Opponents of Route 92 — the proposed toll highway that would link Route 1 to New Jersey Turnpike Exit 8A and bring sprawl development to the largest parcel of open space in southern Middlesex County — have an ally in Senator Peter Inverso (R-Hamilton). Running a tight race against former assemblyman Anthony Cimino (D-Hamilton Township), the Senator opposes the project due to its ballooning costs and environmental impacts, according to his campaign manager.

Route 92 is an expensive project with potential to strain state transportation coffers while adding to Middlesex County’s congestion woes. The Turnpike Authority estimates that Rt. 92 would generate an additional 10,000 to 15,000 new vehicles per day on Route 1 south of the new road and attract over 1,200 additional truck trips to the area. The project would cost over $350 million (in 1994 dollars), not including wetlands mitigation. New tolls on the road would not cover its cost.

Given these impacts and his stated aim to end subsidies for sprawl, Governor McGreevey should call off Route 92 for good. However, this May, the governor subjected the project to a review by his administration and asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to delay the release of its draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). Nothing has been heard since about where the project is going.

The clarity of Inverso’s position is refreshing and would present an interesting role reversal if the vocally anti-sprawl Governor McGreevey decides to proceed with the road project.

The Army Corps of Engineers expects to release its DEIS in the months following the election.

Inverso’s challenger, Anthony Cimino, is taking a wait-and-see approach to Route 92. Cimino’s campaign manager said the candidate would develop a position on the project when the DEIS becomes available. However, given the long history of the project, the DEIS is likely to provide little new information. 

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