Title
Dept/ Agency: Engineering
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Support Resolution
Purpose: To provide a Support Resolution for a Preliminary Preferred Alternative for the Replacement of the Hudson County/Essex County Clay Street Bridge over the Passaic River and the Improvements to the Approach Roadways in the Borough of East Newark and the City of Newark.
Location: Hudson County/Essex County Clay Street Bridge
Additional Information:
No municipal funds are required.
body
WHEREAS, the Hudson County/Essex County Clay Street Bridge, spanning the Passaic River and connecting the Borough of East Newark and the City of Newark, was constructed in 1908 and is a critical transportation connection for residents and commuters in both Counties; and
WHEREAS, the office of the Hudson County Engineer and the office of the Essex County Engineer has determined that the bridge is in need of replacement and, through a federally funded Local Concept Development (LCD) Study process administered by North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), has performed an alternatives analysis to identify and evaluate viable and feasible alternatives to replace and/or rehabilitate the bridge, completed in 2020; and
WHEREAS, the NJTPA and the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) have been project team members with Hudson and Essex Counties; and
WHEREAS, the project team held two (2) public information centers, each with afternoon and evening sessions, to inform the public and receive comments and input for the project during the LCD Study and maintained a project website to further assist the public in obtaining information about the project; and
WHEREAS, the project team met with respective municipal representatives to inform them and receive comments and input for the project; and
WHEREAS, based on the alternatives analysis and the public and municipal comments, the Project Team’s recommended Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA), referred to as Concept 3C during the LCD Study, is a complete replacement of the bridge on the existing alignment with a movable bridge over one 75' waterway channel; and
WHEREAS, the project is now in the Local Preliminary Engineering (LPE) phase to further develop the design plans for a complete replacement of the bridge on the existing alignment with a single span movable bridge over one 75' waterway channel; and
WHEREAS, the project team held two (2) local official meetings, one (1) community stakeholders meeting and one (1) public information center meeting online, to inform the public and receive comments and input for the project during the LPE phase and maintained a project website to further assist the public in obtaining information about the project; and
WHEREAS, the new bridge accommodates the future commercial and recreational users of the Passaic River; and is critical for improving economies for business in the area; and
WHEREAS, the new bridge will address the continuing disturbance and delays to vehicular traffic and pedestrian mobility as a result of frequent maintenance to the existing bridge due to its serious overall condition; and
WHEREAS, the Counties of Hudson and Essex will continue to maintain and operate the new Clay Street Bridge; and
WHEREAS, the County of Hudson and County of Essex are desirous of completing the Local Preliminary Engineering phase and proceed to the Final Design phase; and
WHEREAS, to qualify to receive federal funding for the final design phase, an updated resolution of support of the project from the City of Newark is appropriate and will be included in the Local Preliminary Engineering (LPE) report documentation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1) This Resolution provides support from Newark Municipal Council (“Municipal Council”) and the City of Newark for the bridge replacement of the Clay Street Bridge on the existing alignment with a single span movable bridge over one 75' waterway of the Passaic River.
2) No municipal funds are required.
STATEMENT
This Resolution hereby declares that the City of Newark is providing local support, for a Preliminary Preferred Alternative for the Replacement of the Hudson County/Essex County Clay Street Bridge over the Passaic River and the Improvements to the Approach Roadways in the Borough of East Newark and the City of Newark. No municipal funds are required.