WARREN COUNTY, NJ – Senator Doug Steinhardt welcomed Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) and other top department staff on a tour this week to review several transportation concerns in the 23rd Legislative District.
“I was incredibly pleased to have the commissioner and key staff come to the district to see firsthand some of the local road projects that require the State’s attention and assistance,” said Steinhardt (R-23). “Having the commissioner and other top-level DOT representatives on-site to see the actual conditions, and be able to speak to local officials, helps in the planning and the resolution of these projects.”
The purpose of the district tour was to address transportation safety, congestion, and traffic issues in municipalities in Warren County including Hope, Knowlton, Columbia, White, Harmony, Lopatcong, and Phillipsburg. Legislators and DOT officials also headed onto I-78 to look at truck traffic issues at exits 7, 11, 12, and 13 in Union and Clinton townships and points east.
“We had a very productive meeting and studied the impact of everything from warehouses and truck traffic to aging infrastructure and intersections. We also looked at new and emerging traffic patterns and ways to bring relief to the residents of the communities most impacted by these issues,” Steinhardt said. “Commissioner Diane Guiterrez-Scaccetti offered insightful and helpful suggestions and demonstrated a willingness to be a partner with the district to help identify and solve problems.”
Some of the participants included Assemblyman John DiMaio (R-23), Warren County Commissioner Director Lori Ciesla, Hunterdon County Commissioner Director Zach Rich, and mayors and council members from across the district. Lt. Ed Moore, New Jersey State Police Station Commander in Perryville was also in attendance.
“In Lopatcong, this Council has taken strong steps to curb over development and all but eliminate the influx of warehouses. Our local roads aren’t big enough for the volume of truck traffic and the impact it has,” said Lopatcong Council President Bill Wright. “To have Senator Steinhardt, Commissioner Gutierrez-Scaccetti, and other officials in Lopatcong to study Strykers Road and 519—and talk about how we can all work together to alleviate that burden—is a great thing for our community. I’m grateful to them for their time.”
“A big thank you to Senator Steinhardt, Assembly Leader DiMaio, NJDOT Commissioner Gutierrez-Scaccetti, and Assistant NJDOT Commissioner Justin Braz,” said Hunterdon County Commissioner Director Zach Rich. “A fantastic team that took the time to listen and understand the issues that Hunterdon County local officials are facing in our communities. This is a great example of all levels of government coming together to make things happen.”
“It was a great opportunity to have Commissioner Gutierrez-Scaccetti come out to Phillipsburg and see the areas of concern we are trying to fix. It’s one thing to see Center Street on a map and read why we don’t want trucks on that road. It’s another thing to actually come out and see why they don’t belong on that road,” said Phillipsburg Councilman Randy Piazza Jr. “We were also able to visit an industrial area and discuss how a DOT grant will help with truck traffic through building the Howard Street extension. I am thankful to Senator Steinhardt for bringing all of these people together, and I believe that this will catapult our progress towards actively addressing the issues regarding truck traffic in our town.”
“Thank you to NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti for coming out to Warren County to tour the areas we’ve been identifying as areas we’d like the DOT to focus on, as well as issues that we and our municipal leaders need their support to tackle,” said Warren County Commissioner Director Lori Ciesla. “This visit was arranged by Senator Steinhardt, and we are thankful for his attention to all of our transportation issues. He and Assemblyman DiMaio were present to escort the Commissioner throughout the county, along with several of our municipal leaders. We are grateful that Commissioner Gutierrez-Scaccetti recognizes what we all know—Warren County is a beautiful hidden gem in New Jersey and we need to keep it that way. Her insight was invaluable and we look forward to working with her office on our projects, as well as her next visit to our County.”
“Union Township is incredibly grateful for the stewardship of Senator Steinhardt and for our opportunity to present our concerns directly to the DOT,” said Union Township Mayor David DeGiralamo. “In any situation, being heard is satisfying, and we were able to put our best foot forward in presenting our issues to the relevant decision makers who can effect change.”
