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Remarks of Mayor Alberto G. Santos on the Opening of the New Bergen Avenue Extension |
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6/16/2006 |
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 On June 13, 2006, the Mayor and Council opened the new Bergen Avenue extension. The metaphorical road to get to this point was a remarkable five year effort that entailed applying for grant funding, and undertaking significant engineering and legal work to construct a half-mile municipal roadway that, while existing on paper for decades, had been nothing more than stagnant landfill.
This $3 million project was funded with federal EDA funds and New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) funds. No property tax dollars were used. Without the UEZ and EDA funding, this roadway and accompanying sewer line would not have been undertaken. In this regard, I am thankful for the efforts of Fred Michaeli of Planners Diversified, Ed Hummel of the EDA, the State UEZ, the Kearny UEZ board members, and then-private citizen Susan McCurrie who attended the EDA meeting five years ago that initiated the successful funding process.
This road is a remarkable engineering accomplishment. Two rail lines, a sizeable creek and flooding conditions all had to be overcome. We were able to do so through the hard word of Michael Neglia, the town engineer. It is also a remarkable legal accomplishment that entailed multiple condemnations handled by the town attorney, Gregory Castano, Sr.
The project is also noteworthy because of the level of cooperation among different governmental jurisdictions. This roadway connects two vital County of Hudson roads – Schuyler Avenue and the Newark and Jersey City Turnpike. I would like to thank the County engineer, Bob Jasek, for his assistance and cooperation, especially with the new traffic light and intersection on the Newark and Jersey City Turnpike. The other governmental entity whose cooperation was critical was the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission which has land use authority over this area. I would like to thank Executive Director Bob Ceberio and Commissioner Susan Bass Levin for sharing the town’s vision.
While the Kearny Town Council and I celebrate this accomplishment, I also would like to use this opportunity not just to look back but also to envision what this area will look like in five years. The retail development which has begun across the street to the south, with Wal-Mart as the first piece, will undoubtedly continue, bringing much-needed tax ratables, sales tax revenue and jobs to our community. Property fronting on the new Bergen Avenue extension will likely develop into mixed commercial uses, bringing further ratables to our town. The remediation of the Keegan landfill to the north will be well on its way in five years, bringing the town closer to our shared vision with the Meadowlands Commission of recreational fields and open spaces for the former landfill. And my vision also includes a re-activated Kingsland rail line, with a station on this new roadway extension, restoring commuter rail service to the Town of Kearny. I am convinced that this new roadway is an integral part of that vision – that it will be a road that takes our community to greater success.
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