DIVERSE COALITION OF NEW JERSEY GROUPS AND ELECTEDS PRAISE DECISION BY GOV. SHERRILL AND NJ TURNPIKE AUTHORITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A ONE BRIDGE SOLUTION AND REPAIRS FOR NJ TURNPIKE EXTENSION
For Immediate Release: March 4, 2026
Contacts: John Reichman, 917.626.8025, john@johnreichmanlaw.com
Trenton, NJ -- Today, the EmpowerNJ and the Turnpike Traps coalitions, joined by a bevy of elected leaders from Hudson and Essex County applauded the announcement by Gov. Sherrill yesterday ahead of this morning’s NJ Turnpike Authority board meeting to only move forward with one new Newark Bay Bridge as part of the Turnpike Extension and take a repair-first approach for the rest of the Extension through Jersey City with no lane expansions. The announcement caps a six-year campaign to convince the Turnpike Authority to scrap a massive, outdated $10.7 billion expansion of the highway leading to the Holland Tunnel bottleneck.
Our core asks throughout this campaign have been simple: for clean air, safe streets, and mass transit. The Governor’s announcement answers this call and is great news for NJ, Hudson County, Newark, and the environment. As our coalitions already stated, replacing the existing Bridge without expanding it would accomplish the Project’s safety goals while:
Saving billions of dollars in construction costs and construction time
Avoiding more air and noise pollution and further harming populations with high asthma rates in Jersey City and Newark
Avoid self-defeating induced demand and increased congestion on local streets
Allowing more revenue to be used to make much needed improvements to clean and efficient public transit
Lessening the disturbance of hazardous substances in Newark Bay
Removing the threat of litigation that could derail the project altogether
Elected leaders and coalition organizations responded to the announcement with a series of statements:
Mayor Solomon, Jersey City and Mayor Baraka, Newark
“Governor Sherrill is showing true, community-led leadership. Today’s decision acknowledges that the previous proposal would’ve opened the floodgates of heavy traffic through communities that already bear a high burden of traffic and air pollution. For years, our communities fought against a seriously ill-conceived plan while proposing serious alternatives. It took Governor Sherrill’s leadership to listen and act in the best interest of the people of New Jersey.
The Governor’s announcement is a major step in the direction of smart, transportation policy that upgrades aging infrastructure, while addressing the needs of impacted communities. For years, dedicated community activists have campaigned for this reasonable solution. This win for our community is a testament to their hard work of building a coalition across the region.
In the end, Governor Sherrill made the right choice for the future of our cities, the environment, and for the economic future of New Jersey. Both of us sincerely thank Governor for her leadership for making the decision”
Senator Raj Mukherji (NJ-32), Vice Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee
“I deeply appreciate the Governor and Kris Kolluri acting swiftly and decisively to balance safety, job creation, and infrastructure needs with local traffic impacts and serious environmental, public health, and fiscal concerns,” said Senator Raj Mukherji (NJ-32), Vice Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and a longtime vocal critic of the previous Turnpike Newark Bay expansion proposal. “Infrastructure should connect communities, not divide them, and the decision not to expand capacity on the structures leading to the Holland Tunnel, value-engineer this project, and limit its apparent scope to a single bridge demonstrates appropriate deference to regional transit needs, equity, and impacts on the people who will live in the project’s shadow.”
Assemblywoman Katie Brennan (D-Jersey City)
"This is a huge win for the people of Jersey City and Hoboken," said Assemblywoman Katie Brennan (D-Jersey City). "It’s proof that local advocacy works. Our community came together to say this project was too big, too expensive, and too damaging to our neighborhoods, and the Governor listened. The original plan for two bridges would have brought more traffic and more pollution into the city, clogging up our streets and making them less safe for pedestrians. That's off the table now. I want to thank everyone who fought against this for years, even when this outcome didn’t seem possible. You all did this."
Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla (D-Hoboken)
"Jersey City and Hoboken have been fighting this project for years, and today we finally got the result our communities deserve," said Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla (D-Hoboken). "The Turnpike Authority spent years pushing a $10.7 billion boondoggle to double the size of the Newark Bay Bridge without ever seriously engaging the people who would live with the consequences. The Governor's decision to go with a single four-lane bridge is the right call. It replaces a structurally deficient bridge, it saves billions, and it doesn't expand highway capacity into neighborhoods that are already dealing with too much traffic.”
Eleana Little, Councilwoman, Ward E, Jersey City
“I’m thrilled Gov. Sherrill has chosen a one-bridge plan that won’t add lanes of traffic at any point along the I-78 turnpike extension. This follows years of feedback from experts and advocates, and is a huge win for climate, air pollution, traffic congestion and community health in Jersey City!”
John Reichman, Steering Committee, EmpowerNJ
“Governor Sherrill and Executive Director Kollari have wisely listened to the public and boldly decided to scale back the bloated Turnpike project by no longer funding the construction of a second bridge or additional travel lanes east of the Newark Bay Bridge. This will save billions of dollars, prioritize safety, repairs and transit over an unneeded highway expansion, and spare Hudson County from the increased traffic and pollution that would have been caused by expanding the Turnpike. This is a sweet victory for the thousands of activists and the myriad of environmental, transit and community groups who have opposed the Expansion for the last six years.”
Zoe Baldwin, Vice President for State Programs, Regional Plan Association
“New Jersey can’t afford to keep building yesterday’s mistakes,” said Zoe Baldwin, Vice President for State Programs at the Regional Plan Association. “Governor Sherrill showed real leadership by stepping back and asking the most important question in governance: what problem are we actually trying to solve? Decades of research show that widening highways doesn’t relieve congestion. Replacing the Newark Bay Bridge is essential, but scaling back the expansion keeps the focus where it belongs: on safety and reliability.”
Renae Reynolds, Executive Director, Tri-State Transportation Campaign
“This is a huge win! Moving forward with a one-bridge solution and focusing on repairs without adding new lanes to the Turnpike is a victory for equity, public health, and fiscal responsibility. By rejecting unnecessary expansion, the state is choosing a path that prevents a harmful decision that would have increased truck traffic and tailpipe emissions and disturbed contaminated sites in Newark Bay. We thank Governor Sherrill for championing safety, fiscal responsibility, and environmental justice for New Jersey,” said Renae Reynolds, Executive Director of Tri-State Transportation Campaign. Now, we must ensure that the savings from scaling back this project are reinvested in reliable, affordable transit and active transportation options that expand opportunity, access, and improve air quality for the communities most impacted by the highway.”
Emmanuelle Morgen, Executive Director, Hudson County Complete Streets
“Clean air, safe streets, and the agency of a community to decide its own fate--we thank Governor Sherrill for listening to constituents and recognizing that this project was out of scope for our dense and geographically narrow county. We at HudCoStreets thank our elected representatives and all the voices who spoke out to call into question the scope of this project.”
Sam DiFalco of Food & Water Watch
“Transportation is the largest source of climate pollution in NJ. These emissions also produce ground-level ozone, a leading cause of exceedingly high asthma rates in environmental justice communities in Newark and Hudson County,” said Sam DiFalco of Food & Water Watch. "At a time when we should be expanding green public transportation, not doubling down on car based infrastructure, we congratulate and commend everyone who worked for years to stop this massive and unnecessary turnpike expansion.”
Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey
“We applaud Gov. Sherrill for looking at this proposed project with fresh eyes and proposing the simplest solution of building a new replacement for the Newark Bay Bridge and repairing sections of the Turnpike Extension through Jersey City. The initial proposal by the Turnpike Authority would have led to more cars and trucks on our highways and local roads, more diesel pollution and ground-level ozone for Hudson County and led to higher health impacts in the corridor already known as Asthma Alley. This decision is a win for our lungs and we thank Gov. Sherrill for quickly moving forward with a one bridge solution which will be a win for Hudson County residents.”
Amy Goldsmith, NJ State Director, Clean Water Action
"Grassroots collective activism works and led the Governor Sherrill down a road and decision that put communities, transit and taxpayers first," stated Amy Goldsmith, NJ State Director, Clean Water Action. "We applaud her decision and are eager to find other ways to put union labor to work fixing crumbling infrastructure, undertaking climate resiliency projects, reducing congestion and air pollution that makes our family sick."
Debra Kagan, Executive Director, New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition
"Governor Sherrill’s decision to scale back the Bridge and Turnpike Extension shows leadership that listened to the voices of local leaders and advocates, who championed a solution to meet the need for new construction with the need for healthier communities and cleaner air. Limiting expansion and focusing on a repair first approach is a great win for NJ and sets a path forward for investment in a more sustainable and smarter transportation system across the state."
Talya Schwartz, President, SafeStreetsJC
"We applaud the governor’s decision to scrap the unnecessary and wasteful highway expansion through the most densely populated region in the state. A large majority of Jersey City residents use public transportation for commuting and travel, and we hope this decision signals a new dawn for transportation policy in NJ, with a commitment and focus on helping people move efficiently and safely throughout the state."
Tony Borelli, Vice President, Bike JC
“This is a great victory for people biking, walking, using mass transit, and yes, even driving in our city and beyond. Our community has known about the harms of highway widening projects for decades, and it’s encouraging to see a government that finally listens to its constituents. Let it also send a message: That the next time anyone tries to dump more deadly, dirty car traffic into our neighborhoods, we’ll fight them too—and we’ll win.”
Yvo Sin, President, Jersey City PS 5 PTA
"PS 5 sits just steps from the Turnpike, and our students already bear the burden of excessive noise and poor air quality every school day. This scaled-back plan is a victory for the families and children of Jersey City who deserve clean air and safe streets. We're grateful to the Turnpike Trap coalition and every advocate who made their voices heard."
Monica Harwell, Secretary of the Bayview/Skyline Block Association, Jersey City
“We applaud Gov. Sherrill for taking a second look at this project. Two bridges would have brought so much more traffic into our community, being an extension of exit 14B, and on Garfield Ave. We suffer enough with the current traffic off this exit, and more traffic would mean more pollution into neighborhood. The black and brown communities suffer enough with health issues.”
Eric Conner, Co-founder, Better Blocks
“Grateful to have a new administration in Trenton that will not repeat the mistakes of 20th century urban planning, and we look forward to advocating for better mass transit to sustain the growth of New Jersey’s vital cities in Hudson County.”
Pat DiRoma, Co-founder, Bergen County Complete Streets
"Governor Sherrill has made it clear that under her administration she is putting people over cars and embracing what we have known for decades - more lanes means more traffic. We applaud her decision and are excited to see New Jersey embrace forward thinking transportation policy."
Kim Gaddy, Executive Director, South Ward Environmental Alliance
“We thank Gov. Sherrill from hearing and responding to the community voices from Newark, Jersey City, Bayonne, and Elizabeth. Residents are sick and tired of breathing in the fumes from dirty truck traffic and highways and this victory affirms Our Lives Matters over highway expansions. Now we can invest in a healthier future for all residents in Newark to breathe Clean Air!”
Paula Rogovin, Chairperson, Coalition to Ban Unsafe Oil Trains
“We applaud Governor Sherrill’s decision to halt the Turnpike Expansion. This is a tremendous victory for environmental justice, for the many thousands of people whose health would have been impacted by the expansion. A salute to everyone who helped in so many ways over the years - petitions, rallies, phone calls, town resolutions, forums, and even multiple birddog actions. We hope many of the funds can be used to expand public transportation.” Paula Rogovin, Chairperson, Coalition to Ban Unsafe Oil Trains
Rev. Charles Lofflin, Executive Director of UU FaithAction NJ
"Scaling back this expansion is a victory for clean air and the health of our ‘Gateway’ communities. By choosing fiscal restraint over more pavement, the Sherrill administration is honoring our shared responsibility to the planet. This decision reflects our interdependence and protects the world we leave for the next generation."
Shirin Vazir MacCormack, President, McGinley Square Community Board (MSCB)
“Here’s to The Garden State for building balanced solutions, empowered by community advocacy, resident voice and vision, environmental justice, fiscal responsibility, receptive leadership, and improvement of existing resources!”
Philippia Athanasiou-Vaartstra, Founder, JC Heights Parents
“Governor Sherrill’s decision puts families and communities first. Thanks to the relentless work of advocates who fought to bring the truth to light, to the elected officials that supported them, and to the new administration that listened to them—our children can now look toward a healthier, more secure future.”
Ashley Swiggett, Community Lead, Traffic Reform Warriors
“Updating aging infrastructure without creating induced demand is a win for urban communities, commuters, transit and NJ as a whole!”
Gabby Feliu, Vice President of the Harsimus Cove Association
“Community-driven organizing made the difference and helped guide Governor Sherrill toward a fiscally responsible decision that puts public health, transit, and quality of life first,” said Gabby Feliu, Vice President of the Harsimus Cove Association. “Jersey City residents and local leaders were relentless and unified in calling for a change in direction from what would have been a generational infrastructure mistake. We appreciate her leadership and look forward to advancing solutions that promote long-term fiscal responsibility while repairing aging infrastructure, building climate resilience, expanding mass transit, and reducing traffic and air pollution.”
Sam Pesin, President, Friends of Liberty State Park
Sam Pesin, president of the Friends of Liberty State Park praised Governor Sherrill's wise decision and thanked Hudson County Complete Streets for leading this quality of life battle, and all the other groups, individuals and elected officials who opposed this catastrophic Turnpike expansion plan!
Blair Lorenzo, Executive Director, Effective Transit Alliance
"This is a great decision by Gov. Sherril, one which should have always been a no-brainer. Urban highway widenings have no place in the 21st century, and all too often, the need for structural replacement is used as an excuse for hidden road expansion. This is the right call not only for New Jersey, but for the entire metropolitan area."
Johan Andrade, President, Bike North Bergen
"A big win for Hudson County. A bigger win for New Jersey. We applaud the leadership of the new administration to listen to the communities being impacted by transportation decisions being made in Trenton. We look forward to creating a New Jersey that is greener, safer and inclusive of all types of transportation."
Christopher Vasquez, Founder, Strong Towns West Hudson
“Governor Sherrill made the fiscally responsible call. Expanding highways increases traffic, pollution, and long term costs. Her decision protects NJ's communities from all these avoidable harms.”
Rob Howley, Bike SOMA
“Kudos to Governor Sherrill for not doubling down on decades of failed highway widening projects. And congratulations to the countless advocates who spoke up in favor of clean air, safe streets, and a more sustainable transportation future. NJ is in your debt.”
Ben Vitale, SOMA Action Climate
“SOMA Action Climate applauds Governor Sherrill's leadership on the Newark Bay Bridge project. This right-sized approach is fiscally and environmentally responsible, prioritizing durable infrastructure over endless cycles of highway expansion. We further commend the Governor's holistic vision for transportation, including the creative appointment of Kris Kolluri to lead both NJ Turnpike Authority and NJ Transit.”
Andrew Wilson, Executive Director, Bike Hoboken
“Governor Sherrill did what great leaders do: she listened. In a decision that will shape New Jersey’s transportation future for decades, she is setting the stage for a modern transportation system — not repeating the mistakes of the past.”
Miso Demko, Co-Founder, Bayonne Green
"Real modernization starts with thinking differently about mobility and understanding people’s needs on a personal level. We are relieved to avoid the fate of another 100 years of traffic, and energized to turn the page in this story of building a greener, more inclusive and multi-modal New Jersey, together. We thank Gov Sherrill for her leadership and all parties who came to this agreement."
Stephen Dunn, President, Union County Connects
“Union County Connects is thrilled with Governor Sherrill's decision to move forward with reasonable improvements to the Newark Bay Bridge. We applaud our partners at Hudson County Complete Streets and are proud to have been part of the broad coalition of community groups who consistently engaged decision makers and opposed the original proposal to widen the Turnpike, which was fiscally and environmentally irresponsible. We look forward to a future of investment in active transportation and public transportation while leaving the detrimental legacy of highway expansions where they belong, in the past.”
