NJ Transit Tries to Push Through a Dirty Deal to Ferry Company  

In a last minute move, the NJ Transit Board of Directors is trying to push through a vote on purchasing the Union Dry Dock property in Hoboken. They want to then lease the company to NY Waterway for use as a ferry maintenance and refueling facility. This is on a site the city of Hoboken is trying to acquire for a waterfront greenway.

NJ transit is trying to push this dirty deal at the last minute to take care of NY Waterways. They want to take land that should be a waterfront park and give it away to one of Christie’s buddies. They expect the taxpayers to buy this land and then turn it over to the ferry company, putting a major industrial use in the middle of a greenway. This just shows their arrogance and undemocratic ways to take care one of his special interest buddies. The owner of the company is a big Republican and friend of Christie. The city has been battling to acquire this site for years as an important waterfront park and greenway for NJ,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “What is more outrageous is NJ Transit is trying to slip this through on Martin Luther King Jr. day, a national holiday and days before a new governor is being sworn in.”

The 130-year-old shipyard occupies about 3 acres of riverfront land between 10th and 11th Streets, which the city wants for another link in its chain of waterfront parks and walkways opposite the Manhattan skyline.

“NJ Transit is trying to build in the middle of green way and river walk in Hoboken. This is a heavy industrial use that will increase air pollution and noise from diesel engines. The project would also interfere with the Hudson River walkway. There are alternatives sites for this facility that make more sense,” said Tittel.

A vote had been scheduled for the board’s regular meeting on Wednesday, but the meeting was postponed after too few members were present for a quorum. The next meeting will be on Monday, January 15^th at 9:00 am in Newark at the NJ Transit Headquarters at 110 Plaza East.

“This is another example of a rouge agency that is out of control that has gone on to destroy one of the best transit systems in the country. They have increased fares, cut down on services and the trains are always breaking down. The public needs to come out and say no to this taking what should be public space and to this give away to a private company,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.