing chorus of criticism, the Star-Ledger unequivocally argued against building the Rt. 92 highway project in an editorial published last week. In its condemnation of the new highway, the paper joins a vocal opposition that includes civic leaders, citizens, and Tri-State Campaign, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"The current plan is too expensive and too damaging to the environment for little payoff in terms of congestion relief," the paper said in reference to the $400 million highway, which would connect Route 1 to the NJ Turnpike. "Planners should look elsewhere or make do with upgrades to current roads."

This suggestion echoes a recent EPA letter to the US Army Corps of Engineers, which is the agency tasked with completing the project’s environmental review. The EPA urged the Corps to look again at less drastic alternatives, like improving area intersections and creating a new interchange between Routes 32 and 130.

These more direct improvements to local roads particularly make sense given the highway’s quite modest ability to mitigate projected traffic congestion in southern Middlesex County. The Ledger points out that by 2028 trip times would be cut by an average of only 4 1/2 minutes on most routes, and would even increase in some cases, according to the Corp’s draft environmental impact statement.

The Star-Ledger concluded that "Route 92 is a dead end" given its "limited traffic benefits, its staggering $400 million cost and its serious environmental impacts." Governor McGreevey should heed the growing chorus of opposition to the costly project and call it off for good.