The Truth About Route 92
The Home News Tribune and writer Jake Stuiver are to be congratulated for the excellent two-part story, Route 92, The Corporate Connection .These articles presented a complete picture of those who stand to benefit from Route 92, and made clear the motivation behind this ill-conceived, wasteful proposed highway project.
Despite the clear and convincing evidence that the most significant beneficiaries of this private driveway are corporate interests located along Route 1 (largely in Plainsboro and Princeton), proponents of Route 92 continue their campaign to smear South Brunswick residents and to provide inaccurate and misleading information to the public. The Regional Planning Partnership (a pro-92 advocacy group) and Middlesex County Planning Director say in the article that South Brunswick is currently, or will in the foreseeable future, consider millions of square feet of warehouse space “in the area.” The clear intent of their comments is to infer: a) that South Brunswick is to blame for the problem in the first place; and b) that South Brunswick will be a major beneficiary of the project. Neither is, of course, accurate. What both fail to mention in their slanted comments is the fact that South Brunswick’s “warehouse district” will not benefit from Route 92. Unlike some of our self-serving neighboring communities, South Brunswick's planners thought through questions of access when we established our warehouse zone, and South Brunswick's is situated along the Route 130 – NJ Turnpike corridor, an area already having direct and immediate access to the New Jersey Turnpike from either Route 535 or Route 32. Further, while a Route 92/Route 130 interchange is part of the proposal, what is also not noted in their comments is the fact that this interchange already exists: it is currently the interchange formed by Route 130 and Route 32, opposite the Park and Ride.
For South Brunswick, Route 92 will destroy countless acres of pristine, environmentally sensitive open space, Route 92 will have a devastating effect on the quality of life of all of our residents, and Route 92 will lead, invariably, to an increase in development which will negatively impact the entire region. In short, Route 92, if ever approved, will be a $300+ million waste of money.
Finally, The Home News Tribune editorial hit the nail on the head - Route 92 will be a private driveway paid for with public resources. It will be a private driveway, which the taxpayers and motorists of this state the public will pay dearly for; and one which the residents of southern Middlesex County will pay for forever.