As expected, debate is heating up with the approach of publication of a draft environmental impact statement for the NJ Turnpike Authority’s plan to build Route 92, a new-alignment highway across southern Middlesex County.

For example, last week, the road’s opponents successfully thwarted an initiative by its advocates to push a supportive letter to Governor McGreevey through the Central NJ Transportation Forum. The forum was established in 1999 by agencies and stakeholder groups to resolve issues regarding the Millstone Bypass, another controversial road project. Enough forum participants agreed that such a letter would be premature prior to the impact statement’s release that the matter was tabled. But it’s unclear how the forum itself can take a position prior to Governor McGreevey doing so, because many state entities — like NJ DOT and NJ Transit — are represented.

Opponents say Route 92 would fuel traffic and sprawl in the largest remaining portion of open space in Middlesex County.

Environmental and planning groups have told Governor McGreevey’s office that the highway’s construction will fly in the face of the governor’s smart growth initiative, and seriously damage its credibility. It would ruin 14 acres of wetlands and travel through an area designated on the state’s anti-sprawl "big map" as "red," or an area where growth is less desirable. The road and its frequent interchanges (every 1.7 miles) will promote low-density development across a rural area. Even without accounting for new development induced by the highway, the Turnpike Authority’s documents show that Rt. 92 would generate an additional 10,000 to 15,000 new vehicles per day on Route 1 south of Ridge Road and attract over 1,200 additional truck trips to the area in the year 2015.

The road will cost at least $400 million in construction and mitigation costs. In a time of fiscal woe, that money would be better spent reducing traffic congestion on existing roads. For example, delays on the Turnpike between Exit 8A and the Princeton area can be accommodated by making improvements to Exit 8A tolls and ramps, and at other nearby interchanges and intersections.

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