Concerned Citizens appeals to governor for Route 206 design

Coalition writes to Governor John Corzine calling for a more economical and enviornmentally sensitive design in Byram Byram - A broad coalition of regional, state and local planning, transportation and environmental groups has again written to New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine and Department of Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri calling for a more economical and environmentally sensitive design for Route 206 in Byram. The coalition appeals to the governor and commissioner to encourage a comprehensive study of the proposed DOT plan for widening the current 2-lane highway. “We are disappointed by the lack of response from both the governor and DOT to our March 10, letter,” said Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club’s New Jersey Chapter. “The governor’s campaign promises about being responsive to the needs of the environment and reforming senseless government spending could easily be kept by addressing the issues presented by this project.” Tittel said he understands some of the reasons for the delay, since so much attention has been focused on reauthorizing the Transportation Trust Fund and on the state’s budget crisis. The coalition charges DOT with ignoring its own Context Sensitive Design program, initiated several years ago to consider the economic and environmental needs of communities when making transportation improvements. “I hate to sound like a broken-record, but the message just doesn’t seem to be getting through,” said Damien Newton of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. “The state is rejecting the idea that wider highways are more safe and efficient than well-designed, smaller roads elsewhere in the state...why not Byram?” The groups believe special attention should be given to this project, because it is located in the sensitive highlands region and within a state-designated center. They argue that the proposed design is counter to the town’s vision of creating a walkable, human-scaled downtown, and ignores Byram’s goals for business development in its center. “This project is a poster-child for what is wrong with transportation planning within state centers,” said David Pringle of the New Jersey Environmental Federation. “Byram has a clear vision for its future development within this corridor. But the poorly planned, overbuilt freeway proposed by DOT is insensitive to the needs of the community and will rob the town of any chance for economic growth.” The Highlands Preservation Act imposes strict environmental regulations on much of the township, according to Pringle. Byram’s state-designated village center, a one-mile stretch of properties straddling Route 206 (equal to about two percent of the township’s total land area) is the only place where economic growth can take place in the township. Environmental concerns are also being ignored, according to Scott Olson of North Byram Concerned Citizens. “Six years ago DOT obtained an exemption from the requirement for an Environmental Impact Study of the 206 project, claiming that there would be no adverse environmental impacts. We now find DOT must mitigate for wetlands that will be harmed by the proposed widening,” Olson stated. “We are calling on the Corzine administration to pressure DOT for a complete and thorough study of the social, economic, and environmental impact of this project.” The letter also urges the governor to direct the DOT to sit down with Byram’s elected officials and citizens and with representatives of the Office of Smart Growth, Department of Environmental Protection and the Highlands Council to address critical unresolved design issues. “For years, the township has urged DOT to consider a more collaborative approach to this project,” said Donna Griff, Byram’s Deputy Mayor. “This call to action by local and statewide groups, showing their commitment to our community’s right to the process we deserve, speaks to the importance of this project for the environment and the economics of the highlands region.”