Hudson County: Upper Sinatra Drive Safe, the Hudson Reporter ‘wrong’
County of Hudson announces:
REPORTER STORY DOES NOT
TELL FULL STORY. SINATRA DRIVE SAFE SAVINGS FROM SEEKING FEDERAL DOLLARS COULD
HAVE BEEN IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
TELL FULL STORY. SINATRA DRIVE SAFE SAVINGS FROM SEEKING FEDERAL DOLLARS COULD
HAVE BEEN IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
Jersey City, NJ–The Hudson County Division of Engineering is seeking to contract
Langan Engineering of Elmwood Park, NJ to conduct an inspection of the area of
Sinatra Drive North adjacent to a section of the roadway that collapsed at 14th
Street in Hoboken in 2010. The cost of this inspection is estimated to be
$39,000.
Langan Engineering of Elmwood Park, NJ to conduct an inspection of the area of
Sinatra Drive North adjacent to a section of the roadway that collapsed at 14th
Street in Hoboken in 2010. The cost of this inspection is estimated to be
$39,000.
Over the last year, the
Division of Engineering sought federal funding for the inspection from a
program operated by the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway
Administration focused on bridge safety. Winning such funds would have been the
first step toward winning federal funding to conduct any future repairs. (The
cost of repairing the collapsed section in 2010 exceeded $2 million.)
Division of Engineering sought federal funding for the inspection from a
program operated by the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway
Administration focused on bridge safety. Winning such funds would have been the
first step toward winning federal funding to conduct any future repairs. (The
cost of repairing the collapsed section in 2010 exceeded $2 million.)
Ultimately the
inspection of this section of Sinatra Drive North, which does sit on an
underwater platform structure akin to a bridge, was not deemed eligible for
funding through this federal program.
inspection of this section of Sinatra Drive North, which does sit on an
underwater platform structure akin to a bridge, was not deemed eligible for
funding through this federal program.
Prior to seeking the
federal funding, the County Engineer was provided with a copy of the Hoboken
Waterfront Safety Inspection Report commissioned by the city of Hoboken and
carried out by Boswell Engineering of South Hackensack, NJ.
federal funding, the County Engineer was provided with a copy of the Hoboken
Waterfront Safety Inspection Report commissioned by the city of Hoboken and
carried out by Boswell Engineering of South Hackensack, NJ.
Based on that report,
which indicated that there was no immediate danger of collapse for the section
of Sinatra Drive North in question, the County Engineer believed in his
professional opinion, that he could take the time required to explore whether
the inspection could be funded federally.
which indicated that there was no immediate danger of collapse for the section
of Sinatra Drive North in question, the County Engineer believed in his
professional opinion, that he could take the time required to explore whether
the inspection could be funded federally.
Under questioning on
Tuesday at the most recent Caucus Meeting of The Hudson County Board of Chosen
Freeholders, one member, whose district does not include the area in question,
used language in an inspection report carried by Lagan Engineering immediately
following the collapse of the section of Sinatra Drive North to question the
decision of County Division of Engineering to take the time it did to seek the
grant.
Tuesday at the most recent Caucus Meeting of The Hudson County Board of Chosen
Freeholders, one member, whose district does not include the area in question,
used language in an inspection report carried by Lagan Engineering immediately
following the collapse of the section of Sinatra Drive North to question the
decision of County Division of Engineering to take the time it did to seek the
grant.
The County Engineer
attempted to explain during this questioning that in fact the Boswell report
followed the first Langan Report (Boswell’s was more recent) and that based on that
report, he believed, in his professional opinion, that waiting to seek possible
federal funding did not put the public at any risk.
attempted to explain during this questioning that in fact the Boswell report
followed the first Langan Report (Boswell’s was more recent) and that based on that
report, he believed, in his professional opinion, that waiting to seek possible
federal funding did not put the public at any risk.
“I want to assure
residents that I have complete faith in our Engineer’s decisions in this
matter,” said Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise. “It is unfortunate that there
appears to have been an effort to inflame public opinion regarding the
inspection process during the recent caucus.
Seeking possible federal dollars to underwrite this inspection was a
sensible financial decision backed by sound science and the fullest possible
concern for public safety.”
residents that I have complete faith in our Engineer’s decisions in this
matter,” said Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise. “It is unfortunate that there
appears to have been an effort to inflame public opinion regarding the
inspection process during the recent caucus.
Seeking possible federal dollars to underwrite this inspection was a
sensible financial decision backed by sound science and the fullest possible
concern for public safety.”
There are absolutely no
plans to close this section of Sinatra Drive North.
plans to close this section of Sinatra Drive North.
 |
| View from uptown Sinatra Drive. County Executive Tom DeGise called the misinformation about the safety of the area “an effort to inflame public opinion regarding the inspection process.” |
Talking Ed Note: The Hudson Reporter apparently agrees with MSV. They’ve yanked their “breaking” story down with no correction or explanation.