ME Quarterly | Autumn 2006

Your Executive Committee has been very busy working on behalf of the Society. We continue to review the priorities set during our strategic planning session earlier this year. We are working on improving our Public Relations through better communications on our website and in our newsletter. We encourage you to visit our website and make suggests on continuing how to make it more effective for the members.

In August, we met with representatives of the utility owners to discuss our proposed draft amendment to the “One-Call” utilities mark out statue which would require utility companies to provide facilities information for design purposes. It was a good introductory meeting. The utility companies are to respond with their comments in late October. The Subcommittee will evaluate the comments received and respond accordingly. Our next step will be to meet with the Board of Public Utilities to present the proposed legislation to them.

We have formed a committee to review and update the NJSME Asphalt Handbook incorporating a section for super pave asphalt and making it consistent with RSIS.

The Municipal Engineering Institute has enrolled a full class for the Certified Municipal Engineer’s course once again. I want to thank all the instructors who volunteered their time to teach the various sessions of the nine month course. It is one of the New Jersey Society of Municipal Engineer’s premier activities.

I urge you to attend our activities at the New Jersey League of Municipalities next month. On Wednesday, November 15, 2006, we have our business meeting at 10:00 A.M. and our annual awards luncheon at noon. On Thursday we will participate in a panel discussion with the Municipal Attorney Association on the common and difference roles we have in providing professional services to our municipalities.

The success of NJSME is due to the active participation and input of our members. If you have any suggestions, comments or want to participate in a Committee or Task Force, please contact Matt Halpin, our Executive Director or any of our officers.

The Asphalt Handbook Committee, comprised to date of Dr. Yusuf Mehta, Rowan University; Dr. Joseph Smith, Rutgers University; Chris Nash, Boswell Engineering; Mike Angelastro, R&V Engineers; Zafar Alvi, Newark Engineering Dept.; John Wiggins, NJIT and Tim Kernan, Kernan Engineers, will be performing a comprehensive update of the NJSME’s Asphalt Handbook beginning in the fall. This is in part due to the advent of Superpave and it’s inclusion in the latest version of the RSIS. The Society desires to keep the Handbook relevant and an authoritative reference within the RSIS.

To that end, the Society seeks other interested individuals to participate in this worthy process. Particularly, the Society desires to include at least one full time Municipal Engineer. Please email Tim Kernan @ tkernan@kernaneng.com to express your interest.

Safe Routes to Schools Returns

C. Richard Roseberry P.E., P.P., C.M.E.
As Reported from the Safe Routes to Schools Technical Advisory Committee

On September 18th, Governor Corzine announced the creation of a five (5) year, $74 million initiative to improve pedestrian safety throughout New Jersey. This initiative will create a fund that will be used for intersection and sidewalk safety improvements, traffic mitigation measures, education and enforcement efforts, and planning and technical guidance. $15 million of the initiative will be provided to local governments for the creation of safer walkways, bikeways, and street crossings near schools through the increasingly popular Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) program. After over a year’s absence, the SRTS grant program is scheduled to return with an announcement from the NJDOT in early October and a deadline for the submission of grant applications on December 31st. Some of the highlights of the Safe Routes to Schools program are:

The program will now be federally funded.
Applications for funding will require endorsement from both the municipality and the local school district or county.
Schools that produce a School Travel Plan will be given more credit.
Extra points will be given for schools that have demonstrated commitment by holding a SRTS related event like an International Walk to School Day, a bicycle rodeo or similar.
Infrastructure projects must be located within 2 miles of a K-8 school.
Applications for infrastructure must include programs that address education and/or enforcement.
Projects that are awarded must be ready for implementation within 2 years of the grant award date or the grant will be forfeited.
Applicants should demonstrate the ability to evaluate their programs.
Workshops on Federal Aid will be held in the future.
No local match for funding will be required; the municipalities, counties, or school districts must spend the money first before the NJDOT will reimburse them.
The website for the SRTS program is http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/community/srts/
The Voorhees Transportation Center will be hosting up to ten (10) workshops in October and November to coincide with the grant application process.

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Contribute To The MEQ!

The NJSME is looking for volunteers to contribute to the MEQ publication by submitting articles. This publication is a great opportunity to discuss an issue facing you or your town, or even to point out some news relating to an interesting project you’ve been working on. For more information, contact Matt Halpin.