I believe that action speaks louder than words. Want to know what someone stands for? Look at their record of results. In my twelve years on Passaic County’s governing body, I have demonstrated a commitment to fiscal responsibility, economic development, and standing up for the vulnerable (particularly children with disabilities) and for the American values of inclusion and opportunity.
Transportation Improvements
As Passaic County’s representative on the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), a regional transportation panel that directs nearly $4 billion per year in federal infrastructure funding from Ocean County to the New York border, I have been an advocate for the transportation needs that affect everyone who lives in or travels through our county. Among other things, I have:
- Helped advance and prioritize the Gateway Tunnel project, which is projected to create and sustain more than 46,000 jobs in our region and generate $445 billion in economic benefits by 2060.
- At my very first NJTPA meeting, stood up to Chris Christie to avoid a seventh delay in important improvements to traffic flow and safety in the Routes 46/3 interchange near Montclair State University in Woodland Park and Little Falls. This $300 million project was supposed to be finished by 2011, but when I became a Freeholder in 2013 it was still on the drawing board. Now it’s done, making the daily commute safer and faster for all of us.
- Adopted the most comprehensive Complete Streets plan in the State of New Jersey, to make sure our roads are safe for all users and we’re doing everything we can to preserve our natural environment and air quality while mitigating storm water runoff.
- Advocated more than $1 million in federal grants to preserve and expand the Morris Canal Greenway as open space for recreation and historic tourism.
- Launched the North Jersey Rail Coalition, advocating the development of commuter rail to connect Passaic, Morris, and Sussex Counties to economic centers in Bergen County and ultimately to New York City by connecting with the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.
- Brought tens of millions in new direct funding for Passaic County initiatives, including $15 million for safety improvements along Valley Road in Wayne; a total of over $25 million to improve traffic and pedestrian safety in Paterson and Clifton; and $3.4 million to develop the Highlands Rail Trail, including $1.5 million to begin construction in Wanaque.
- Advocated and received more than $5 million for rural road safety in towns like Bloomingdale, North Haledon, and Wayne.
- Improved local business’ ability to ship goods westward by pushing completion of the Two Bridges Road project connecting Wayne’s West Belt to Morris County and I-80 West.
Projects like these, and a host of other small streetscape and road safety projects, drive growth for businesses and improve quality of life for residents and commuters in Passaic, Morris, and Essex Counties. Through advocacy and collaboration with local governing bodies, we have also been able to improve and preserve historic treasures like the Morris Canal Greenway without increasing the burden on taxpayers.
To learn more about John’s Record of Results, click here.