“According to the company, placing the electrolyzer at the Niagara Falls plant allows the project to take advantage of nearby hydropower and a crucial industrial location. This, in turn, results in a green hydrogen plant that is both energy-efficient and important to the region.”
”It uses electricity, sourced from clean hydropower, to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, in an electrochemical reaction made possible by its proton exchange membrane. This allows it to operate without producing emissions.”
“McMenamin emphasized the project’s broader significance. He noted that it not only contributes to local job creation but also reinforces New York’s position at the forefront of the clean energy transition. It is expected to drive both economic growth and environmental progress in the region.”
Philadelphia’s $20 million project has reconnected the Manayunk Canal with the Schuylkill Riverl, restoring flow to a waterway that had been stagnant for 85 years. he work removed decades of built-up sediment and restored water flow, improving water quality downstream where the Belmont and Queen Lane treatment plants draw about 30% of the city’s drinking water.
The restoration reconnects the canal to its natural ecosystem, creating healthier conditions for fish, birds, and other species. A pilot program will seed the waterway with thousands of freshwater mussels to examine their role in cleaning the stream. The project is already showing water quality gains and is expected to boost recreation and tourism along the Schuylkill River corridor.
A new poll conducted by Farleigh Dickinson University shows more than 75 percent of voters are concerned about damage from severe weather events. Large majorities say the state should invest in mitigation projects and resiliency.
“Our Infrastructure Matters” is a news program highlighting important infrastructure projects and issues throughout the region. From roads and bridges to rails and tunnels. From the energy and communications grids to drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater.
1
01:01:00,823 --> 01:01:04,160
When we think about new Jersey
infrastructure, we usually picture
2
01:01:04,160 --> 01:01:07,163
highways, rail lines, ports and pipelines.
3
01:01:07,330 --> 01:01:10,733
But long before route
one or the Northeast Corridor Railroad,
4
01:01:10,967 --> 01:01:12,635
there was another transportation
5
01:01:12,635 --> 01:01:15,605
spine running
quietly through the heart of the state.
6
01:01:15,672 --> 01:01:17,006
It was hand dug.
7
01:01:17,006 --> 01:01:20,410
It reshaped cities,
and it still matters today.
8
01:01:20,810 --> 01:01:24,080
This is the story of the Delaware
and Raritan Canal.
9
01:01:25,014 --> 01:01:26,983
The idea of cutting a canal across
10
01:01:26,983 --> 01:01:29,986
new Jersey is older than the United States
itself.
11
01:01:30,086 --> 01:01:35,591
In 1676, William Penn,
founder of Pennsylvania, proposed creating
12
01:01:35,591 --> 01:01:39,662
a water route across what he called
the narrow waist of new Jersey.
13
01:01:40,263 --> 01:01:44,801
His goal was ambitious a protected
inland passage connecting Philadelphia
14
01:01:44,801 --> 01:01:48,337
to New York Harbor,
avoiding the dangerous Atlantic route.
15
01:01:48,805 --> 01:01:51,507
Penn even ordered a survey
to see if it was possible
16
01:01:51,507 --> 01:01:54,610
to cut away across the country
to Sandy Hook.
17
01:01:55,044 --> 01:01:59,816
No record survives that the survey ever
happened, but the idea never disappeared.
18
01:02:00,383 --> 01:02:03,853
For the next hundred years,
the concept slipped quietly
19
01:02:03,853 --> 01:02:07,957
while colonies grew, fought a revolution,
and became a nation.
20
01:02:08,524 --> 01:02:12,028
But by the early 1800s,
America turned its attention
21
01:02:12,028 --> 01:02:16,866
to internal improvements, and new Jersey
found itself at the center of everything.
22
01:02:17,700 --> 01:02:21,003
By the 1820s, enthusiasm
for a canal linking
23
01:02:21,003 --> 01:02:24,006
New York
and Philadelphia reached a fever pitch.
24
01:02:24,407 --> 01:02:27,410
But there was a problem. Railroads.
25
01:02:27,677 --> 01:02:32,148
New Jersey lawmakers were split between
canal supporters and railroad advocates.
26
01:02:32,548 --> 01:02:36,185
Each side was powerful,
and each side blocked the other.
27
01:02:36,652 --> 01:02:40,923
The stalemate ended in 1830
with a uniquely new Jersey compromise.
28
01:02:41,524 --> 01:02:44,727
The legislature chartered both
and then merged them,
29
01:02:44,927 --> 01:02:48,931
creating a canal rail partnership
known as the Joint Companies.
30
01:02:49,365 --> 01:02:54,103
The Delaware and Raritan Canal Company
and the Camden and Amboy Railroad.
31
01:02:54,437 --> 01:02:57,440
Construction on both began the same year.
32
01:02:57,507 --> 01:03:02,411
By 1833, the railroad was running
from Bordentown to South Amboy.
33
01:03:02,912 --> 01:03:06,282
Parts of the canal opened
at the same time, but the full canal
34
01:03:06,282 --> 01:03:09,285
wouldn't be completed until 1834.
35
01:03:09,886 --> 01:03:13,890
On June 25th, 1834,
the canal officially opened.
36
01:03:14,357 --> 01:03:17,894
Governor Peter Dumont's room
boarded a ceremonial barge
37
01:03:17,894 --> 01:03:20,229
for a two day journey across the state.
38
01:03:20,229 --> 01:03:23,232
At every lock and bridge, crowds cheered.
39
01:03:23,766 --> 01:03:26,736
In New Brunswick,
he was greeted with a 24 gun
40
01:03:26,736 --> 01:03:29,739
salute
and a brass band parade through the city.
41
01:03:30,072 --> 01:03:34,310
The canal itself formed a giant meandering
“Y” across new Jersey,
42
01:03:34,877 --> 01:03:37,880
44 miles from Bordentown to New Brunswick,
43
01:03:38,447 --> 01:03:41,818
a 22 mile feeder canal from Raven Rock
to Trenton.
44
01:03:42,451 --> 01:03:45,421
The engineering
was remarkably sophisticated.
45
01:03:45,421 --> 01:03:48,591
The feeder canal was six feet
deep and 50ft wide.
46
01:03:49,091 --> 01:03:51,160
The main canal was seven feet deep.
47
01:03:51,160 --> 01:03:54,497
Later expanded to eight and 75ft wide.
48
01:03:54,964 --> 01:03:57,934
Seven locks lifted boats up to Trenton.
49
01:03:57,934 --> 01:04:01,637
Seven more brought them back down
to sea level at the Raritan River.
50
01:04:02,338 --> 01:04:05,341
Stone riprap lined the banks to prevent
erosion.
51
01:04:05,775 --> 01:04:10,079
Swing bridges pivoted sideways
so vessels of any mast height could pass.
52
01:04:10,479 --> 01:04:15,585
By 1868, even the locks were powered
by steam, and once built,
53
01:04:15,751 --> 01:04:19,121
the canal barely needed modification
for the next century.
54
01:04:20,022 --> 01:04:22,758
But this achievement came at a price.
55
01:04:22,758 --> 01:04:26,596
Most of the canal was dug by hand
by Irish immigrant laborers.
56
01:04:27,129 --> 01:04:30,600
In 1832,
cholera swept through the work camps.
57
01:04:30,933 --> 01:04:33,936
Dozens, possibly hundreds, died.
58
01:04:34,003 --> 01:04:36,439
They were buried in unmarked mass graves
59
01:04:36,439 --> 01:04:40,276
at Bull's Island,
Ten Mile Run and Griggstown.
60
01:04:41,310 --> 01:04:44,213
In 2003, a granite monument
61
01:04:44,213 --> 01:04:47,984
cut from a former canal
lock was dedicated to their memory.
62
01:04:48,618 --> 01:04:52,021
It stands today as a reminder
that infrastructure is built
63
01:04:52,221 --> 01:04:56,058
not just with money and materials,
but with human lives.
64
01:04:57,560 --> 01:05:00,229
A canal journey
from Bordentown to New Brunswick
65
01:05:00,229 --> 01:05:03,299
took nearly two days,
but that was revolutionary.
66
01:05:03,833 --> 01:05:06,469
Before the canal, shipping goods
from Philadelphia
67
01:05:06,469 --> 01:05:09,472
to New York by sea could take two weeks.
68
01:05:09,538 --> 01:05:12,541
The canal transformed cities at its ends.
69
01:05:12,808 --> 01:05:15,411
Trenton's population quadrupled.
70
01:05:15,411 --> 01:05:19,682
Ironworks, ceramic factories
and manufacturers surged in.
71
01:05:20,349 --> 01:05:24,320
But the canal's greatest beneficiaries
were New York and Pennsylvania.
72
01:05:24,887 --> 01:05:28,491
Pennsylvania
anthracite coal destined for New York's
73
01:05:28,491 --> 01:05:31,761
furnaces
and homes became the canal's lifeblood.
74
01:05:32,061 --> 01:05:35,932
At its peak in 1871, nearly 3 million
75
01:05:35,932 --> 01:05:40,102
tons of freight passed through the canal,
more than the Erie Canal carried
76
01:05:40,102 --> 01:05:41,837
That same year.
77
01:05:41,837 --> 01:05:46,008
And it wasn't just canal boats,
sailboats, steam tugs, yachts,
78
01:05:46,342 --> 01:05:49,412
and even naval vessels
passed through this narrow waterway.
79
01:05:50,346 --> 01:05:52,415
Ironically, the canal's decline
80
01:05:52,415 --> 01:05:55,851
began with its own partner in 1871.
81
01:05:55,952 --> 01:05:59,689
The Pennsylvania Railroad leased the canal
and its rail connection
82
01:05:59,922 --> 01:06:02,925
for 999 years.
83
01:06:02,925 --> 01:06:06,295
From that moment
on, canal traffic steadily fell.
84
01:06:06,896 --> 01:06:08,531
Railroads were faster.
85
01:06:08,531 --> 01:06:09,932
They ran day and night.
86
01:06:09,932 --> 01:06:11,934
They didn't freeze in the winter.
87
01:06:11,934 --> 01:06:17,106
By 1893, the canal was operating at a loss
and never recovered.
88
01:06:17,606 --> 01:06:21,043
Some historians
believe the railroad intentionally starved
89
01:06:21,043 --> 01:06:24,981
the canal of maintenance while favoring
rail shipments with lower rates.
90
01:06:25,548 --> 01:06:28,784
In 1933, the canal closed for the winter.
91
01:06:29,218 --> 01:06:30,987
It never reopened.
92
01:06:30,987 --> 01:06:34,623
Four years later, ownership
reverted to the state of new Jersey.
93
01:06:35,958 --> 01:06:38,327
Yet the canal wasn't finished.
94
01:06:38,327 --> 01:06:41,330
As industry
spread out in the 1930s and 40s.
95
01:06:41,464 --> 01:06:45,634
They needed water and the canal
could provide it cheaper than wells.
96
01:06:46,135 --> 01:06:49,772
So the canal reinvented itself,
not as a transportation
97
01:06:49,772 --> 01:06:52,775
corridor, but as a water supply system.
98
01:06:52,975 --> 01:06:57,146
Parts were filled in, including a section
in Trenton that became route one.
99
01:06:57,747 --> 01:07:00,750
Other sections were modernized
with concrete structures,
100
01:07:00,783 --> 01:07:03,786
steel gates, and improved flow systems.
101
01:07:03,786 --> 01:07:08,958
In 1973, the canal was listed on
the National Register of Historic Places.
102
01:07:09,425 --> 01:07:13,029
One year later, Citizen Advocacy helped
create the Delaware
103
01:07:13,029 --> 01:07:16,032
and Raritan Canal State Park.
104
01:07:16,198 --> 01:07:19,702
Today, more than a million people visit
the canal each year.
105
01:07:20,136 --> 01:07:23,472
It's a recreational corridor,
a conservation link,
106
01:07:23,973 --> 01:07:28,944
a historic landmark,
and it still supplies water to industry.
107
01:07:28,978 --> 01:07:30,446
Agriculture and drinking
108
01:07:30,446 --> 01:07:34,216
water systems serving nearly 1 million
new Jersey residents.
109
01:07:34,850 --> 01:07:37,853
This canal helped build city's
power industry
110
01:07:38,054 --> 01:07:40,556
and shaped the
economy of an entire region.
111
01:07:41,524 --> 01:07:44,193
The Delaware and Raritan Canal reminds us
112
01:07:44,193 --> 01:07:48,164
that infrastructure doesn't disappear
when its original purpose ends.
113
01:07:48,564 --> 01:07:52,001
When we preserve it, adapt it,
and understand its history.
114
01:07:52,201 --> 01:07:56,138
It continues to serve us in ways
its builders could never have imagined.
115
01:07:56,639 --> 01:08:00,076
And that's why our infrastructure matters.
116
01:08:01,143 --> 01:08:04,346
Clean water delivered
straight to your home.
117
01:08:04,547 --> 01:08:07,283
It's something
most people take for granted.
118
01:08:07,283 --> 01:08:11,353
But in new Jersey, aging, drinking
water infrastructure is leaking,
119
01:08:11,353 --> 01:08:14,356
crumbling and in urgent need of repair.
120
01:08:14,590 --> 01:08:16,292
In some cities, like Newark.
121
01:08:16,292 --> 01:08:20,896
Up to 40% of the water is lost
before it even reaches the tap.
122
01:08:21,363 --> 01:08:25,267
And New Jersey's drinking water travels
through a complex network
123
01:08:25,701 --> 01:08:30,806
stored in dams and reservoirs, filtered
through treatment plants and delivered
124
01:08:30,806 --> 01:08:35,778
through a labyrinth of underground
pipes, many of them over a century old.
125
01:08:36,445 --> 01:08:39,448
This system
serves over 9 million residents.
126
01:08:39,582 --> 01:08:42,351
But it wasn't built to last forever.
127
01:08:42,351 --> 01:08:44,587
In Newark alone, 40%
128
01:08:44,587 --> 01:08:47,590
of the city's
drinking water is lost to leaks.
129
01:08:47,790 --> 01:08:52,428
Statewide, the number is over
130 million gallons per day,
130
01:08:52,728 --> 01:08:55,464
enough to supply entire towns.
131
01:08:55,464 --> 01:08:58,734
Lead pipes still buried
beneath thousands of homes
132
01:08:59,135 --> 01:09:02,138
pose a health risk to children
and families.
133
01:09:02,338 --> 01:09:05,908
Old valves and undersized
mains can't meet today's
134
01:09:05,908 --> 01:09:08,911
demands or tomorrow's emergencies.
135
01:09:09,411 --> 01:09:12,882
New Jersey also relies on more than 1600
136
01:09:12,882 --> 01:09:15,885
dams to hold drinking water in reservoirs.
137
01:09:16,085 --> 01:09:20,723
Many were built in the 1950s
and 60s, and dozens are now considered
138
01:09:20,723 --> 01:09:25,060
high hazard, meaning failure
would endanger lives downstream.
139
01:09:25,761 --> 01:09:27,096
Like water mains.
140
01:09:27,096 --> 01:09:29,999
Our dam infrastructure needs modernization
141
01:09:29,999 --> 01:09:33,002
before small issues become disasters.
142
01:09:33,802 --> 01:09:36,972
Rebuilding
drinking water systems is no easy job.
143
01:09:37,473 --> 01:09:40,910
Operating engineers are the men and women
trained to do it.
144
01:09:41,243 --> 01:09:44,346
Operating
heavy machinery, laying new mains
145
01:09:44,613 --> 01:09:47,616
and repairing dams
with pinpoint precision.
146
01:09:48,050 --> 01:09:52,254
They complete thousands of hours
of training to keep water clean, safe
147
01:09:52,488 --> 01:09:54,123
and flowing.
148
01:09:54,123 --> 01:09:56,892
Thanks to the bipartisan
infrastructure law.
149
01:09:56,892 --> 01:10:01,430
Over $1 billion is coming to new Jersey
for water system upgrades.
150
01:10:01,931 --> 01:10:04,600
That means safer drinking water, stronger
151
01:10:04,600 --> 01:10:07,570
dams, and thousands of union jobs.
152
01:10:07,803 --> 01:10:09,672
But we can't stop now.
153
01:10:09,672 --> 01:10:12,675
The future of clean water
depends on steady investment
154
01:10:12,741 --> 01:10:15,744
and skilled workers ready to build it.
155
01:10:15,844 --> 01:10:19,048
What goes down
the drain doesn't just disappear.
156
01:10:19,448 --> 01:10:22,851
New Jersey's
wastewater systems are aging, overloaded,
157
01:10:23,152 --> 01:10:26,155
and in many places, dangerously outdated.
158
01:10:26,789 --> 01:10:30,359
Wastewater systems
carry used water from homes and businesses
159
01:10:30,359 --> 01:10:34,296
to treatment plants where it's cleaned
and returned to the environment.
160
01:10:34,697 --> 01:10:37,733
But much of this system is over
75 years old,
161
01:10:38,000 --> 01:10:41,003
cracked, leaking and undersized.
162
01:10:41,337 --> 01:10:45,341
In older cities, stormwater and sewage
share the same pipes.
163
01:10:45,641 --> 01:10:48,611
When it rains too much, the system
overflows.
164
01:10:48,877 --> 01:10:52,348
Dumping raw sewage
directly into rivers and streets.
165
01:10:52,781 --> 01:10:56,285
These combined sewer overflows, or CSOs,
166
01:10:56,285 --> 01:11:00,222
are a public health hazard,
and they're illegal under federal law.
167
01:11:01,323 --> 01:11:04,526
New Jersey's 200 plus wastewater
treatment plants
168
01:11:04,526 --> 01:11:07,930
process billions of gallons of used water
each week.
169
01:11:08,230 --> 01:11:11,267
But many plants were built decades ago
and struggled
170
01:11:11,267 --> 01:11:14,270
to meet stricter environmental standards.
171
01:11:14,603 --> 01:11:17,373
Operating engineers dig deep to install
172
01:11:17,373 --> 01:11:20,409
new sewer lines, operate dewatering pumps,
173
01:11:20,609 --> 01:11:23,612
and build the pump stations
that keep everything moving.
174
01:11:23,912 --> 01:11:28,550
Their expertise is critical to protecting
homes, rivers and water quality.
175
01:11:29,652 --> 01:11:31,920
Thanks to new infrastructure funding.
176
01:11:31,920 --> 01:11:34,923
New Jersey is tackling CSO hotspots
177
01:11:35,090 --> 01:11:37,826
and modernizing wastewater plants.
178
01:11:37,826 --> 01:11:41,063
These upgrades protect health,
improve the environment
179
01:11:41,230 --> 01:11:45,567
and create family sustaining union jobs
that can't be outsourced.
180
01:11:46,602 --> 01:11:50,839
Storms are growing stronger
and flooding is becoming the new normal.
181
01:11:51,407 --> 01:11:55,244
New Jersey's stormwater
systems are outdated and overwhelmed.
182
01:11:55,744 --> 01:11:59,181
Stormwater systems
are designed to capture rain and melting
183
01:11:59,181 --> 01:12:04,286
snow, then direct it safely into streams,
rivers or treatment facilities.
184
01:12:04,753 --> 01:12:08,223
But most of New Jersey's
storm drains were built decades ago
185
01:12:08,490 --> 01:12:11,260
without climate change in mind.
186
01:12:11,260 --> 01:12:14,496
Extreme storms now drop more water in less
187
01:12:14,496 --> 01:12:18,901
time, flooding homes,
closing roads and threatening lives.
188
01:12:19,435 --> 01:12:22,571
Hard surfaces like roads and roofs
make it worse.
189
01:12:22,671 --> 01:12:25,207
Preventing water
from soaking into the ground.
190
01:12:26,175 --> 01:12:28,477
Fixing stormwater means blending
191
01:12:28,477 --> 01:12:32,715
traditional gray infrastructure
with modern green techniques.
192
01:12:33,215 --> 01:12:36,685
Green solutions
like rain gardens and bio swales
193
01:12:36,885 --> 01:12:41,156
soak up rain naturally,
reducing the load on pipes and sewers.
194
01:12:41,457 --> 01:12:44,793
Together, they make neighborhoods
more flood resistant.
195
01:12:45,561 --> 01:12:49,965
From digging retention basins
to laying massive underground culverts.
196
01:12:50,132 --> 01:12:53,535
Operating engineers
make resilience projects real.
197
01:12:53,969 --> 01:12:56,905
Their skill and machinery help
protect communities
198
01:12:56,905 --> 01:12:59,908
from flooding before the next storm hits.
199
01:13:00,542 --> 01:13:03,545
Flooding won't stop,
but we can build smarter
200
01:13:03,912 --> 01:13:08,584
with green infrastructure,
smart investment and skilled union labor.
201
01:13:08,817 --> 01:13:11,820
New Jersey can lead the way
in flood resilience
202
01:13:11,920 --> 01:13:15,691
and build a safer, drier,
more secure future.
203
01:13:16,859 --> 01:13:19,128
When union labor and contractors
204
01:13:19,128 --> 01:13:23,298
come together for one common goal,
anything can be accomplished.
205
01:13:23,365 --> 01:13:26,702
Even the engineers labor
employer co-operative.
206
01:13:26,835 --> 01:13:30,873
We are the labor management fund
for the International Union of Operating
207
01:13:30,873 --> 01:13:36,412
Engineers, local 825 from Kingston to Cape
May and from river to river.
208
01:13:36,645 --> 01:13:38,380
We're creating the opportunities
209
01:13:38,380 --> 01:13:42,284
that spawn real economic development
and building the future.
210
01:13:42,418 --> 01:13:45,487
As members of the business community
and chambers
211
01:13:45,521 --> 01:13:49,124
of commerce, we create
the partnerships needed to collaborate.
212
01:13:49,124 --> 01:13:49,925
Success.
213
01:13:49,925 --> 01:13:54,196
As advocates, we shape the public policy
and local town halls
214
01:13:54,196 --> 01:13:58,333
and statehouses that protect our members
and generate possibilities.
215
01:13:58,367 --> 01:14:02,638
We eliminate entry barriers
that ensures our members are ready on day
216
01:14:02,638 --> 01:14:05,841
one for whatever work
our contractors require.
217
01:14:06,041 --> 01:14:09,778
And as industry innovators,
we develop grant programs
218
01:14:09,778 --> 01:14:13,949
to help our contractors compete
in underrepresented market sectors.
219
01:14:14,149 --> 01:14:17,653
This is what the 21st
century organized labor looks like.
220
01:14:17,920 --> 01:14:19,621
This is ELEC.
221
01:14:19,621 --> 01:14:21,490
building the infrastructure
222
01:14:21,490 --> 01:14:25,227
New York and Jersey relies on.
223
01:14:26,795 --> 01:14:30,332
Let's dig into a question
a lot of new Jersey families are asking.
224
01:14:30,699 --> 01:14:35,037
Why is my electric bill so high
when I haven't even used more power?
225
01:14:35,404 --> 01:14:38,407
The truth is,
your bill isn't just one number.
226
01:14:38,440 --> 01:14:41,210
It's really five bills rolled into one.
227
01:14:41,210 --> 01:14:45,481
Ever wonder what the supply charges on
your new Jersey energy bill really mean?
228
01:14:45,881 --> 01:14:47,082
That's the part of your bill
229
01:14:47,082 --> 01:14:50,786
that covers the actual cost
of producing the electricity you use.
230
01:14:50,986 --> 01:14:55,090
The generation itself,
your utility doesn't set those prices.
231
01:14:55,424 --> 01:14:58,427
They're based on market rates
for power from different sources
232
01:14:58,594 --> 01:15:01,597
like natural gas, nuclear and renewables.
233
01:15:01,730 --> 01:15:05,033
When fuel prices rise or state policies
change,
234
01:15:05,234 --> 01:15:09,471
supply charges can climb
even if your usage stays the same.
235
01:15:09,972 --> 01:15:13,175
So next time you look at your bill,
remember supply
236
01:15:13,175 --> 01:15:16,178
is what it costs
to make the power not deliver it.
237
01:15:16,445 --> 01:15:19,314
When you see delivery charges
on your new Jersey energy
238
01:15:19,314 --> 01:15:22,317
bill,
that's not the cost of making electricity.
239
01:15:22,484 --> 01:15:26,321
It's the cost of getting that power
safely to your home or business.
240
01:15:26,655 --> 01:15:30,492
Delivery charges cover the poles, wires,
maintenance, customer
241
01:15:30,492 --> 01:15:33,695
service, and emergency response
that keep the system running
242
01:15:33,862 --> 01:15:36,732
24 over seven in every kind of weather.
243
01:15:36,732 --> 01:15:41,203
These rates are regulated by the state,
meaning your utility can't raise them
244
01:15:41,203 --> 01:15:45,374
without approval from the state via
the new Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
245
01:15:45,674 --> 01:15:48,710
So while supply is what it costs
to make electricity,
246
01:15:48,944 --> 01:15:53,615
delivery is what it takes to keep it
flowing reliably to you and your home.
247
01:15:53,982 --> 01:15:57,419
Public policy
charges are the state mandated programs
248
01:15:57,419 --> 01:15:59,321
built into your energy bill.
249
01:15:59,321 --> 01:16:02,257
They fund a clean energy,
energy efficiency,
250
01:16:02,257 --> 01:16:05,260
and assistance programs
for low income families.
251
01:16:05,761 --> 01:16:09,097
They fund environmental initiatives
that support New Jersey's
252
01:16:09,097 --> 01:16:11,099
long term energy goals.
253
01:16:11,099 --> 01:16:12,935
These aren't utility profits.
254
01:16:12,935 --> 01:16:14,236
They're public programs
255
01:16:14,236 --> 01:16:18,340
required by state law
and approved by regulators, and consumers
256
01:16:18,340 --> 01:16:22,411
are responsible for paying them.
Taxes and fees on your New Jersey
257
01:16:22,411 --> 01:16:26,982
energy bill are state and local charges
collected to fund government services.
258
01:16:27,382 --> 01:16:30,786
They're separate from supply and delivery,
but a part of your bill
259
01:16:30,786 --> 01:16:32,955
that helps fund state efforts.
260
01:16:32,955 --> 01:16:36,725
So let's ask why are all of these pieces
climbing at once?
261
01:16:37,292 --> 01:16:41,196
Starting in 2016,
new Jersey started importing electricity
262
01:16:41,196 --> 01:16:45,334
from the PJM grid
after a series of power plant retirements.
263
01:16:45,534 --> 01:16:49,271
The state has become even more dependent
upon importing electricity
264
01:16:49,271 --> 01:16:50,606
from other states.
265
01:16:50,606 --> 01:16:54,209
The state hoped offshore
wind would increase in-state electricity,
266
01:16:54,476 --> 01:16:58,313
but in 2023, Orsted pulled out of
what was to be the state's
267
01:16:58,313 --> 01:17:00,248
first offshore wind farm.
268
01:17:00,248 --> 01:17:03,652
Blaming post-Covid supply
chain problems and inflation
269
01:17:04,052 --> 01:17:08,223
today, new Jersey still has no credible
plan for baseload power to meet
270
01:17:08,223 --> 01:17:13,829
growing demand, and the added usage
from building electrification, EVs and AI.
271
01:17:14,129 --> 01:17:18,433
Instead, Trenton is betting heavily
on intermittent wind and solar.
272
01:17:18,834 --> 01:17:23,939
The problem is when the sun sets or the
wind stalls, the grid still needs power.
273
01:17:24,206 --> 01:17:28,644
And right now, that means scrambling
for imports and other expensive means.
274
01:17:29,011 --> 01:17:31,279
That's why bills keep spiking.
275
01:17:31,279 --> 01:17:36,151
Bottom line these alternative energy
sources are unproven and unreliable.
276
01:17:36,385 --> 01:17:39,421
So when we are short on supply,
we pay more.
277
01:17:39,821 --> 01:17:43,692
Ultimately, the solution to New Jersey's
electricity shortage is building
278
01:17:43,692 --> 01:17:48,697
additional baseload generating capacity
from sources like natural gas and nuclear.
279
01:17:49,097 --> 01:17:52,801
When the world goes dark,
nuclear power keeps the lights on.
280
01:17:53,135 --> 01:17:56,505
Day or night, rain or shine, it
delivers steady,
281
01:17:56,672 --> 01:17:59,675
reliable energy
when consumers need it most.
282
01:18:00,075 --> 01:18:02,244
While other sources depend on the weather.
283
01:18:02,244 --> 01:18:05,981
Nuclear energy runs 24 hours
a day, seven days a week,
284
01:18:06,281 --> 01:18:10,652
quietly powering homes, hospitals
and entire communities.
285
01:18:11,086 --> 01:18:13,822
And it does it without the carbon
emissions.
286
01:18:13,822 --> 01:18:17,125
That's because nuclear power
is the energy that never sleeps.
287
01:18:17,392 --> 01:18:20,395
Reliable, clean and always on.
288
01:18:20,562 --> 01:18:23,532
As new Jersey plans for a stable energy
future.
289
01:18:23,565 --> 01:18:26,802
Natural gas
is emerging as a key part of the solution.
290
01:18:27,269 --> 01:18:29,938
Abundant and widely available, natural
291
01:18:29,938 --> 01:18:33,675
gas provides reliable baseload power,
keeping electricity
292
01:18:33,675 --> 01:18:37,746
flowing day and night,
even when solar and wind aren't producing.
293
01:18:38,146 --> 01:18:41,083
By using natural gas
strategically, new Jersey
294
01:18:41,083 --> 01:18:44,453
can help stabilize energy prices,
protecting families
295
01:18:44,453 --> 01:18:48,390
and businesses from spikes
while we transition to cleaner sources.
296
01:18:48,790 --> 01:18:54,029
Natural gas as part of a balanced,
modern energy mix helps ensure a secure,
297
01:18:54,062 --> 01:18:58,800
affordable and reliable electricity
future for everyone in the Garden State.
298
01:18:59,134 --> 01:19:02,838
Nuclear energy provides
clean, steady power 24 over seven
299
01:19:02,971 --> 01:19:06,975
while natural gas is abundant
and flexible, able to meet demand
300
01:19:07,109 --> 01:19:10,779
even when renewable sources
like wind and solar fluctuate.
301
01:19:11,113 --> 01:19:15,951
Together, they form a foundation
for a stable, affordable energy supply.
302
01:19:16,384 --> 01:19:19,788
Policymakers should focus on policies
that encourage investment
303
01:19:19,788 --> 01:19:22,991
in these reliable sources,
streamline regulatory
304
01:19:22,991 --> 01:19:25,994
approvals, and support
infrastructure upgrades.
305
01:19:25,994 --> 01:19:29,898
All steps that help control costs
for families and businesses.
306
01:19:30,165 --> 01:19:31,867
This isn't just about energy.
307
01:19:31,867 --> 01:19:33,869
It's an affordability crisis.
308
01:19:33,869 --> 01:19:36,104
Energy costs drive everything.
309
01:19:36,104 --> 01:19:40,509
If power is unaffordable, the state's
affordability crisis gets worse.
310
01:19:40,842 --> 01:19:42,444
When policy is done right.
311
01:19:42,444 --> 01:19:45,981
We see reliable, clean energy
at predictable prices.
312
01:19:46,081 --> 01:19:49,284
Investment in innovation
and reduced carbon emissions.
313
01:19:49,618 --> 01:19:51,419
Home stay warm in winter.
314
01:19:51,419 --> 01:19:54,756
Businesses
stay productive and communities thrive.
315
01:19:55,290 --> 01:19:58,894
But when policy goes wrong,
the consequences hit hard.
316
01:19:59,194 --> 01:20:02,197
Unstable markets, skyrocketing prices
317
01:20:02,264 --> 01:20:06,201
and energy shortages can ripple
through households and businesses alike.
318
01:20:06,535 --> 01:20:10,705
The burden falls heaviest on families
already struggling to make ends meet.
319
01:20:11,273 --> 01:20:14,509
Affordability
becomes a real challenge for planning
320
01:20:14,509 --> 01:20:18,547
can turn essential energy
into a costly, unpredictable expense,
321
01:20:18,713 --> 01:20:21,716
impacting everything from schools
to hospitals.
322
01:20:22,217 --> 01:20:25,554
Getting energy
policy right is about more than kilowatts.
323
01:20:25,921 --> 01:20:30,759
It's about security, fairness
and a sustainable future we can rely on.
324
01:20:31,293 --> 01:20:34,930
Until new Jersey builds
around nuclear and natural gas.
325
01:20:35,197 --> 01:20:37,199
Bills will keep climbing.
326
01:20:37,199 --> 01:20:40,402
Baseload first. Everything else. Second.
327
01:20:42,003 --> 01:20:45,006
Bulldozers, excavators and cranes.
328
01:20:45,273 --> 01:20:48,877
Heavy machinery covers
the lot of the operating engineers
329
01:20:48,877 --> 01:20:53,348
training center, local 825, in Dayton,
new Jersey.
330
01:20:53,481 --> 01:20:57,485
It's where 7800 union members
across new Jersey
331
01:20:57,485 --> 01:21:01,790
and Lower New York train
before building local infrastructure.
332
01:21:01,823 --> 01:21:03,592
We have everything, almost soup to nuts
333
01:21:03,592 --> 01:21:05,594
that you would see
in the construction industry.
334
01:21:05,594 --> 01:21:07,062
We teach everything here.
335
01:21:07,062 --> 01:21:10,665
Greg Lullaby, a second generation
crane operator,
336
01:21:10,832 --> 01:21:13,735
now oversees
the training center's operations.
337
01:21:13,735 --> 01:21:17,873
We invest in training every year
because what we do is so, so critical.
338
01:21:17,973 --> 01:21:20,876
Before operating heavy equipment,
pull it back to you.
339
01:21:20,876 --> 01:21:23,278
Nice and easy. The trainees start here.
340
01:21:23,278 --> 01:21:26,081
We start them out at certain,
like basic skills.
341
01:21:26,081 --> 01:21:32,153
It looks like a gaming arcade using state
of the art virtual reality simulators.
342
01:21:32,187 --> 01:21:33,922
Training is key.
343
01:21:33,922 --> 01:21:36,925
Different weather, different lighting.
Snow.
344
01:21:37,192 --> 01:21:42,030
When training at the center is free
to a limited number of students chosen.
345
01:21:42,130 --> 01:21:43,798
It's competitive too.
346
01:21:43,798 --> 01:21:46,735
Costs are covered by a union members fund.
347
01:21:46,735 --> 01:21:51,306
We have about 170 students now
and then we retrain.
348
01:21:51,306 --> 01:21:55,043
A big component of what we do
is taking somebody like myself,
349
01:21:55,043 --> 01:21:58,346
who may have been around 40 years,
but the technology changed.
350
01:21:58,513 --> 01:22:02,083
All students,
both men and women, have to undergo
351
01:22:02,083 --> 01:22:05,787
OSHA safety training
and get familiar with the heavy equipment.
352
01:22:05,854 --> 01:22:09,557
They told me practicing on the simulator
gives them the confidence
353
01:22:09,557 --> 01:22:11,359
they need on the heavy hitters.
354
01:22:11,359 --> 01:22:16,197
These future operators are in high demand,
with major construction ramping up.
355
01:22:16,298 --> 01:22:21,670
Local 825 is bridging tradition
and technology for a brighter future.
356
01:22:21,703 --> 01:22:24,239
Roxann Evans, news 12.
357
01:23:20,729 --> 01:23:23,465
Whether you're
crawling through traffic on the turnpike,
358
01:23:23,698 --> 01:23:28,036
breezing through a roundabout,
or dodging orange cones during a midnight
359
01:23:28,036 --> 01:23:31,906
paving project, new Jersey
roads are anything but boring.
360
01:23:32,240 --> 01:23:34,275
But there's a method to the madness.
361
01:23:34,275 --> 01:23:37,312
In this video, we'll break down
how our roads got here.
362
01:23:37,545 --> 01:23:38,913
Who builds them and why?
363
01:23:38,913 --> 01:23:42,417
Certain intersections get roundabouts
while others get lights.
364
01:23:42,650 --> 01:23:45,420
And why so much of it happens at night.
365
01:23:45,420 --> 01:23:49,491
After World
War Two, new Jersey was growing and fast.
366
01:23:49,958 --> 01:23:52,727
The traffic surge demanded new solutions.
367
01:23:52,727 --> 01:23:56,898
So in 1951,
the state opened the new Jersey Turnpike,
368
01:23:57,198 --> 01:24:01,036
a straight shots, limited access
toll road that spanned the state.
369
01:24:01,269 --> 01:24:05,507
It quickly became a vital artery
for goods, commuters and cross-country
370
01:24:05,507 --> 01:24:06,641
travelers.
371
01:24:06,641 --> 01:24:11,479
Hot on its heels was the Garden State
Parkway, built to serve not just workers
372
01:24:11,746 --> 01:24:16,484
but beach bound vacationers,
scenic, tree lined and more suburban.
373
01:24:16,818 --> 01:24:20,055
It was designed for a different kind
of travel experience.
374
01:24:20,422 --> 01:24:23,591
Together,
these two roads transformed new Jersey
375
01:24:23,658 --> 01:24:27,595
into a commuter state
and reshaped development around them.
376
01:24:28,263 --> 01:24:32,200
In 1956,
President Eisenhower signed the Federal
377
01:24:32,200 --> 01:24:35,637
Aid Highway Act,
launching the Interstate Highway System.
378
01:24:36,004 --> 01:24:39,374
New Jersey became a crucial highway I-95,
379
01:24:39,574 --> 01:24:43,178
I-80, I-78, I, two, 87,
380
01:24:43,411 --> 01:24:47,615
and more connected the state to New York,
Philadelphia, and beyond.
381
01:24:48,149 --> 01:24:50,685
They made new Jersey
one of the most heavily trafficked
382
01:24:50,685 --> 01:24:53,922
and densely paved states in the U.S..
383
01:24:54,355 --> 01:24:57,192
Traffic
lights are everywhere in new Jersey.
384
01:24:57,192 --> 01:25:01,696
Over 6000 signalized intersections
control our busiest roads.
385
01:25:02,197 --> 01:25:04,999
They help manage turning movements,
pedestrian
386
01:25:04,999 --> 01:25:08,002
crossings, and high volumes of vehicles.
387
01:25:08,036 --> 01:25:12,140
They're customizable and programable,
but they're not always efficient.
388
01:25:12,540 --> 01:25:16,478
Long red lights caused delays,
and when drivers lose patience,
389
01:25:16,711 --> 01:25:21,616
crash risks go up, especially with left
turns and red light running.
390
01:25:21,983 --> 01:25:25,987
That's why newer, safer
alternatives are growing in popularity.
391
01:25:26,554 --> 01:25:31,893
Enter the modern roundabout, a circular
intersection where traffic keeps moving.
392
01:25:32,360 --> 01:25:35,864
Vehicles yield as they enter and travel
counterclockwise.
393
01:25:36,231 --> 01:25:39,400
Unlike older traffic circles,
modern roundabouts
394
01:25:39,400 --> 01:25:42,403
are designed for low speeds and high
safety.
395
01:25:42,504 --> 01:25:46,107
Roundabouts
reduce injury crashes by up to 80%.
396
01:25:46,508 --> 01:25:50,278
They also improve traffic flow, eliminate
the need for electricity,
397
01:25:50,578 --> 01:25:53,581
and are less costly to maintain over time.
398
01:25:53,781 --> 01:25:58,253
New Jersey has been quietly adding them
to suburban and even rural areas.
399
01:25:58,953 --> 01:26:03,892
A road diets might sound like cutting
back, but it's actually about redesign.
400
01:26:04,259 --> 01:26:08,596
A typical road diet reduces a four lane
road to two travel lanes,
401
01:26:08,863 --> 01:26:13,334
adds a center turn lane, and introduces
bike or pedestrian features.
402
01:26:13,801 --> 01:26:16,838
It works best where traffic volumes
don't justify
403
01:26:16,838 --> 01:26:20,375
four lanes and where
speeding or crashes are a concern.
404
01:26:20,708 --> 01:26:25,880
Cities like Montclair, Hoboken
and Asbury Park have adopted road diets
405
01:26:25,880 --> 01:26:30,985
to make streets calmer and more usable
for everyone, not just drivers.
406
01:26:31,686 --> 01:26:34,022
While
the road designs may come from traffic
407
01:26:34,022 --> 01:26:37,959
engineers, the hard work of building
and maintaining them falls
408
01:26:37,959 --> 01:26:41,563
to people on the ground,
especially operating engineers.
409
01:26:41,996 --> 01:26:45,733
These skilled union workers
operate the machinery that lays asphalt,
410
01:26:46,100 --> 01:26:50,038
digs trenches and builds
the physical infrastructure we drive on.
411
01:26:50,505 --> 01:26:52,106
It's complex work.
412
01:26:52,106 --> 01:26:54,642
The most densely
populated state in the country
413
01:26:54,642 --> 01:26:58,279
has a century
and more of underground water, sewer
414
01:26:58,413 --> 01:27:03,117
and natural gas pipelines to deal with,
along with buried electrical cables
415
01:27:03,117 --> 01:27:07,255
and myriad environmental and land
use regulations to deal with.
416
01:27:07,622 --> 01:27:10,758
A simple error
can delay a project by months.
417
01:27:11,092 --> 01:27:14,495
Road paving is often done in the summer,
when warm temperatures
418
01:27:14,495 --> 01:27:16,731
help asphalt bind properly.
419
01:27:16,731 --> 01:27:19,801
Cold weather
can crack or crumble pavement quickly,
420
01:27:20,034 --> 01:27:23,705
and it often happens at night
to reduce traffic disruptions
421
01:27:23,871 --> 01:27:26,107
and improve worker safety.
422
01:27:26,107 --> 01:27:31,045
Night paving reduces the impact
on commuters, businesses, and emergency
423
01:27:31,045 --> 01:27:31,946
services.
424
01:27:31,946 --> 01:27:36,217
But it's also about safety for workers
and for drivers.
425
01:27:36,517 --> 01:27:40,121
Lower traffic volumes at night
mean fewer close calls.
426
01:27:40,521 --> 01:27:44,726
Crews can close more lanes, work faster
and reduce their risk.
427
01:27:45,193 --> 01:27:49,430
Working at night requires additional
generators to power large lighting systems
428
01:27:49,664 --> 01:27:53,735
and additional safety precautions
to keep work crews and travelers safe.
429
01:27:54,302 --> 01:27:56,604
Still, it's dangerous work.
430
01:27:56,604 --> 01:28:00,108
Crews wear
reflective gear, use flaggers and cones,
431
01:28:00,375 --> 01:28:03,378
and operate under strict safety protocols.
432
01:28:03,411 --> 01:28:06,180
In 2023 alone, over 800
433
01:28:06,180 --> 01:28:09,183
work zone
crashes were reported in new Jersey.
434
01:28:09,417 --> 01:28:12,420
Slowing down in work zones
isn't just a courtesy,
435
01:28:12,787 --> 01:28:14,889
It saves lives.
436
01:28:14,889 --> 01:28:18,893
So why does one town get a roundabout
and another a traffic signal?
437
01:28:19,260 --> 01:28:22,897
It comes down to data engineers
look at traffic counts,
438
01:28:22,930 --> 01:28:26,334
crash records,
pedestrian usage and local input.
439
01:28:26,734 --> 01:28:31,406
Every solution is customized, and that's
part of what makes new Jersey unique.
440
01:28:31,873 --> 01:28:34,075
There's no one size fits all.
441
01:28:34,075 --> 01:28:38,646
Urban, suburban, coastal, and rural
communities all have different needs.
442
01:28:39,013 --> 01:28:42,116
A smart road
network adapts to serve all of them.
443
01:28:42,717 --> 01:28:45,553
But why are they always working
on the roads?
444
01:28:45,553 --> 01:28:48,656
Asphalt typically last 10 to 15 years
445
01:28:48,856 --> 01:28:51,859
before requiring resurfacing or repaving.
446
01:28:52,160 --> 01:28:55,096
The life span is shortened
due to traffic volume.
447
01:28:55,096 --> 01:28:58,700
Winter freeze
and thaw cycles, and heavy truckloads.
448
01:28:58,966 --> 01:29:01,235
In other words, new Jersey.
449
01:29:01,235 --> 01:29:02,904
And just like a sore tooth.
450
01:29:02,904 --> 01:29:08,176
Postponing or delaying maintenance only
makes things more expensive and painful.
451
01:29:08,910 --> 01:29:11,612
New Jersey
is investing in complete streets,
452
01:29:11,612 --> 01:29:15,583
smart traffic systems
and multi-modal courts that support
453
01:29:15,583 --> 01:29:19,187
walking, biking, public transit
and electric vehicles.
454
01:29:19,520 --> 01:29:22,390
With infrastructure
funding and new technology.
455
01:29:22,390 --> 01:29:26,561
The state is rethinking what roads
should look like in the 21st century.
456
01:29:26,994 --> 01:29:29,997
So next time you're on the parkway,
looping through a roundabout
457
01:29:30,298 --> 01:29:33,234
or waiting behind a paving crew, remember
458
01:29:33,234 --> 01:29:38,172
there's planning history and hard
work behind every inch of asphalt.
“Our Infrastructure Matters” is a news program highlighting important infrastructure projects and issues throughout the region. From roads and bridges to rails and tunnels. From the energy and communications grids to drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater.
1
01:01:01,124 --> 01:01:03,726
Whether you're crawling
through traffic on the turnpike,
2
01:01:03,926 --> 01:01:06,496
breezing through a roundabout,
or dodging
3
01:01:06,496 --> 01:01:09,165
orange cones during
a midnight paving project
4
01:01:09,432 --> 01:01:12,135
New Jersey
roads are anything but boring.
5
01:01:12,502 --> 01:01:14,270
But there's a method
to the madness.
6
01:01:14,504 --> 01:01:17,573
In this video, we'll break down
how our roads got here.
7
01:01:17,774 --> 01:01:18,841
Who builds them
8
01:01:18,841 --> 01:01:21,277
And why certain intersections
get roundabouts
9
01:01:21,310 --> 01:01:22,912
while others get lights.
10
01:01:22,912 --> 01:01:25,281
And why so much of it
happens at night.
11
01:01:25,682 --> 01:01:26,983
After World War Two,
12
01:01:26,983 --> 01:01:29,752
New Jersey was growing and fast.
13
01:01:30,153 --> 01:01:32,622
The traffic surge
demanded new solutions.
14
01:01:32,955 --> 01:01:34,490
So in 1951,
15
01:01:34,490 --> 01:01:37,160
the state opened
the New Jersey Turnpike,
16
01:01:37,460 --> 01:01:39,429
a straight shot, limited access
17
01:01:39,429 --> 01:01:41,264
toll road that spanned the state.
18
01:01:41,497 --> 01:01:44,133
It quickly became a vital artery
for goods,
19
01:01:44,133 --> 01:01:46,436
commuters, and
cross-country travelers.
20
01:01:46,836 --> 01:01:48,137
Hot on its heels was
21
01:01:48,137 --> 01:01:49,839
the Garden State Parkway,
22
01:01:49,872 --> 01:01:51,774
built to serve not just workers
23
01:01:51,974 --> 01:01:54,277
but beach-bound vacationers.
24
01:01:54,277 --> 01:01:56,779
Scenic, tree-lined and more suburban,
25
01:01:57,013 --> 01:01:58,614
it was designed for a different
26
01:01:58,614 --> 01:02:00,283
kind of travel experience.
27
01:02:00,683 --> 01:02:02,485
Together, these two roads
28
01:02:02,485 --> 01:02:05,021
transformed New Jersey
into a commuter state
29
01:02:05,488 --> 01:02:07,824
and reshaped development
around them.
30
01:02:08,491 --> 01:02:10,026
In 1956,
31
01:02:10,026 --> 01:02:11,728
President Eisenhower signed
32
01:02:11,728 --> 01:02:13,563
the Federal Aid Highway Act,
33
01:02:13,863 --> 01:02:15,898
launching the Interstate
Highway System.
34
01:02:16,232 --> 01:02:18,401
New Jersey
became a crucial hub.
35
01:02:18,401 --> 01:02:19,635
I-95,
36
01:02:19,836 --> 01:02:21,904
I-80, I-78,
37
01:02:22,138 --> 01:02:24,841
I-287 and more connected
38
01:02:24,841 --> 01:02:27,844
the State to New York,
Philadelphia, and beyond.
39
01:02:28,478 --> 01:02:30,880
These roads
created economic opportunity
40
01:02:31,047 --> 01:02:33,883
and gave many the chance
at the American Dream.
41
01:02:34,383 --> 01:02:37,320
But they also sparked decades
of suburban sprawl,
42
01:02:37,386 --> 01:02:40,022
congestion
and environmental strain.
43
01:02:40,523 --> 01:02:42,859
They made New Jersey
one of the most heavily
44
01:02:42,859 --> 01:02:44,694
trafficked and densely paved
45
01:02:44,694 --> 01:02:46,395
states in the U.S.
46
01:02:46,696 --> 01:02:49,165
Traffic lights are everywhere
in New Jersey.
47
01:02:49,532 --> 01:02:52,869
Over 6000
signalized intersections control
48
01:02:52,869 --> 01:02:54,537
our busiest roads.
49
01:02:54,537 --> 01:02:57,373
They help manage
turning movements, pedestrian
50
01:02:57,373 --> 01:03:00,042
crossings,
and high volumes of vehicles.
51
01:03:00,376 --> 01:03:02,512
They're customizable
and programable,
52
01:03:02,712 --> 01:03:04,514
but they're not always efficient.
53
01:03:04,881 --> 01:03:07,016
Long red lights cause delays,
54
01:03:07,250 --> 01:03:08,951
and when drivers lose patience,
55
01:03:09,085 --> 01:03:10,787
crash risks go up,
56
01:03:11,120 --> 01:03:13,956
especially with left
turns and red light running.
57
01:03:14,357 --> 01:03:17,393
That's why newer,
safer alternatives are growing
58
01:03:17,393 --> 01:03:18,895
in popularity.
59
01:03:18,895 --> 01:03:20,797
Enter the modern roundabout,
60
01:03:21,297 --> 01:03:22,799
a circular intersection
61
01:03:22,799 --> 01:03:24,467
where traffic keeps moving.
62
01:03:24,734 --> 01:03:26,569
Vehicles yield as they enter
63
01:03:26,569 --> 01:03:28,237
and travel counterclockwise.
64
01:03:28,571 --> 01:03:31,774
Unlike older traffic circles,
modern roundabouts
65
01:03:31,774 --> 01:03:34,544
are designed for low speeds,
and high safety
66
01:03:34,877 --> 01:03:35,978
roundabouts reduce
67
01:03:35,978 --> 01:03:38,447
injury crashes by up to 80%.
68
01:03:38,881 --> 01:03:40,583
They also improve traffic flow,
69
01:03:40,883 --> 01:03:42,718
eliminate
the need for electricity,
70
01:03:42,919 --> 01:03:45,822
and are less costly
to maintain over time.
71
01:03:46,122 --> 01:03:48,991
New Jersey has been quietly
adding them to suburban
72
01:03:49,158 --> 01:03:50,893
and even rural areas.
73
01:03:51,327 --> 01:03:52,328
A road diet
74
01:03:52,328 --> 01:03:54,063
might sound like cutting back,
75
01:03:54,130 --> 01:03:56,265
but it's actually about redesign.
76
01:03:56,632 --> 01:03:59,602
A typical road diet
reduces a four lane road
77
01:03:59,602 --> 01:04:02,672
to two travel lanes,
adds a center turn lane,
78
01:04:02,905 --> 01:04:05,675
and introduces
bike or pedestrian features.
79
01:04:06,175 --> 01:04:09,178
It works best where
traffic volumes don't justify
80
01:04:09,178 --> 01:04:11,013
four lanes and where speeding
81
01:04:11,013 --> 01:04:12,748
or crashes are a concern.
82
01:04:13,082 --> 01:04:14,650
Cities like Montclair,
83
01:04:14,650 --> 01:04:16,619
Hoboken and Asbury Park
84
01:04:16,652 --> 01:04:19,522
have adopted road diets
to make streets calmer
85
01:04:19,755 --> 01:04:21,657
and more usable for everyone,
86
01:04:21,991 --> 01:04:23,693
not just drivers.
87
01:04:24,026 --> 01:04:25,194
While the road designs
88
01:04:25,194 --> 01:04:26,963
may come from traffic engineers,
89
01:04:27,163 --> 01:04:30,333
the hard work of building
and maintaining them falls
90
01:04:30,333 --> 01:04:33,936
to people on the ground,
especially operating engineers.
91
01:04:34,303 --> 01:04:37,139
These skilled union workers
operate the machinery
92
01:04:37,139 --> 01:04:40,176
that lays asphalt, digs
trenches and builds
93
01:04:40,176 --> 01:04:42,445
the physical infrastructure
we drive on.
94
01:04:42,845 --> 01:04:44,480
It's complex work.
95
01:04:44,480 --> 01:04:46,849
The most densely
populated State in the country
96
01:04:47,016 --> 01:04:50,052
has a century
and more of underground water,
97
01:04:50,052 --> 01:04:53,122
sewer and natural gas pipelines
to deal with,
98
01:04:53,356 --> 01:04:56,459
along with buried
electrical cables and myriad
99
01:04:56,459 --> 01:04:58,194
environmental and land use
100
01:04:58,194 --> 01:04:59,896
regulations to deal with.
101
01:04:59,996 --> 01:05:01,664
A simple error can delay
102
01:05:01,664 --> 01:05:03,332
a project by months.
103
01:05:03,399 --> 01:05:05,501
Road paving
is often done in the summer
104
01:05:05,635 --> 01:05:08,838
when warm temperatures
help asphalt bind properly.
105
01:05:09,071 --> 01:05:10,573
Cold weather can crack or
106
01:05:10,573 --> 01:05:12,308
crumble pavement quickly,
107
01:05:12,375 --> 01:05:14,143
and it often happens at night
108
01:05:14,343 --> 01:05:16,078
to reduce traffic disruptions
109
01:05:16,212 --> 01:05:17,914
and improve worker safety.
110
01:05:18,414 --> 01:05:19,849
Night paving reduces
111
01:05:19,849 --> 01:05:21,517
the impact on commuters,
112
01:05:21,651 --> 01:05:23,986
businesses,
and emergency services,
113
01:05:24,320 --> 01:05:26,255
but it's also about safety
114
01:05:26,555 --> 01:05:28,591
for workers and for drivers.
115
01:05:28,891 --> 01:05:30,726
Lower traffic volumes at night
116
01:05:30,760 --> 01:05:32,495
mean fewer close calls.
117
01:05:32,862 --> 01:05:35,665
Crews can close more lanes,
work faster
118
01:05:35,932 --> 01:05:37,566
and reduce their risk.
119
01:05:37,566 --> 01:05:40,036
Working at night
requires additional generators
120
01:05:40,036 --> 01:05:41,771
to power large lighting systems
121
01:05:42,038 --> 01:05:44,407
and additional safety precautions
to keep work.
122
01:05:44,407 --> 01:05:46,108
Crews and travelers safe.
123
01:05:46,676 --> 01:05:48,577
Still, it's dangerous work.
124
01:05:49,011 --> 01:05:50,680
Crews wear reflective gear,
125
01:05:50,846 --> 01:05:52,548
use flaggers and cones,
126
01:05:52,748 --> 01:05:55,284
and operate
under strict safety protocols.
127
01:05:55,751 --> 01:05:58,854
In 2023 alone, over 800 work
128
01:05:58,854 --> 01:06:01,290
zone crashes were reported
in new Jersey.
129
01:06:01,757 --> 01:06:03,025
Slowing down in work
130
01:06:03,025 --> 01:06:04,727
zones isn't just a courtesy;
131
01:06:05,127 --> 01:06:06,862
it saves lives.
132
01:06:07,263 --> 01:06:09,632
So why does one town
get a roundabout
133
01:06:09,732 --> 01:06:11,434
and another a traffic signal?
134
01:06:11,634 --> 01:06:13,369
It comes down to data
135
01:06:13,369 --> 01:06:16,138
engineers look at traffic
counts, crash records,
136
01:06:16,305 --> 01:06:18,641
pedestrian usage,
and local input.
137
01:06:19,108 --> 01:06:20,943
Every solution is customized,
138
01:06:21,410 --> 01:06:23,746
and that's part
of what makes New Jersey unique;
139
01:06:24,246 --> 01:06:26,315
there's no one size fits all.
140
01:06:26,315 --> 01:06:28,384
Urban, suburban, coastal,
141
01:06:28,384 --> 01:06:30,987
and rural communities
all have different needs.
142
01:06:31,387 --> 01:06:33,155
A smart road network adapts
143
01:06:33,155 --> 01:06:34,890
to serve all of them.
144
01:06:35,091 --> 01:06:37,626
But why are they always working
on the roads?
145
01:06:37,927 --> 01:06:39,128
Asphalt typically
146
01:06:39,128 --> 01:06:41,063
lasts 10 to 15 years
147
01:06:41,230 --> 01:06:44,100
before requiring
resurfacing or repaving.
148
01:06:44,467 --> 01:06:47,236
The life span is shortened
due to traffic volume,
149
01:06:47,470 --> 01:06:49,505
winter freeze and thaw cycles,
150
01:06:49,805 --> 01:06:51,307
and heavy truckloads.
151
01:06:51,307 --> 01:06:53,242
In other words, New Jersey.
152
01:06:53,576 --> 01:06:55,277
And just like a sore tooth,
153
01:06:55,277 --> 01:06:57,947
postponing or delaying
maintenance only makes
154
01:06:57,947 --> 01:07:00,916
things more expensive
and painful.
155
01:07:01,283 --> 01:07:02,118
New Jersey is
156
01:07:02,118 --> 01:07:05,421
investing in complete streets,
smart traffic systems
157
01:07:05,421 --> 01:07:07,189
and multi modal courtrooms
158
01:07:07,356 --> 01:07:09,091
that support walking, biking,
159
01:07:09,291 --> 01:07:11,494
public transit
and electric vehicles.
160
01:07:11,861 --> 01:07:14,530
With infrastructure
funding and new technology,
161
01:07:14,764 --> 01:07:17,433
the State is rethinking
what roads should look like
162
01:07:17,533 --> 01:07:19,268
in the 21st century.
163
01:07:19,301 --> 01:07:21,003
So next time
you're on the parkway,
164
01:07:21,137 --> 01:07:22,638
looping through a roundabout
165
01:07:22,638 --> 01:07:24,440
or waiting behind a paving crew,
166
01:07:24,640 --> 01:07:27,209
remember there's planning, history
167
01:07:27,209 --> 01:07:30,513
and hard work
behind every inch of asphalt.
168
01:07:33,783 --> 01:07:34,817
Bulldozers,
169
01:07:34,817 --> 01:07:36,619
excavators and cranes.
170
01:07:37,053 --> 01:07:38,654
Heavy machinery covers
171
01:07:38,654 --> 01:07:41,624
the lot of the Operating
Engineers training center.
172
01:07:41,857 --> 01:07:45,127
Local 825, in Dayton,
New Jersey.
173
01:07:45,261 --> 01:07:47,063
It's where 7800
174
01:07:47,063 --> 01:07:50,466
union members across New Jersey
and lower New York
175
01:07:50,733 --> 01:07:53,369
train before building
local infrastructure.
176
01:07:53,602 --> 01:07:55,371
We have everything,
almost soup to nuts
177
01:07:55,371 --> 01:07:57,339
that you would see
in the construction industry.
178
01:07:57,339 --> 01:07:58,841
We teach everything here.
179
01:07:58,841 --> 01:08:02,445
Greg Lullaby, a second
generation crane operator,
180
01:08:02,611 --> 01:08:05,481
now oversees the training
center's operations.
181
01:08:05,514 --> 01:08:07,550
We invest in training
every year
182
01:08:07,550 --> 01:08:09,652
because what we do is so,
so critical.
183
01:08:09,752 --> 01:08:11,720
Before operating
heavy equipment,
184
01:08:11,720 --> 01:08:13,456
pull it back to you
nice and easy.
185
01:08:13,456 --> 01:08:15,057
The trainees start here.
186
01:08:15,057 --> 01:08:17,860
We start them out at certain,
like, basic skills.
187
01:08:17,860 --> 01:08:20,296
It looks like a gaming arcade.
188
01:08:20,463 --> 01:08:22,465
This gentleman here
is working on an excavator.
189
01:08:22,531 --> 01:08:24,300
The exercise that he's doing
190
01:08:24,300 --> 01:08:26,802
is is loading
trucks and cycle times
191
01:08:26,836 --> 01:08:30,372
using state of the art
virtual reality simulators.
192
01:08:30,406 --> 01:08:32,108
Training is key.
193
01:08:32,108 --> 01:08:35,144
Different weather,
different lighting, snow.
194
01:08:35,511 --> 01:08:37,880
When training at the center
is free
195
01:08:37,880 --> 01:08:40,216
to a limited number of students
chosen.
196
01:08:40,382 --> 01:08:41,984
It's competitive too.
197
01:08:41,984 --> 01:08:44,920
Costs are covered
by a union members fund.
198
01:08:44,954 --> 01:08:49,492
We have about 170 students now
and then we retrain.
199
01:08:49,525 --> 01:08:51,327
A big component of what we do
200
01:08:51,393 --> 01:08:54,130
is taking somebody like myself,
who may have been around
201
01:08:54,163 --> 01:08:56,565
40 years,
but the technology changed.
202
01:08:56,732 --> 01:08:58,434
All students, both men
203
01:08:58,434 --> 01:09:01,137
and women, have to undergo
OSHA safety
204
01:09:01,137 --> 01:09:03,973
training and get familiar
with the heavy equipment.
205
01:09:04,140 --> 01:09:06,342
We'd have two people standing
on the ground right there.
206
01:09:06,542 --> 01:09:07,376
You're the pitcher,
207
01:09:07,376 --> 01:09:09,178
and they're standing
where they want the ball to go.
208
01:09:09,211 --> 01:09:12,081
They told me practicing on
the simulator gives them
209
01:09:12,081 --> 01:09:14,583
the confidence
they need on the heavy hitters.
210
01:09:14,617 --> 01:09:17,153
This one just has different
variations to it.
211
01:09:17,153 --> 01:09:18,521
With cranes and drills.
212
01:09:18,521 --> 01:09:21,223
These future
operators are in high demand,
213
01:09:21,223 --> 01:09:23,392
with major construction
ramping up.
214
01:09:23,492 --> 01:09:25,494
Local 825 is bridging
215
01:09:25,494 --> 01:09:28,864
tradition and technology
for a brighter future.
216
01:09:28,898 --> 01:09:31,100
Roxann Evans, news 12.
217
01:09:32,801 --> 01:09:33,469
Every day,
218
01:09:33,469 --> 01:09:34,970
over 9 million people
219
01:09:34,970 --> 01:09:36,705
rely on New Jersey's vast
220
01:09:36,705 --> 01:09:37,740
system of roads
221
01:09:37,740 --> 01:09:38,407
and bridges
222
01:09:38,407 --> 01:09:39,508
to get to work,
223
01:09:39,508 --> 01:09:40,643
get to school,
224
01:09:40,643 --> 01:09:41,577
get to lunch,
225
01:09:41,577 --> 01:09:42,545
and appreciate
226
01:09:42,545 --> 01:09:43,812
the Garden State.
227
01:09:43,812 --> 01:09:45,214
But behind each trip,
228
01:09:45,214 --> 01:09:46,715
there is a deeper story
229
01:09:46,882 --> 01:09:48,684
about aging infrastructure,
230
01:09:48,684 --> 01:09:50,152
skilled labor,
231
01:09:50,152 --> 01:09:51,153
and the power of
232
01:09:51,153 --> 01:09:52,655
smart investment.
233
01:09:52,988 --> 01:09:54,089
By all metrics,
234
01:09:54,089 --> 01:09:54,823
New Jersey
235
01:09:54,823 --> 01:09:55,858
is the most densely
236
01:09:55,858 --> 01:09:56,992
populated State
237
01:09:56,992 --> 01:09:58,160
in the country.
238
01:09:58,160 --> 01:09:58,928
But did you know that
239
01:09:58,928 --> 01:10:00,162
the State's population
240
01:10:00,162 --> 01:10:02,031
has doubled since 1950?
241
01:10:02,364 --> 01:10:03,098
Or that the number
242
01:10:03,098 --> 01:10:04,433
of registered vehicles
243
01:10:04,433 --> 01:10:05,334
on New Jersey's
244
01:10:05,334 --> 01:10:06,702
roads has doubled
245
01:10:06,702 --> 01:10:08,204
since 1961?
246
01:10:08,537 --> 01:10:09,004
Or that
247
01:10:09,004 --> 01:10:10,039
the average bridge
248
01:10:10,039 --> 01:10:10,873
in New Jersey
249
01:10:10,873 --> 01:10:13,509
is a 57-year-old gen-xer?
250
01:10:14,043 --> 01:10:15,177
Across the State,
251
01:10:15,177 --> 01:10:16,545
roads and bridges
252
01:10:16,545 --> 01:10:17,947
are deteriorating.
253
01:10:17,947 --> 01:10:19,548
There are over 80,000
254
01:10:19,548 --> 01:10:20,916
lane miles of roads
255
01:10:20,916 --> 01:10:21,884
in the State.
256
01:10:21,884 --> 01:10:22,618
Over a third
257
01:10:22,618 --> 01:10:23,385
of New Jersey's
258
01:10:23,385 --> 01:10:24,053
roads are in
259
01:10:24,053 --> 01:10:25,254
poor condition,
260
01:10:25,254 --> 01:10:26,589
and hundreds of bridges
261
01:10:26,589 --> 01:10:28,290
are nearing or exceeding
262
01:10:28,290 --> 01:10:29,792
their intended lifespan.
263
01:10:30,125 --> 01:10:31,927
This affects everyone,
264
01:10:31,927 --> 01:10:33,095
causing delays,
265
01:10:33,095 --> 01:10:34,597
increasing costs
266
01:10:34,597 --> 01:10:36,098
and putting public safety
267
01:10:36,298 --> 01:10:37,766
at risk.
268
01:10:37,766 --> 01:10:39,068
Fixing infrastructure
269
01:10:39,068 --> 01:10:40,569
before things get worse
270
01:10:40,569 --> 01:10:42,071
takes more than plans.
271
01:10:42,404 --> 01:10:43,472
It takes skilled
272
01:10:43,472 --> 01:10:44,974
and dedicated people
273
01:10:45,274 --> 01:10:46,475
operating engineers
274
01:10:46,475 --> 01:10:47,876
of Local 825
275
01:10:47,876 --> 01:10:49,445
run the heavy machinery
276
01:10:49,445 --> 01:10:50,212
that powers
277
01:10:50,212 --> 01:10:51,647
every major project
278
01:10:51,647 --> 01:10:53,148
across New Jersey.
279
01:10:53,415 --> 01:10:54,116
Through union
280
01:10:54,116 --> 01:10:54,984
apprenticeships
281
01:10:54,984 --> 01:10:56,452
and rigorous training,
282
01:10:56,452 --> 01:10:57,553
they ensure every
283
01:10:57,553 --> 01:10:59,054
job is done safely
284
01:10:59,088 --> 01:11:00,656
and right the first time.
285
01:11:01,490 --> 01:11:02,725
They are the workforce
286
01:11:02,725 --> 01:11:04,226
rebuilding New Jersey
287
01:11:04,560 --> 01:11:06,061
project by project
288
01:11:06,228 --> 01:11:07,730
lane by lane,
289
01:11:07,830 --> 01:11:09,131
often working at night
290
01:11:09,131 --> 01:11:10,666
to minimize the impact
291
01:11:10,666 --> 01:11:12,167
on traffic.
292
01:11:12,234 --> 01:11:13,302
Municipalities
293
01:11:13,302 --> 01:11:14,136
are responsible
294
01:11:14,136 --> 01:11:15,738
for over two thirds of roads
295
01:11:15,738 --> 01:11:16,605
in the State,
296
01:11:16,605 --> 01:11:17,640
and they rely upon
297
01:11:17,640 --> 01:11:19,141
a mix of federal, state
298
01:11:19,241 --> 01:11:20,576
and local funding to
299
01:11:20,576 --> 01:11:22,077
maintain their roads.
300
01:11:22,411 --> 01:11:23,312
There's a chronic
301
01:11:23,312 --> 01:11:24,813
shortfall of funds,
302
01:11:25,147 --> 01:11:26,649
but in 2021,
303
01:11:26,649 --> 01:11:27,816
the federal government
304
01:11:27,816 --> 01:11:29,251
passed the Infrastructure
305
01:11:29,251 --> 01:11:30,953
Investment and Jobs Act,
306
01:11:31,253 --> 01:11:32,588
unlocking billions
307
01:11:32,588 --> 01:11:33,355
for overdue
308
01:11:33,355 --> 01:11:34,923
infrastructure upgrades.
309
01:11:35,457 --> 01:11:36,859
New Jersey is receiving
310
01:11:36,859 --> 01:11:38,761
more than $12 billion
311
01:11:38,761 --> 01:11:39,795
over five years
312
01:11:39,795 --> 01:11:40,763
to modernize
313
01:11:40,763 --> 01:11:42,264
transportation systems
314
01:11:42,331 --> 01:11:43,832
and improve safety.
315
01:11:44,300 --> 01:11:45,200
One of the largest
316
01:11:45,200 --> 01:11:46,769
projects is the Newark
317
01:11:46,769 --> 01:11:48,270
Bay Bridge Replacement,
318
01:11:48,437 --> 01:11:49,438
part of the New Jersey
319
01:11:49,438 --> 01:11:51,140
Turnpike rehabilitation
320
01:11:51,340 --> 01:11:53,142
near Newark and the ports
321
01:11:53,142 --> 01:11:54,043
where congestion
322
01:11:54,043 --> 01:11:55,444
has grown dangerously
323
01:11:55,444 --> 01:11:56,845
out of control.
324
01:11:56,845 --> 01:11:58,113
The Newark Bay Bridge
325
01:11:58,113 --> 01:11:59,348
is similar in design
326
01:11:59,348 --> 01:12:00,482
to the Francis Scott
327
01:12:00,482 --> 01:12:01,183
Key Bridge in
328
01:12:01,183 --> 01:12:02,451
Baltimore Harbor
329
01:12:02,451 --> 01:12:04,453
that collapsed in 2024
330
01:12:04,720 --> 01:12:07,189
but older, longer and carries
331
01:12:07,189 --> 01:12:08,691
more daily traffic.
332
01:12:09,058 --> 01:12:10,359
The Turnpike Authority,
333
01:12:10,359 --> 01:12:11,894
is investing over $10
334
01:12:11,894 --> 01:12:13,729
billion to widen lanes,
335
01:12:14,029 --> 01:12:15,531
improve traffic flow
336
01:12:15,631 --> 01:12:16,231
and support
337
01:12:16,231 --> 01:12:17,166
freight movement
338
01:12:17,166 --> 01:12:18,334
in one of the busiest
339
01:12:18,334 --> 01:12:19,735
industrial corridors
340
01:12:19,735 --> 01:12:21,036
on the East Coast.
341
01:12:21,036 --> 01:12:22,738
And the Infrastructure Investment
342
01:12:22,738 --> 01:12:23,706
and Jobs Act
343
01:12:23,706 --> 01:12:24,907
is funding projects
344
01:12:24,907 --> 01:12:26,408
throughout the State.
345
01:12:26,475 --> 01:12:27,876
These big infrastructure
346
01:12:27,876 --> 01:12:29,545
projects are challenging,
347
01:12:29,712 --> 01:12:30,746
but worth it.
348
01:12:30,746 --> 01:12:32,481
Expansion projects have proved
349
01:12:32,481 --> 01:12:33,549
greatly beneficial
350
01:12:33,549 --> 01:12:35,351
to New Jersey historically.
351
01:12:35,684 --> 01:12:36,719
Take, for example,
352
01:12:36,719 --> 01:12:38,253
the widening between exit
353
01:12:38,253 --> 01:12:39,755
six and exit nine.
354
01:12:40,222 --> 01:12:41,490
Once considered the most
355
01:12:41,490 --> 01:12:42,324
deadly road
356
01:12:42,324 --> 01:12:43,826
corridor in New Jersey,
357
01:12:44,193 --> 01:12:45,394
it now is a major
358
01:12:45,394 --> 01:12:46,562
economic driver
359
01:12:46,562 --> 01:12:47,563
for e-commerce
360
01:12:47,563 --> 01:12:49,231
and logistic headquarters.
361
01:12:49,431 --> 01:12:50,666
Now, businesses
362
01:12:50,666 --> 01:12:51,734
have access to nearly
363
01:12:51,734 --> 01:12:53,435
61 million people
364
01:12:53,569 --> 01:12:54,336
living within
365
01:12:54,336 --> 01:12:55,704
250 miles
366
01:12:55,704 --> 01:12:56,839
of this corridor,
367
01:12:56,839 --> 01:12:58,107
and traffic on even the
368
01:12:58,107 --> 01:12:59,708
busiest summer weekends -
369
01:13:00,042 --> 01:13:00,676
gone.
370
01:13:01,276 --> 01:13:03,379
Skilled union labor ensures
371
01:13:03,379 --> 01:13:04,847
these multi-billion-dollar
372
01:13:04,847 --> 01:13:07,182
projects are built to last.
373
01:13:07,416 --> 01:13:09,918
Local 825 operating engineers
374
01:13:09,918 --> 01:13:11,220
bring experience,
375
01:13:11,220 --> 01:13:12,254
accountability
376
01:13:12,254 --> 01:13:13,055
and training
377
01:13:13,055 --> 01:13:14,556
to every site.
378
01:13:14,590 --> 01:13:15,424
These careers
379
01:13:15,424 --> 01:13:16,925
offer strong wages,
380
01:13:16,925 --> 01:13:18,193
safety protections
381
01:13:18,193 --> 01:13:19,728
and benefits, building
382
01:13:19,728 --> 01:13:21,230
not just infrastructure
383
01:13:21,363 --> 01:13:22,865
but the middle class.
384
01:13:22,965 --> 01:13:24,233
Modern infrastructure
385
01:13:24,233 --> 01:13:25,100
touches every
386
01:13:25,100 --> 01:13:26,568
part of our lives;
387
01:13:26,568 --> 01:13:27,436
schools,
388
01:13:27,436 --> 01:13:28,303
hospitals,
389
01:13:28,303 --> 01:13:29,271
ports,
390
01:13:29,271 --> 01:13:30,072
homes.
391
01:13:30,372 --> 01:13:31,774
The turnpike expansion
392
01:13:31,774 --> 01:13:32,374
will reduce
393
01:13:32,374 --> 01:13:33,876
congestion and emissions,
394
01:13:34,243 --> 01:13:35,811
helping goods and people
395
01:13:35,944 --> 01:13:37,446
move more efficiently.
396
01:13:37,980 --> 01:13:39,748
The new Newark Bay Bridge
397
01:13:39,782 --> 01:13:41,283
will support the economy
398
01:13:41,417 --> 01:13:42,818
and ensure safety
399
01:13:42,818 --> 01:13:44,319
for decades to come.
400
01:13:44,820 --> 01:13:45,988
And plans to widen
401
01:13:45,988 --> 01:13:46,755
the turnpike
402
01:13:46,755 --> 01:13:47,723
in South Jersey
403
01:13:47,723 --> 01:13:49,258
from exits 1 to 4
404
01:13:49,458 --> 01:13:50,793
will address a major
405
01:13:50,793 --> 01:13:52,294
traffic bottleneck.
406
01:13:52,628 --> 01:13:54,329
Every inch of progress,
407
01:13:54,329 --> 01:13:55,931
every commute shortened.
408
01:13:56,298 --> 01:13:57,132
Every safe
409
01:13:57,132 --> 01:13:57,966
mile of road
410
01:13:57,966 --> 01:13:58,934
is being built
411
01:13:58,934 --> 01:13:59,668
by the hands
412
01:13:59,668 --> 01:14:01,403
of skilled union workers
413
01:14:01,737 --> 01:14:03,105
trained to protect the
414
01:14:03,105 --> 01:14:04,940
public and the future.
415
01:14:06,642 --> 01:14:07,910
When union labor and
416
01:14:07,910 --> 01:14:11,146
contractors come together
for one common goal,
417
01:14:11,313 --> 01:14:13,148
anything can be accomplished
418
01:14:13,148 --> 01:14:13,849
ELEC
419
01:14:13,849 --> 01:14:15,150
The Engineers Labor
420
01:14:15,150 --> 01:14:16,585
Employer Cooperative.
421
01:14:16,585 --> 01:14:19,488
We are the labor management
fund for the International
422
01:14:19,488 --> 01:14:22,891
Union of Operating Engineers,
Local 825.
423
01:14:23,025 --> 01:14:26,195
From Kingston to Cape
May and from river to river,
424
01:14:26,395 --> 01:14:28,096
we're creating the opportunities
425
01:14:28,096 --> 01:14:30,566
that spawn real economic development
426
01:14:30,666 --> 01:14:32,167
and building the future.
427
01:14:32,167 --> 01:14:35,170
As members of the business
community and Chamber
428
01:14:35,237 --> 01:14:36,004
of Commerce.
429
01:14:36,004 --> 01:14:38,841
We create the partnerships
needed to collaborate
430
01:14:38,841 --> 01:14:39,675
success.
431
01:14:39,675 --> 01:14:42,744
As advocates,
we shape the public policy
432
01:14:42,744 --> 01:14:45,013
in local town
halls and statehouses
433
01:14:45,013 --> 01:14:48,050
that protect our members
and generate possibilities.
434
01:14:48,116 --> 01:14:50,085
We eliminate entry barriers
435
01:14:50,118 --> 01:14:52,421
that ensures
our members are ready on day
436
01:14:52,421 --> 01:14:55,624
one for whatever work
our contractors require.
437
01:14:55,791 --> 01:14:58,527
And as industry innovators,
we develop,
438
01:14:58,527 --> 01:15:00,896
grant programs
to help our contractors
439
01:15:00,896 --> 01:15:03,765
compete in underrepresented
market sectors.
440
01:15:03,966 --> 01:15:05,767
This is what the 21st century
441
01:15:05,767 --> 01:15:07,569
organized labor looks like.
442
01:15:07,669 --> 01:15:09,872
This is ELEC, building
443
01:15:09,872 --> 01:15:11,740
the infrastructure New York
444
01:15:11,740 --> 01:15:13,609
and Jersey relies on.
445
01:15:17,646 --> 01:15:20,649
New Jersey, 9.8 million people
446
01:15:20,649 --> 01:15:23,252
packed into 8,700 square miles
447
01:15:23,452 --> 01:15:26,321
relies on a vital yet often
overlooked resource
448
01:15:26,321 --> 01:15:29,091
to power homes, businesses
and industries.
449
01:15:29,525 --> 01:15:31,193
Natural gas.
450
01:15:31,193 --> 01:15:34,196
Natural gas plays a crucial role
in the Garden State's energy
451
01:15:34,196 --> 01:15:37,399
mix, providing about 50%
of the state's electricity
452
01:15:37,566 --> 01:15:40,202
and serving millions
of households and businesses.
453
01:15:40,669 --> 01:15:43,005
Natural gas is used for
cooking and heating
454
01:15:43,005 --> 01:15:45,507
in more than 70% of the homes
in our state.
455
01:15:45,974 --> 01:15:48,944
It's no exaggeration
to say that New Jersey's economy
456
01:15:48,944 --> 01:15:51,980
and quality of life
are all built on natural
457
01:15:51,980 --> 01:15:53,682
gas infrastructure.
458
01:15:53,782 --> 01:15:56,618
The journey of natural gas begins
deep beneath the Earth's
459
01:15:56,618 --> 01:15:58,520
surface, where it is extracted
460
01:15:58,520 --> 01:16:00,222
from natural gas wells.
461
01:16:00,289 --> 01:16:03,725
Once extracted, it's processed
to remove impurities
462
01:16:03,725 --> 01:16:06,461
and transported through
an intricate network of pipelines
463
01:16:06,595 --> 01:16:08,163
to ensure its safe delivery
464
01:16:08,163 --> 01:16:09,865
to homes and businesses.
465
01:16:09,998 --> 01:16:12,434
Natural gas can also be moved
by tanker truck,
466
01:16:12,668 --> 01:16:15,270
railcar or on water by barge.
467
01:16:15,637 --> 01:16:17,339
While these methods are productive,
468
01:16:17,472 --> 01:16:19,408
they are not as safe or efficient
469
01:16:19,408 --> 01:16:21,109
as using a pipeline.
470
01:16:21,243 --> 01:16:23,111
New Jersey is connected to a vast
471
01:16:23,111 --> 01:16:24,947
network of natural gas pipelines
472
01:16:25,047 --> 01:16:26,949
with key interstate pipelines
473
01:16:26,949 --> 01:16:28,650
such as the Transco pipeline,
474
01:16:28,917 --> 01:16:32,120
the Tetco pipeline,
and the Columbia Gas Pipeline.
475
01:16:32,521 --> 01:16:34,856
These pipelines link
the state to larger
476
01:16:34,856 --> 01:16:37,192
natural gas reserves across the country.
477
01:16:37,659 --> 01:16:40,195
Underground pipelines
are one of the safest ways
478
01:16:40,195 --> 01:16:43,131
of delivering energy protected
from storms and weather.
479
01:16:43,332 --> 01:16:45,901
Rail derailments
and vehicle accidents.
480
01:16:46,401 --> 01:16:49,471
Pipelines run silently
and safely through neighborhoods,
481
01:16:49,471 --> 01:16:50,505
state parks,
482
01:16:50,505 --> 01:16:52,207
wildlife management areas,
483
01:16:52,407 --> 01:16:54,142
and all the way to your home.
484
01:16:54,810 --> 01:16:57,079
Maintaining the safety and reliability
485
01:16:57,079 --> 01:16:59,047
of this infrastructure is essential.
486
01:16:59,414 --> 01:17:01,917
Engineers and technicians
are constantly working
487
01:17:01,917 --> 01:17:03,652
to inspect, maintain
488
01:17:03,652 --> 01:17:05,354
and upgrade pipelines.
489
01:17:05,354 --> 01:17:08,156
With billions invested
in maintenance and safety.
490
01:17:08,357 --> 01:17:10,892
The state's natural gas network
continues to meet
491
01:17:10,892 --> 01:17:12,794
the high demands of New Jersey’s
492
01:17:12,828 --> 01:17:14,496
growing population.
493
01:17:14,496 --> 01:17:17,699
In fact, utilities
are investing millions of dollars
494
01:17:17,699 --> 01:17:19,768
each year in advanced technologies
495
01:17:19,968 --> 01:17:22,037
that help monitor pipeline integrity.
496
01:17:22,371 --> 01:17:25,107
These investments ensure
that systems are maintained
497
01:17:25,107 --> 01:17:26,808
to the highest safety standards
498
01:17:26,975 --> 01:17:29,444
and reduce the risk of leaks
or disruptions
499
01:17:29,911 --> 01:17:31,513
to ensure natural gas flows
500
01:17:31,513 --> 01:17:33,215
smoothly over long distances.
501
01:17:33,448 --> 01:17:35,617
Compressor stations are strategically
502
01:17:35,617 --> 01:17:37,219
placed along pipelines.
503
01:17:37,219 --> 01:17:39,121
These stations
help maintain pressure,
504
01:17:39,287 --> 01:17:42,424
allowing gas to travel
thousands of miles safely
505
01:17:42,424 --> 01:17:45,460
from production areas
to local distribution networks.
506
01:17:45,961 --> 01:17:47,629
Once the gas reaches New Jersey,
507
01:17:47,796 --> 01:17:50,132
it enters
the local distribution systems
508
01:17:50,132 --> 01:17:52,801
that deliver it directly to homes
and businesses.
509
01:17:53,268 --> 01:17:56,071
These distribution lines,
which are typically smaller than
510
01:17:56,071 --> 01:17:58,073
the main pipelines, branch out
511
01:17:58,073 --> 01:17:59,775
across towns and neighborhoods.
512
01:18:00,275 --> 01:18:02,811
Utility companies like PSEG,
513
01:18:02,811 --> 01:18:04,079
New Jersey Natural Gas,
514
01:18:04,079 --> 01:18:05,847
and South Jersey Industries
515
01:18:05,847 --> 01:18:08,383
play an essential role
in this process.
516
01:18:09,117 --> 01:18:11,586
They manage the distribution
network, ensuring
517
01:18:11,586 --> 01:18:14,022
that natural gas is available
for consumers
518
01:18:14,022 --> 01:18:17,025
when they need it most, whether
for heating during the winter,
519
01:18:17,192 --> 01:18:18,894
or cooking on a stove.
520
01:18:18,927 --> 01:18:20,262
Natural gas appliances
521
01:18:20,262 --> 01:18:21,963
are common in New Jersey homes,
522
01:18:22,297 --> 01:18:24,032
from stoves to water heaters.
523
01:18:24,199 --> 01:18:26,968
These systems provide efficiency
and reliability,
524
01:18:27,169 --> 01:18:28,870
helping to lower energy costs
525
01:18:28,870 --> 01:18:31,807
while reducing emissions
compared to other fossil fuels.
526
01:18:31,807 --> 01:18:33,542
As New Jersey continues
527
01:18:33,542 --> 01:18:35,544
to invest and grow, alternative
528
01:18:35,544 --> 01:18:37,279
but intermittent energy sources
529
01:18:37,279 --> 01:18:40,215
like wind and solar,
natural gas will continue
530
01:18:40,215 --> 01:18:42,984
to play a key role
in providing reliable power
531
01:18:43,118 --> 01:18:46,021
while supporting the efforts
to reduce overall emissions.
532
01:18:46,521 --> 01:18:48,190
After Superstorm Sandy,
533
01:18:48,190 --> 01:18:51,026
Princeton University
and Montclair State University
534
01:18:51,026 --> 01:18:54,162
both built microgrids
that will allow the universities
535
01:18:54,162 --> 01:18:56,331
to continue to function
during blackouts.
536
01:18:56,798 --> 01:18:59,034
These microgrids
feature solar power
537
01:18:59,034 --> 01:19:01,169
backed up by natural gas generators.
538
01:19:01,470 --> 01:19:04,339
Communities and hospitals
throughout the state are looking
539
01:19:04,339 --> 01:19:06,041
at similar solutions.
540
01:19:06,141 --> 01:19:07,809
And in an exciting development,
541
01:19:08,076 --> 01:19:10,912
New Jersey's natural gas
utilities are also leading
542
01:19:10,912 --> 01:19:12,914
the way in integrating hydrogen
543
01:19:12,914 --> 01:19:14,616
into the natural gas system
544
01:19:14,750 --> 01:19:17,052
Through a process
called hydrogen blending,
545
01:19:17,285 --> 01:19:20,388
utilities are injecting hydrogen
into existing pipelines,
546
01:19:20,388 --> 01:19:22,991
creating an even
cleaner energy mix.
547
01:19:23,525 --> 01:19:26,094
Hydrogen, when blended
with natural gas, can
548
01:19:26,094 --> 01:19:29,197
significantly reduce the carbon
footprint of energy usage.
549
01:19:29,598 --> 01:19:31,199
The process involves mixing
550
01:19:31,199 --> 01:19:34,136
hydrogen with traditional natural
gas to create
551
01:19:34,136 --> 01:19:37,239
a blend that further reduces
greenhouse gas emissions,
552
01:19:37,239 --> 01:19:39,141
while maintaining the reliability
553
01:19:39,141 --> 01:19:40,809
and efficiency of the system.
554
01:19:41,309 --> 01:19:43,378
Hydrogen
blending is already being tested
555
01:19:43,378 --> 01:19:44,813
in parts of New Jersey.
556
01:19:44,813 --> 01:19:47,382
Utilities are continuing
to research how different
557
01:19:47,382 --> 01:19:50,552
concentrations of hydrogen
can be blended with natural gas
558
01:19:50,652 --> 01:19:53,655
to reduce emissions,
without compromising the safety
559
01:19:53,655 --> 01:19:56,458
or performance of appliances
and infrastructure,
560
01:19:56,892 --> 01:19:58,293
and green hydrogen
561
01:19:58,293 --> 01:20:00,095
produced using renewable energy
562
01:20:00,095 --> 01:20:03,498
may play an important role
in reducing the greenhouse gas
563
01:20:03,498 --> 01:20:06,434
emissions of the transportation
and logistics industry.
564
01:20:06,568 --> 01:20:08,336
One of the largest and fastest
565
01:20:08,336 --> 01:20:10,038
growing industries in the state.
566
01:20:10,405 --> 01:20:12,507
This effort is part
of New Jersey's broader
567
01:20:12,507 --> 01:20:14,609
strategy to create a low carbon
568
01:20:14,609 --> 01:20:16,711
future by blending hydrogen
569
01:20:16,711 --> 01:20:18,580
into the natural
gas infrastructure.
570
01:20:18,780 --> 01:20:21,349
The state is taking
meaningful steps to reach its
571
01:20:21,349 --> 01:20:25,187
environmental goals. With ongoing
advancements in technology,
572
01:20:25,220 --> 01:20:27,956
the natural gas industry
is constantly evolving.
573
01:20:28,190 --> 01:20:30,959
Utilities continue
to invest in safety protocols,
574
01:20:31,126 --> 01:20:34,162
including real time
monitoring systems and advanced
575
01:20:34,162 --> 01:20:37,132
leak detection technologies,
ensuring that New Jersey's
576
01:20:37,132 --> 01:20:39,668
natural gas infrastructure
remains as safe
577
01:20:39,868 --> 01:20:42,671
and environmentally responsible
as possible.
578
01:20:43,071 --> 01:20:45,173
According to the
American Gas Association,
579
01:20:45,407 --> 01:20:47,576
Only 1 in 650 gas
580
01:20:47,576 --> 01:20:50,345
customers will experience
an outage in a given year,
581
01:20:50,478 --> 01:20:53,648
as opposed to one out
of every one electric consumer.
582
01:20:54,049 --> 01:20:55,417
Also, collectively,
583
01:20:55,417 --> 01:20:57,252
the natural gas companies
in New Jersey
584
01:20:57,252 --> 01:20:59,287
have invested
tens of billions of dollars
585
01:20:59,287 --> 01:21:02,757
in infrastructure improvements
and modernization in our state.
586
01:21:02,757 --> 01:21:06,127
Continued investment
in modernization is critical.
587
01:21:06,428 --> 01:21:07,896
Over the next few years,
588
01:21:07,896 --> 01:21:09,965
New Jersey
will see further improvements,
589
01:21:10,165 --> 01:21:12,400
including replacing
aging pipelines,
590
01:21:12,634 --> 01:21:14,436
expanding the distribution network,
591
01:21:14,436 --> 01:21:17,305
and increasing the use
of sustainable practices
592
01:21:17,305 --> 01:21:20,342
to reduce the carbon
footprint of natural gas usage.
593
01:21:20,876 --> 01:21:23,812
As the demand for energy
grows, New Jersey's
594
01:21:23,812 --> 01:21:27,215
natural gas infrastructure
remains at the heart of powering
595
01:21:27,215 --> 01:21:30,552
homes, businesses
and industries across the state.
596
01:21:30,952 --> 01:21:33,622
It's the backbone
of modern energy delivery,
597
01:21:33,788 --> 01:21:35,724
ensuring that energy is there
598
01:21:35,724 --> 01:21:37,425
when we need it most.
599
01:21:37,626 --> 01:21:39,160
New Jersey's natural gas
600
01:21:39,160 --> 01:21:42,030
infrastructure: reliable, resilient,
601
01:21:42,297 --> 01:21:44,833
affordable,
and ready for the future.
602
01:22:47,629 --> 01:22:48,663
Imagine flipping
603
01:22:48,663 --> 01:22:51,266
a switch and instantly
lighting up a room.
604
01:22:51,666 --> 01:22:53,501
You don't think twice about it.
605
01:22:53,501 --> 01:22:56,538
But what happens behind the
scenes is pretty complex.
606
01:22:56,905 --> 01:22:58,406
From generating electricity
607
01:22:58,406 --> 01:23:00,475
at power plants
and getting it to your home,
608
01:23:00,675 --> 01:23:03,378
there's an intricate system
that ensures your lights
609
01:23:03,378 --> 01:23:06,147
stay on and your devices
stay charged.
610
01:23:06,581 --> 01:23:08,583
This is the electrical grid.
611
01:23:08,583 --> 01:23:11,753
One of the most important
inventions of modern times,
612
01:23:11,753 --> 01:23:14,322
and one of the largest
systems ever built.
613
01:23:14,622 --> 01:23:16,624
But how exactly does it work?
614
01:23:16,858 --> 01:23:18,793
First, let's break it down.
615
01:23:18,793 --> 01:23:20,829
The electrical grid
is essentially
616
01:23:20,829 --> 01:23:22,697
a network
of power generation,
617
01:23:22,697 --> 01:23:24,733
transmission and distribution
618
01:23:24,933 --> 01:23:26,868
that delivers electricity from power
619
01:23:26,868 --> 01:23:28,870
plants, to homes and businesses.
620
01:23:29,170 --> 01:23:31,206
It's made up of three main components:
621
01:23:31,706 --> 01:23:33,608
Power generation, where
622
01:23:33,608 --> 01:23:35,610
electricity is created.
623
01:23:35,710 --> 01:23:36,878
Transmission,
624
01:23:36,878 --> 01:23:38,513
how electricity is sent.
625
01:23:38,513 --> 01:23:40,015
long distances.
626
01:23:40,015 --> 01:23:40,815
Distribution,
627
01:23:41,182 --> 01:23:43,785
how electricity is delivered
to your home.
628
01:23:44,352 --> 01:23:46,388
In New Jersey,
power generation
629
01:23:46,388 --> 01:23:48,390
happens through
a variety of sources.
630
01:23:48,723 --> 01:23:51,459
The state doesn't just rely
on one type of energy.
631
01:23:51,760 --> 01:23:53,762
The energy mix is diverse,
632
01:23:53,762 --> 01:23:56,998
with fossil fuels, nuclear
and renewable sources
633
01:23:56,998 --> 01:23:59,901
like solar and wind all
contributing.
634
01:23:59,901 --> 01:24:00,802
Natural gas.
635
01:24:01,269 --> 01:24:03,538
the state's largest source
of electricity.
636
01:24:03,972 --> 01:24:06,441
New Jersey has several
natural gas plants
637
01:24:06,441 --> 01:24:09,844
that create steam to turn
turbines and generate power.
638
01:24:10,378 --> 01:24:11,413
Nuclear.
639
01:24:11,413 --> 01:24:13,915
New Jersey
also relies on nuclear power
640
01:24:13,915 --> 01:24:16,017
plants from plants
like the Salem
641
01:24:16,017 --> 01:24:18,086
and Hope Creek
Generating Stations,
642
01:24:18,286 --> 01:24:20,055
producing
a significant portion
643
01:24:20,055 --> 01:24:22,424
of the state's energy
without carbon emissions.
644
01:24:23,024 --> 01:24:24,659
Renewable energy.
645
01:24:24,659 --> 01:24:27,128
New Jersey is a leader
in solar energy
646
01:24:27,262 --> 01:24:29,597
and offshore
wind on the horizon.
647
01:24:30,031 --> 01:24:33,134
The state aims to reach
100% clean energy
648
01:24:33,268 --> 01:24:35,236
by 2035.
649
01:24:35,236 --> 01:24:36,971
Once the power is generated,
650
01:24:36,971 --> 01:24:38,973
it needs to travel
to your home.
651
01:24:39,074 --> 01:24:41,409
This happens through high
voltage transmission
652
01:24:41,409 --> 01:24:44,179
lines that stretch across
the states and beyond,
653
01:24:44,612 --> 01:24:47,415
forming a network
of interconnected grids.
654
01:24:47,882 --> 01:24:49,818
These transmission lines
are designed
655
01:24:49,818 --> 01:24:52,387
to carry electricity
over long distances,
656
01:24:52,687 --> 01:24:54,522
usually at high voltage,
657
01:24:54,522 --> 01:24:56,524
to reduce energy loss.
658
01:24:56,524 --> 01:24:59,494
New Jersey is part
of the PJM interconnection,
659
01:24:59,761 --> 01:25:01,930
a regional transmission
organization
660
01:25:01,930 --> 01:25:04,666
that helps manage the grid
from parts of the Midwest
661
01:25:04,833 --> 01:25:06,835
all the way to the East Coast.
662
01:25:07,035 --> 01:25:10,071
PJM coordinates
the supply of electricity
663
01:25:10,071 --> 01:25:13,508
and ensures reliability,
balancing demand with
664
01:25:13,508 --> 01:25:16,444
the available generation
across multiple states.
665
01:25:17,078 --> 01:25:19,647
Now, before the electricity
can reach your home,
666
01:25:19,914 --> 01:25:22,083
it needs to be sent to
substations.
667
01:25:22,517 --> 01:25:24,619
Substations are key facilities
668
01:25:24,619 --> 01:25:26,087
that reduce the high voltage
669
01:25:26,087 --> 01:25:28,423
electricity from the transmission lines
670
01:25:28,423 --> 01:25:31,926
to lower, safer voltages
for local distribution.
671
01:25:32,460 --> 01:25:33,628
Think of substations
672
01:25:33,628 --> 01:25:35,697
like a traffic light
at an intersection.
673
01:25:35,997 --> 01:25:38,233
They manage
the flow of electricity.
674
01:25:38,533 --> 01:25:41,269
Without them, your lights
wouldn't work properly.
675
01:25:41,603 --> 01:25:44,439
These substations are
scattered across New Jersey,
676
01:25:44,639 --> 01:25:47,108
ensuring that power reaches
every neighborhood,
677
01:25:47,342 --> 01:25:50,178
from the bustling cities
to the quiet suburbs.
678
01:25:50,645 --> 01:25:53,681
Once the voltage is reduced,
it's time to distribute
679
01:25:53,681 --> 01:25:55,917
the electricity
to homes and businesses.
680
01:25:56,451 --> 01:25:57,886
This happens
through a network
681
01:25:57,886 --> 01:25:59,888
of local distribution lines.
682
01:25:59,921 --> 01:26:02,557
The familiar power lines
you see along streets.
683
01:26:02,991 --> 01:26:05,927
These lines deliver
electricity to transformers
684
01:26:05,927 --> 01:26:08,796
mounted on utility poles
that convert the power
685
01:26:08,796 --> 01:26:11,633
to the appropriate voltage
for individual use.
686
01:26:12,066 --> 01:26:15,069
When you flip a switch, it's
that power flowing
687
01:26:15,069 --> 01:26:17,272
through these distribution
lines ready
688
01:26:17,272 --> 01:26:19,707
to turn on your lights,
your refrigerator,
689
01:26:19,741 --> 01:26:23,311
your TV, and everything
else that needs electricity.
690
01:26:24,345 --> 01:26:26,080
One of the
trickiest parts of running
691
01:26:26,080 --> 01:26:27,382
the grid is making sure
692
01:26:27,382 --> 01:26:29,717
there's always enough power
to meet demand.
693
01:26:30,051 --> 01:26:32,387
Electricity
can't be stored efficiently,
694
01:26:32,620 --> 01:26:35,757
so supply and demand
must always be in balance.
695
01:26:36,191 --> 01:26:38,960
This is why grid operators
like PJM
696
01:26:38,960 --> 01:26:41,629
monitor real time
electricity usage.
697
01:26:41,963 --> 01:26:43,965
When you're using
a lot of electricity,
698
01:26:44,265 --> 01:26:46,301
like when everyone's
turning on their air
699
01:26:46,301 --> 01:26:48,303
conditioning
during a summer heatwave,
700
01:26:48,570 --> 01:26:50,405
the grid needs to keep up.
701
01:26:50,405 --> 01:26:53,641
If there's too much demand,
that can cause blackouts.
702
01:26:54,042 --> 01:26:56,778
But if the grid is too big,
power plants
703
01:26:56,778 --> 01:27:00,081
might be underused, costing
energy companies money.
704
01:27:01,049 --> 01:27:03,117
Now, there has been
significant government
705
01:27:03,117 --> 01:27:06,254
investment in alternative
renewable energy sources.
706
01:27:06,487 --> 01:27:09,757
There's one significant
challenge: intermittency.
707
01:27:10,191 --> 01:27:13,394
This means that renewable
sources like solar and wind
708
01:27:13,528 --> 01:27:16,097
don't always generate power
when we need it.
709
01:27:16,097 --> 01:27:17,031
Most.
710
01:27:17,031 --> 01:27:19,334
Solar energy
depends on sunlight,
711
01:27:19,534 --> 01:27:21,769
so at night or on cloudy days,
712
01:27:22,036 --> 01:27:24,339
solar panels don't produce electricity.
713
01:27:24,639 --> 01:27:26,541
Solar technology
is almost at
714
01:27:26,541 --> 01:27:28,610
its maximum production
capability,
715
01:27:28,876 --> 01:27:31,546
meaning solar panels
themselves cannot convert
716
01:27:31,546 --> 01:27:34,515
more photons from the sun
than they already do.
717
01:27:34,882 --> 01:27:37,485
Wind energy
depends on wind conditions,
718
01:27:37,652 --> 01:27:39,587
which can be unpredictable.
719
01:27:39,587 --> 01:27:42,490
For example,
wind turbines shut down
720
01:27:42,490 --> 01:27:47,195
when wind speeds exceed
55mph, like during storms.
721
01:27:47,228 --> 01:27:48,696
To avoid damage.
722
01:27:48,696 --> 01:27:50,732
And without significant
subsidies,
723
01:27:50,732 --> 01:27:52,066
the cost to consumer
724
01:27:52,066 --> 01:27:54,669
can be significantly more
than other sources.
725
01:27:55,103 --> 01:27:57,105
This creates
a mismatch between
726
01:27:57,105 --> 01:27:59,540
when energy is available
and when it's needed.
727
01:28:00,008 --> 01:28:02,443
For example, on a sunny,
windy day,
728
01:28:02,577 --> 01:28:04,912
we might have more energy
than we can use.
729
01:28:05,179 --> 01:28:07,315
But during a calm, cloudy evening,
730
01:28:07,515 --> 01:28:09,617
the demand for power
is often higher,
731
01:28:09,884 --> 01:28:11,886
and renewable energy generation
732
01:28:11,886 --> 01:28:13,821
could be much lower.
733
01:28:13,821 --> 01:28:15,657
New Jersey is also upgrading
734
01:28:15,657 --> 01:28:18,626
its electrical grid
with smart grid technology.
735
01:28:18,960 --> 01:28:22,263
A smart grid uses
digital technology to detect
736
01:28:22,263 --> 01:28:25,300
and respond to changes in
electricity usage,
737
01:28:25,600 --> 01:28:28,536
helping to improve
efficiency and reliability.
738
01:28:28,870 --> 01:28:31,472
It can even help
reduce the impact of outages
739
01:28:31,606 --> 01:28:34,742
by quickly identifying
and isolating problems.
740
01:28:35,576 --> 01:28:37,779
Sometimes power outages happen.
741
01:28:37,779 --> 01:28:40,448
Severe weather
like hurricanes, snow
742
01:28:40,448 --> 01:28:43,785
storms, or even high winds
can knock out power lines.
743
01:28:44,085 --> 01:28:46,087
But New Jersey is prepared.
744
01:28:46,354 --> 01:28:48,790
Utilities like PSE&G,
745
01:28:48,790 --> 01:28:50,325
JC P&L
746
01:28:50,491 --> 01:28:52,660
and Atlantic City Electricity
747
01:28:52,694 --> 01:28:56,130
have extensive emergency
response systems in place.
748
01:28:56,531 --> 01:28:59,500
They work to restore
power quickly by dispatching
749
01:28:59,500 --> 01:29:02,370
repair crews, using drones
for inspections,
750
01:29:02,537 --> 01:29:05,340
and communicating with
the public in real time.
751
01:29:05,807 --> 01:29:07,642
Thanks to modern technology,
752
01:29:07,642 --> 01:29:10,411
outages are detected
faster and resolved
753
01:29:10,411 --> 01:29:12,447
more efficiently
than ever before.
754
01:29:12,880 --> 01:29:14,549
So whether it's powering
755
01:29:14,549 --> 01:29:17,085
your morning coffee
or charging your phone.
756
01:29:17,418 --> 01:29:19,153
New Jersey's electrical grid
757
01:29:19,153 --> 01:29:21,189
keeps everything
running smoothly.
758
01:29:21,422 --> 01:29:23,658
From power plants
to substations
759
01:29:23,925 --> 01:29:25,893
to the smart grid
of the future.
760
01:29:25,893 --> 01:29:28,696
Every part of the system
works together to deliver
761
01:29:28,696 --> 01:29:31,599
reliable electricity
right to your door.
762
01:29:32,033 --> 01:29:33,768
The grid isn't perfect.
763
01:29:33,768 --> 01:29:35,770
There's always room
for improvement.
764
01:29:35,770 --> 01:29:37,672
But thanks to smart
technology,
765
01:29:37,672 --> 01:29:40,208
renewable energy,
and careful management,
766
01:29:40,375 --> 01:29:42,710
we're moving towards
a more sustainable
767
01:29:42,710 --> 01:29:44,746
and resilient energy future.
New Jersey: Natural Gas’ Crucial Role – 1:00 The Power Behind the Switch – 8:40 Hudson Tunnels: Gateway to the Future – 16:42 “Cinderella Man” James Braddock – 25:17
1
01:01:00,823 --> 01:01:04,160
When we think about new Jersey
infrastructure, we usually picture
2
01:01:04,160 --> 01:01:07,163
highways, rail lines, ports and pipelines.
3
01:01:07,330 --> 01:01:10,733
But long before route
one or the Northeast Corridor Railroad,
4
01:01:10,967 --> 01:01:12,635
there was another transportation
5
01:01:12,635 --> 01:01:15,605
spine running
quietly through the heart of the state.
6
01:01:15,672 --> 01:01:17,006
It was hand dug.
7
01:01:17,006 --> 01:01:20,410
It reshaped cities,
and it still matters today.
8
01:01:20,810 --> 01:01:24,080
This is the story of the Delaware
and Raritan Canal.
9
01:01:25,014 --> 01:01:26,983
The idea of cutting a canal across
10
01:01:26,983 --> 01:01:29,986
new Jersey is older than the United States
itself.
11
01:01:30,086 --> 01:01:35,591
In 1676, William Penn,
founder of Pennsylvania, proposed creating
12
01:01:35,591 --> 01:01:39,662
a water route across what he called
the narrow waist of new Jersey.
13
01:01:40,263 --> 01:01:44,801
His goal was ambitious a protected
inland passage connecting Philadelphia
14
01:01:44,801 --> 01:01:48,337
to New York Harbor,
avoiding the dangerous Atlantic route.
15
01:01:48,805 --> 01:01:51,507
Penn even ordered a survey
to see if it was possible
16
01:01:51,507 --> 01:01:54,610
to cut away across the country
to Sandy Hook.
17
01:01:55,044 --> 01:01:59,816
No record survives that the survey ever
happened, but the idea never disappeared.
18
01:02:00,383 --> 01:02:03,853
For the next hundred years,
the concept slipped quietly
19
01:02:03,853 --> 01:02:07,957
while colonies grew, fought a revolution,
and became a nation.
20
01:02:08,524 --> 01:02:12,028
But by the early 1800s,
America turned its attention
21
01:02:12,028 --> 01:02:16,866
to internal improvements, and new Jersey
found itself at the center of everything.
22
01:02:17,700 --> 01:02:21,003
By the 1820s, enthusiasm
for a canal linking
23
01:02:21,003 --> 01:02:24,006
New York
and Philadelphia reached a fever pitch.
24
01:02:24,407 --> 01:02:27,410
But there was a problem. Railroads.
25
01:02:27,677 --> 01:02:32,148
New Jersey lawmakers were split between
canal supporters and railroad advocates.
26
01:02:32,548 --> 01:02:36,185
Each side was powerful,
and each side blocked the other.
27
01:02:36,652 --> 01:02:40,923
The stalemate ended in 1830
with a uniquely new Jersey compromise.
28
01:02:41,524 --> 01:02:44,727
The legislature chartered both
and then merged them,
29
01:02:44,927 --> 01:02:48,931
creating a canal rail partnership
known as the Joint Companies.
30
01:02:49,365 --> 01:02:54,103
The Delaware and Raritan Canal Company
and the Camden and Amboy Railroad.
31
01:02:54,437 --> 01:02:57,440
Construction on both began the same year.
32
01:02:57,507 --> 01:03:02,411
By 1833, the railroad was running
from Bordentown to South Amboy.
33
01:03:02,912 --> 01:03:06,282
Parts of the canal opened
at the same time, but the full canal
34
01:03:06,282 --> 01:03:09,285
wouldn't be completed until 1834.
35
01:03:09,886 --> 01:03:13,890
On June 25th, 1834,
the canal officially opened.
36
01:03:14,357 --> 01:03:17,894
Governor Peter Dumont's room
boarded a ceremonial barge
37
01:03:17,894 --> 01:03:20,229
for a two day journey across the state.
38
01:03:20,229 --> 01:03:23,232
At every lock and bridge, crowds cheered.
39
01:03:23,766 --> 01:03:26,736
In New Brunswick,
he was greeted with a 24 gun
40
01:03:26,736 --> 01:03:29,739
salute
and a brass band parade through the city.
41
01:03:30,072 --> 01:03:34,310
The canal itself formed a giant meandering
“Y” across new Jersey,
42
01:03:34,877 --> 01:03:37,880
44 miles from Bordentown to New Brunswick,
43
01:03:38,447 --> 01:03:41,818
a 22 mile feeder canal from Raven Rock
to Trenton.
44
01:03:42,451 --> 01:03:45,421
The engineering
was remarkably sophisticated.
45
01:03:45,421 --> 01:03:48,591
The feeder canal was six feet
deep and 50ft wide.
46
01:03:49,091 --> 01:03:51,160
The main canal was seven feet deep.
47
01:03:51,160 --> 01:03:54,497
Later expanded to eight and 75ft wide.
48
01:03:54,964 --> 01:03:57,934
Seven locks lifted boats up to Trenton.
49
01:03:57,934 --> 01:04:01,637
Seven more brought them back down
to sea level at the Raritan River.
50
01:04:02,338 --> 01:04:05,341
Stone riprap lined the banks to prevent
erosion.
51
01:04:05,775 --> 01:04:10,079
Swing bridges pivoted sideways
so vessels of any mast height could pass.
52
01:04:10,479 --> 01:04:15,585
By 1868, even the locks were powered
by steam, and once built,
53
01:04:15,751 --> 01:04:19,121
the canal barely needed modification
for the next century.
54
01:04:20,022 --> 01:04:22,758
But this achievement came at a price.
55
01:04:22,758 --> 01:04:26,596
Most of the canal was dug by hand
by Irish immigrant laborers.
56
01:04:27,129 --> 01:04:30,600
In 1832,
cholera swept through the work camps.
57
01:04:30,933 --> 01:04:33,936
Dozens, possibly hundreds, died.
58
01:04:34,003 --> 01:04:36,439
They were buried in unmarked mass graves
59
01:04:36,439 --> 01:04:40,276
at Bull's Island,
Ten Mile Run and Griggstown.
60
01:04:41,310 --> 01:04:44,213
In 2003, a granite monument
61
01:04:44,213 --> 01:04:47,984
cut from a former canal
lock was dedicated to their memory.
62
01:04:48,618 --> 01:04:52,021
It stands today as a reminder
that infrastructure is built
63
01:04:52,221 --> 01:04:56,058
not just with money and materials,
but with human lives.
64
01:04:57,560 --> 01:05:00,229
A canal journey
from Bordentown to New Brunswick
65
01:05:00,229 --> 01:05:03,299
took nearly two days,
but that was revolutionary.
66
01:05:03,833 --> 01:05:06,469
Before the canal, shipping goods
from Philadelphia
67
01:05:06,469 --> 01:05:09,472
to New York by sea could take two weeks.
68
01:05:09,538 --> 01:05:12,541
The canal transformed cities at its ends.
69
01:05:12,808 --> 01:05:15,411
Trenton's population quadrupled.
70
01:05:15,411 --> 01:05:19,682
Ironworks, ceramic factories
and manufacturers surged in.
71
01:05:20,349 --> 01:05:24,320
But the canal's greatest beneficiaries
were New York and Pennsylvania.
72
01:05:24,887 --> 01:05:28,491
Pennsylvania
anthracite coal destined for New York's
73
01:05:28,491 --> 01:05:31,761
furnaces
and homes became the canal's lifeblood.
74
01:05:32,061 --> 01:05:35,932
At its peak in 1871, nearly 3 million
75
01:05:35,932 --> 01:05:40,102
tons of freight passed through the canal,
more than the Erie Canal carried
76
01:05:40,102 --> 01:05:41,837
That same year.
77
01:05:41,837 --> 01:05:46,008
And it wasn't just canal boats,
sailboats, steam tugs, yachts,
78
01:05:46,342 --> 01:05:49,412
and even naval vessels
passed through this narrow waterway.
79
01:05:50,346 --> 01:05:52,415
Ironically, the canal's decline
80
01:05:52,415 --> 01:05:55,851
began with its own partner in 1871.
81
01:05:55,952 --> 01:05:59,689
The Pennsylvania Railroad leased the canal
and its rail connection
82
01:05:59,922 --> 01:06:02,925
for 999 years.
83
01:06:02,925 --> 01:06:06,295
From that moment
on, canal traffic steadily fell.
84
01:06:06,896 --> 01:06:08,531
Railroads were faster.
85
01:06:08,531 --> 01:06:09,932
They ran day and night.
86
01:06:09,932 --> 01:06:11,934
They didn't freeze in the winter.
87
01:06:11,934 --> 01:06:17,106
By 1893, the canal was operating at a loss
and never recovered.
88
01:06:17,606 --> 01:06:21,043
Some historians
believe the railroad intentionally starved
89
01:06:21,043 --> 01:06:24,981
the canal of maintenance while favoring
rail shipments with lower rates.
90
01:06:25,548 --> 01:06:28,784
In 1933, the canal closed for the winter.
91
01:06:29,218 --> 01:06:30,987
It never reopened.
92
01:06:30,987 --> 01:06:34,623
Four years later, ownership
reverted to the state of new Jersey.
93
01:06:35,958 --> 01:06:38,327
Yet the canal wasn't finished.
94
01:06:38,327 --> 01:06:41,330
As industry
spread out in the 1930s and 40s.
95
01:06:41,464 --> 01:06:45,634
They needed water and the canal
could provide it cheaper than wells.
96
01:06:46,135 --> 01:06:49,772
So the canal reinvented itself,
not as a transportation
97
01:06:49,772 --> 01:06:52,775
corridor, but as a water supply system.
98
01:06:52,975 --> 01:06:57,146
Parts were filled in, including a section
in Trenton that became route one.
99
01:06:57,747 --> 01:07:00,750
Other sections were modernized
with concrete structures,
100
01:07:00,783 --> 01:07:03,786
steel gates, and improved flow systems.
101
01:07:03,786 --> 01:07:08,958
In 1973, the canal was listed on
the National Register of Historic Places.
102
01:07:09,425 --> 01:07:13,029
One year later, Citizen Advocacy helped
create the Delaware
103
01:07:13,029 --> 01:07:16,032
and Raritan Canal State Park.
104
01:07:16,198 --> 01:07:19,702
Today, more than a million people visit
the canal each year.
105
01:07:20,136 --> 01:07:23,472
It's a recreational corridor,
a conservation link,
106
01:07:23,973 --> 01:07:28,944
a historic landmark,
and it still supplies water to industry.
107
01:07:28,978 --> 01:07:30,446
Agriculture and drinking
108
01:07:30,446 --> 01:07:34,216
water systems serving nearly 1 million
new Jersey residents.
109
01:07:34,850 --> 01:07:37,853
This canal helped build city's
power industry
110
01:07:38,054 --> 01:07:40,556
and shaped the
economy of an entire region.
111
01:07:41,524 --> 01:07:44,193
The Delaware and Raritan Canal reminds us
112
01:07:44,193 --> 01:07:48,164
that infrastructure doesn't disappear
when its original purpose ends.
113
01:07:48,564 --> 01:07:52,001
When we preserve it, adapt it,
and understand its history.
114
01:07:52,201 --> 01:07:56,138
It continues to serve us in ways
its builders could never have imagined.
115
01:07:56,639 --> 01:08:00,076
And that's why our infrastructure matters.
116
01:08:01,143 --> 01:08:04,346
Clean water delivered
straight to your home.
117
01:08:04,547 --> 01:08:07,283
It's something
most people take for granted.
118
01:08:07,283 --> 01:08:11,353
But in new Jersey, aging, drinking
water infrastructure is leaking,
119
01:08:11,353 --> 01:08:14,356
crumbling and in urgent need of repair.
120
01:08:14,590 --> 01:08:16,292
In some cities, like Newark.
121
01:08:16,292 --> 01:08:20,896
Up to 40% of the water is lost
before it even reaches the tap.
122
01:08:21,363 --> 01:08:25,267
And New Jersey's drinking water travels
through a complex network
123
01:08:25,701 --> 01:08:30,806
stored in dams and reservoirs, filtered
through treatment plants and delivered
124
01:08:30,806 --> 01:08:35,778
through a labyrinth of underground
pipes, many of them over a century old.
125
01:08:36,445 --> 01:08:39,448
This system
serves over 9 million residents.
126
01:08:39,582 --> 01:08:42,351
But it wasn't built to last forever.
127
01:08:42,351 --> 01:08:44,587
In Newark alone, 40%
128
01:08:44,587 --> 01:08:47,590
of the city's
drinking water is lost to leaks.
129
01:08:47,790 --> 01:08:52,428
Statewide, the number is over
130 million gallons per day,
130
01:08:52,728 --> 01:08:55,464
enough to supply entire towns.
131
01:08:55,464 --> 01:08:58,734
Lead pipes still buried
beneath thousands of homes
132
01:08:59,135 --> 01:09:02,138
pose a health risk to children
and families.
133
01:09:02,338 --> 01:09:05,908
Old valves and undersized
mains can't meet today's
134
01:09:05,908 --> 01:09:08,911
demands or tomorrow's emergencies.
135
01:09:09,411 --> 01:09:12,882
New Jersey also relies on more than 1600
136
01:09:12,882 --> 01:09:15,885
dams to hold drinking water in reservoirs.
137
01:09:16,085 --> 01:09:20,723
Many were built in the 1950s
and 60s, and dozens are now considered
138
01:09:20,723 --> 01:09:25,060
high hazard, meaning failure
would endanger lives downstream.
139
01:09:25,761 --> 01:09:27,096
Like water mains.
140
01:09:27,096 --> 01:09:29,999
Our dam infrastructure needs modernization
141
01:09:29,999 --> 01:09:33,002
before small issues become disasters.
142
01:09:33,802 --> 01:09:36,972
Rebuilding
drinking water systems is no easy job.
143
01:09:37,473 --> 01:09:40,910
Operating engineers are the men and women
trained to do it.
144
01:09:41,243 --> 01:09:44,346
Operating
heavy machinery, laying new mains
145
01:09:44,613 --> 01:09:47,616
and repairing dams
with pinpoint precision.
146
01:09:48,050 --> 01:09:52,254
They complete thousands of hours
of training to keep water clean, safe
147
01:09:52,488 --> 01:09:54,123
and flowing.
148
01:09:54,123 --> 01:09:56,892
Thanks to the bipartisan
infrastructure law.
149
01:09:56,892 --> 01:10:01,430
Over $1 billion is coming to new Jersey
for water system upgrades.
150
01:10:01,931 --> 01:10:04,600
That means safer drinking water, stronger
151
01:10:04,600 --> 01:10:07,570
dams, and thousands of union jobs.
152
01:10:07,803 --> 01:10:09,672
But we can't stop now.
153
01:10:09,672 --> 01:10:12,675
The future of clean water
depends on steady investment
154
01:10:12,741 --> 01:10:15,744
and skilled workers ready to build it.
155
01:10:15,844 --> 01:10:19,048
What goes down
the drain doesn't just disappear.
156
01:10:19,448 --> 01:10:22,851
New Jersey's
wastewater systems are aging, overloaded,
157
01:10:23,152 --> 01:10:26,155
and in many places, dangerously outdated.
158
01:10:26,789 --> 01:10:30,359
Wastewater systems
carry used water from homes and businesses
159
01:10:30,359 --> 01:10:34,296
to treatment plants where it's cleaned
and returned to the environment.
160
01:10:34,697 --> 01:10:37,733
But much of this system is over
75 years old,
161
01:10:38,000 --> 01:10:41,003
cracked, leaking and undersized.
162
01:10:41,337 --> 01:10:45,341
In older cities, stormwater and sewage
share the same pipes.
163
01:10:45,641 --> 01:10:48,611
When it rains too much, the system
overflows.
164
01:10:48,877 --> 01:10:52,348
Dumping raw sewage
directly into rivers and streets.
165
01:10:52,781 --> 01:10:56,285
These combined sewer overflows, or CSOs,
166
01:10:56,285 --> 01:11:00,222
are a public health hazard,
and they're illegal under federal law.
167
01:11:01,323 --> 01:11:04,526
New Jersey's 200 plus wastewater
treatment plants
168
01:11:04,526 --> 01:11:07,930
process billions of gallons of used water
each week.
169
01:11:08,230 --> 01:11:11,267
But many plants were built decades ago
and struggled
170
01:11:11,267 --> 01:11:14,270
to meet stricter environmental standards.
171
01:11:14,603 --> 01:11:17,373
Operating engineers dig deep to install
172
01:11:17,373 --> 01:11:20,409
new sewer lines, operate dewatering pumps,
173
01:11:20,609 --> 01:11:23,612
and build the pump stations
that keep everything moving.
174
01:11:23,912 --> 01:11:28,550
Their expertise is critical to protecting
homes, rivers and water quality.
175
01:11:29,652 --> 01:11:31,920
Thanks to new infrastructure funding.
176
01:11:31,920 --> 01:11:34,923
New Jersey is tackling CSO hotspots
177
01:11:35,090 --> 01:11:37,826
and modernizing wastewater plants.
178
01:11:37,826 --> 01:11:41,063
These upgrades protect health,
improve the environment
179
01:11:41,230 --> 01:11:45,567
and create family sustaining union jobs
that can't be outsourced.
180
01:11:46,602 --> 01:11:50,839
Storms are growing stronger
and flooding is becoming the new normal.
181
01:11:51,407 --> 01:11:55,244
New Jersey's stormwater
systems are outdated and overwhelmed.
182
01:11:55,744 --> 01:11:59,181
Stormwater systems
are designed to capture rain and melting
183
01:11:59,181 --> 01:12:04,286
snow, then direct it safely into streams,
rivers or treatment facilities.
184
01:12:04,753 --> 01:12:08,223
But most of New Jersey's
storm drains were built decades ago
185
01:12:08,490 --> 01:12:11,260
without climate change in mind.
186
01:12:11,260 --> 01:12:14,496
Extreme storms now drop more water in less
187
01:12:14,496 --> 01:12:18,901
time, flooding homes,
closing roads and threatening lives.
188
01:12:19,435 --> 01:12:22,571
Hard surfaces like roads and roofs
make it worse.
189
01:12:22,671 --> 01:12:25,207
Preventing water
from soaking into the ground.
190
01:12:26,175 --> 01:12:28,477
Fixing stormwater means blending
191
01:12:28,477 --> 01:12:32,715
traditional gray infrastructure
with modern green techniques.
192
01:12:33,215 --> 01:12:36,685
Green solutions
like rain gardens and bio swales
193
01:12:36,885 --> 01:12:41,156
soak up rain naturally,
reducing the load on pipes and sewers.
194
01:12:41,457 --> 01:12:44,793
Together, they make neighborhoods
more flood resistant.
195
01:12:45,561 --> 01:12:49,965
From digging retention basins
to laying massive underground culverts.
196
01:12:50,132 --> 01:12:53,535
Operating engineers
make resilience projects real.
197
01:12:53,969 --> 01:12:56,905
Their skill and machinery help
protect communities
198
01:12:56,905 --> 01:12:59,908
from flooding before the next storm hits.
199
01:13:00,542 --> 01:13:03,545
Flooding won't stop,
but we can build smarter
200
01:13:03,912 --> 01:13:08,584
with green infrastructure,
smart investment and skilled union labor.
201
01:13:08,817 --> 01:13:11,820
New Jersey can lead the way
in flood resilience
202
01:13:11,920 --> 01:13:15,691
and build a safer, drier,
more secure future.
203
01:13:16,859 --> 01:13:19,128
When union labor and contractors
204
01:13:19,128 --> 01:13:23,298
come together for one common goal,
anything can be accomplished.
205
01:13:23,365 --> 01:13:26,702
Even the engineers labor
employer co-operative.
206
01:13:26,835 --> 01:13:30,873
We are the labor management fund
for the International Union of Operating
207
01:13:30,873 --> 01:13:36,412
Engineers, local 825 from Kingston to Cape
May and from river to river.
208
01:13:36,645 --> 01:13:38,380
We're creating the opportunities
209
01:13:38,380 --> 01:13:42,284
that spawn real economic development
and building the future.
210
01:13:42,418 --> 01:13:45,487
As members of the business community
and chambers
211
01:13:45,521 --> 01:13:49,124
of commerce, we create
the partnerships needed to collaborate.
212
01:13:49,124 --> 01:13:49,925
Success.
213
01:13:49,925 --> 01:13:54,196
As advocates, we shape the public policy
and local town halls
214
01:13:54,196 --> 01:13:58,333
and statehouses that protect our members
and generate possibilities.
215
01:13:58,367 --> 01:14:02,638
We eliminate entry barriers
that ensures our members are ready on day
216
01:14:02,638 --> 01:14:05,841
one for whatever work
our contractors require.
217
01:14:06,041 --> 01:14:09,778
And as industry innovators,
we develop grant programs
218
01:14:09,778 --> 01:14:13,949
to help our contractors compete
in underrepresented market sectors.
219
01:14:14,149 --> 01:14:17,653
This is what the 21st
century organized labor looks like.
220
01:14:17,920 --> 01:14:19,621
This is ELEC.
221
01:14:19,621 --> 01:14:21,490
building the infrastructure
222
01:14:21,490 --> 01:14:25,227
New York and Jersey relies on.
223
01:14:26,795 --> 01:14:30,332
Let's dig into a question
a lot of new Jersey families are asking.
224
01:14:30,699 --> 01:14:35,037
Why is my electric bill so high
when I haven't even used more power?
225
01:14:35,404 --> 01:14:38,407
The truth is,
your bill isn't just one number.
226
01:14:38,440 --> 01:14:41,210
It's really five bills rolled into one.
227
01:14:41,210 --> 01:14:45,481
Ever wonder what the supply charges on
your new Jersey energy bill really mean?
228
01:14:45,881 --> 01:14:47,082
That's the part of your bill
229
01:14:47,082 --> 01:14:50,786
that covers the actual cost
of producing the electricity you use.
230
01:14:50,986 --> 01:14:55,090
The generation itself,
your utility doesn't set those prices.
231
01:14:55,424 --> 01:14:58,427
They're based on market rates
for power from different sources
232
01:14:58,594 --> 01:15:01,597
like natural gas, nuclear and renewables.
233
01:15:01,730 --> 01:15:05,033
When fuel prices rise or state policies
change,
234
01:15:05,234 --> 01:15:09,471
supply charges can climb
even if your usage stays the same.
235
01:15:09,972 --> 01:15:13,175
So next time you look at your bill,
remember supply
236
01:15:13,175 --> 01:15:16,178
is what it costs
to make the power not deliver it.
237
01:15:16,445 --> 01:15:19,314
When you see delivery charges
on your new Jersey energy
238
01:15:19,314 --> 01:15:22,317
bill,
that's not the cost of making electricity.
239
01:15:22,484 --> 01:15:26,321
It's the cost of getting that power
safely to your home or business.
240
01:15:26,655 --> 01:15:30,492
Delivery charges cover the poles, wires,
maintenance, customer
241
01:15:30,492 --> 01:15:33,695
service, and emergency response
that keep the system running
242
01:15:33,862 --> 01:15:36,732
24 over seven in every kind of weather.
243
01:15:36,732 --> 01:15:41,203
These rates are regulated by the state,
meaning your utility can't raise them
244
01:15:41,203 --> 01:15:45,374
without approval from the state via
the new Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
245
01:15:45,674 --> 01:15:48,710
So while supply is what it costs
to make electricity,
246
01:15:48,944 --> 01:15:53,615
delivery is what it takes to keep it
flowing reliably to you and your home.
247
01:15:53,982 --> 01:15:57,419
Public policy
charges are the state mandated programs
248
01:15:57,419 --> 01:15:59,321
built into your energy bill.
249
01:15:59,321 --> 01:16:02,257
They fund a clean energy,
energy efficiency,
250
01:16:02,257 --> 01:16:05,260
and assistance programs
for low income families.
251
01:16:05,761 --> 01:16:09,097
They fund environmental initiatives
that support New Jersey's
252
01:16:09,097 --> 01:16:11,099
long term energy goals.
253
01:16:11,099 --> 01:16:12,935
These aren't utility profits.
254
01:16:12,935 --> 01:16:14,236
They're public programs
255
01:16:14,236 --> 01:16:18,340
required by state law
and approved by regulators, and consumers
256
01:16:18,340 --> 01:16:22,411
are responsible for paying them.
Taxes and fees on your New Jersey
257
01:16:22,411 --> 01:16:26,982
energy bill are state and local charges
collected to fund government services.
258
01:16:27,382 --> 01:16:30,786
They're separate from supply and delivery,
but a part of your bill
259
01:16:30,786 --> 01:16:32,955
that helps fund state efforts.
260
01:16:32,955 --> 01:16:36,725
So let's ask why are all of these pieces
climbing at once?
261
01:16:37,292 --> 01:16:41,196
Starting in 2016,
new Jersey started importing electricity
262
01:16:41,196 --> 01:16:45,334
from the PJM grid
after a series of power plant retirements.
263
01:16:45,534 --> 01:16:49,271
The state has become even more dependent
upon importing electricity
264
01:16:49,271 --> 01:16:50,606
from other states.
265
01:16:50,606 --> 01:16:54,209
The state hoped offshore
wind would increase in-state electricity,
266
01:16:54,476 --> 01:16:58,313
but in 2023, Orsted pulled out of
what was to be the state's
267
01:16:58,313 --> 01:17:00,248
first offshore wind farm.
268
01:17:00,248 --> 01:17:03,652
Blaming post-Covid supply
chain problems and inflation
269
01:17:04,052 --> 01:17:08,223
today, new Jersey still has no credible
plan for baseload power to meet
270
01:17:08,223 --> 01:17:13,829
growing demand, and the added usage
from building electrification, EVs and AI.
271
01:17:14,129 --> 01:17:18,433
Instead, Trenton is betting heavily
on intermittent wind and solar.
272
01:17:18,834 --> 01:17:23,939
The problem is when the sun sets or the
wind stalls, the grid still needs power.
273
01:17:24,206 --> 01:17:28,644
And right now, that means scrambling
for imports and other expensive means.
274
01:17:29,011 --> 01:17:31,279
That's why bills keep spiking.
275
01:17:31,279 --> 01:17:36,151
Bottom line these alternative energy
sources are unproven and unreliable.
276
01:17:36,385 --> 01:17:39,421
So when we are short on supply,
we pay more.
277
01:17:39,821 --> 01:17:43,692
Ultimately, the solution to New Jersey's
electricity shortage is building
278
01:17:43,692 --> 01:17:48,697
additional baseload generating capacity
from sources like natural gas and nuclear.
279
01:17:49,097 --> 01:17:52,801
When the world goes dark,
nuclear power keeps the lights on.
280
01:17:53,135 --> 01:17:56,505
Day or night, rain or shine, it
delivers steady,
281
01:17:56,672 --> 01:17:59,675
reliable energy
when consumers need it most.
282
01:18:00,075 --> 01:18:02,244
While other sources depend on the weather.
283
01:18:02,244 --> 01:18:05,981
Nuclear energy runs 24 hours
a day, seven days a week,
284
01:18:06,281 --> 01:18:10,652
quietly powering homes, hospitals
and entire communities.
285
01:18:11,086 --> 01:18:13,822
And it does it without the carbon
emissions.
286
01:18:13,822 --> 01:18:17,125
That's because nuclear power
is the energy that never sleeps.
287
01:18:17,392 --> 01:18:20,395
Reliable, clean and always on.
288
01:18:20,562 --> 01:18:23,532
As new Jersey plans for a stable energy
future.
289
01:18:23,565 --> 01:18:26,802
Natural gas
is emerging as a key part of the solution.
290
01:18:27,269 --> 01:18:29,938
Abundant and widely available, natural
291
01:18:29,938 --> 01:18:33,675
gas provides reliable baseload power,
keeping electricity
292
01:18:33,675 --> 01:18:37,746
flowing day and night,
even when solar and wind aren't producing.
293
01:18:38,146 --> 01:18:41,083
By using natural gas
strategically, new Jersey
294
01:18:41,083 --> 01:18:44,453
can help stabilize energy prices,
protecting families
295
01:18:44,453 --> 01:18:48,390
and businesses from spikes
while we transition to cleaner sources.
296
01:18:48,790 --> 01:18:54,029
Natural gas as part of a balanced,
modern energy mix helps ensure a secure,
297
01:18:54,062 --> 01:18:58,800
affordable and reliable electricity
future for everyone in the Garden State.
298
01:18:59,134 --> 01:19:02,838
Nuclear energy provides
clean, steady power 24 over seven
299
01:19:02,971 --> 01:19:06,975
while natural gas is abundant
and flexible, able to meet demand
300
01:19:07,109 --> 01:19:10,779
even when renewable sources
like wind and solar fluctuate.
301
01:19:11,113 --> 01:19:15,951
Together, they form a foundation
for a stable, affordable energy supply.
302
01:19:16,384 --> 01:19:19,788
Policymakers should focus on policies
that encourage investment
303
01:19:19,788 --> 01:19:22,991
in these reliable sources,
streamline regulatory
304
01:19:22,991 --> 01:19:25,994
approvals, and support
infrastructure upgrades.
305
01:19:25,994 --> 01:19:29,898
All steps that help control costs
for families and businesses.
306
01:19:30,165 --> 01:19:31,867
This isn't just about energy.
307
01:19:31,867 --> 01:19:33,869
It's an affordability crisis.
308
01:19:33,869 --> 01:19:36,104
Energy costs drive everything.
309
01:19:36,104 --> 01:19:40,509
If power is unaffordable, the state's
affordability crisis gets worse.
310
01:19:40,842 --> 01:19:42,444
When policy is done right.
311
01:19:42,444 --> 01:19:45,981
We see reliable, clean energy
at predictable prices.
312
01:19:46,081 --> 01:19:49,284
Investment in innovation
and reduced carbon emissions.
313
01:19:49,618 --> 01:19:51,419
Home stay warm in winter.
314
01:19:51,419 --> 01:19:54,756
Businesses
stay productive and communities thrive.
315
01:19:55,290 --> 01:19:58,894
But when policy goes wrong,
the consequences hit hard.
316
01:19:59,194 --> 01:20:02,197
Unstable markets, skyrocketing prices
317
01:20:02,264 --> 01:20:06,201
and energy shortages can ripple
through households and businesses alike.
318
01:20:06,535 --> 01:20:10,705
The burden falls heaviest on families
already struggling to make ends meet.
319
01:20:11,273 --> 01:20:14,509
Affordability
becomes a real challenge for planning
320
01:20:14,509 --> 01:20:18,547
can turn essential energy
into a costly, unpredictable expense,
321
01:20:18,713 --> 01:20:21,716
impacting everything from schools
to hospitals.
322
01:20:22,217 --> 01:20:25,554
Getting energy
policy right is about more than kilowatts.
323
01:20:25,921 --> 01:20:30,759
It's about security, fairness
and a sustainable future we can rely on.
324
01:20:31,293 --> 01:20:34,930
Until new Jersey builds
around nuclear and natural gas.
325
01:20:35,197 --> 01:20:37,199
Bills will keep climbing.
326
01:20:37,199 --> 01:20:40,402
Baseload first. Everything else. Second.
327
01:20:42,003 --> 01:20:45,006
Bulldozers, excavators and cranes.
328
01:20:45,273 --> 01:20:48,877
Heavy machinery covers
the lot of the operating engineers
329
01:20:48,877 --> 01:20:53,348
training center, local 825, in Dayton,
new Jersey.
330
01:20:53,481 --> 01:20:57,485
It's where 7800 union members
across new Jersey
331
01:20:57,485 --> 01:21:01,790
and Lower New York train
before building local infrastructure.
332
01:21:01,823 --> 01:21:03,592
We have everything, almost soup to nuts
333
01:21:03,592 --> 01:21:05,594
that you would see
in the construction industry.
334
01:21:05,594 --> 01:21:07,062
We teach everything here.
335
01:21:07,062 --> 01:21:10,665
Greg Lullaby, a second generation
crane operator,
336
01:21:10,832 --> 01:21:13,735
now oversees
the training center's operations.
337
01:21:13,735 --> 01:21:17,873
We invest in training every year
because what we do is so, so critical.
338
01:21:17,973 --> 01:21:20,876
Before operating heavy equipment,
pull it back to you.
339
01:21:20,876 --> 01:21:23,278
Nice and easy. The trainees start here.
340
01:21:23,278 --> 01:21:26,081
We start them out at certain,
like basic skills.
341
01:21:26,081 --> 01:21:32,153
It looks like a gaming arcade using state
of the art virtual reality simulators.
342
01:21:32,187 --> 01:21:33,922
Training is key.
343
01:21:33,922 --> 01:21:36,925
Different weather, different lighting.
Snow.
344
01:21:37,192 --> 01:21:42,030
When training at the center is free
to a limited number of students chosen.
345
01:21:42,130 --> 01:21:43,798
It's competitive too.
346
01:21:43,798 --> 01:21:46,735
Costs are covered by a union members fund.
347
01:21:46,735 --> 01:21:51,306
We have about 170 students now
and then we retrain.
348
01:21:51,306 --> 01:21:55,043
A big component of what we do
is taking somebody like myself,
349
01:21:55,043 --> 01:21:58,346
who may have been around 40 years,
but the technology changed.
350
01:21:58,513 --> 01:22:02,083
All students,
both men and women, have to undergo
351
01:22:02,083 --> 01:22:05,787
OSHA safety training
and get familiar with the heavy equipment.
352
01:22:05,854 --> 01:22:09,557
They told me practicing on the simulator
gives them the confidence
353
01:22:09,557 --> 01:22:11,359
they need on the heavy hitters.
354
01:22:11,359 --> 01:22:16,197
These future operators are in high demand,
with major construction ramping up.
355
01:22:16,298 --> 01:22:21,670
Local 825 is bridging tradition
and technology for a brighter future.
356
01:22:21,703 --> 01:22:24,239
Roxann Evans, news 12.
357
01:23:20,729 --> 01:23:23,465
Whether you're
crawling through traffic on the turnpike,
358
01:23:23,698 --> 01:23:28,036
breezing through a roundabout,
or dodging orange cones during a midnight
359
01:23:28,036 --> 01:23:31,906
paving project, new Jersey
roads are anything but boring.
360
01:23:32,240 --> 01:23:34,275
But there's a method to the madness.
361
01:23:34,275 --> 01:23:37,312
In this video, we'll break down
how our roads got here.
362
01:23:37,545 --> 01:23:38,913
Who builds them and why?
363
01:23:38,913 --> 01:23:42,417
Certain intersections get roundabouts
while others get lights.
364
01:23:42,650 --> 01:23:45,420
And why so much of it happens at night.
365
01:23:45,420 --> 01:23:49,491
After World
War Two, new Jersey was growing and fast.
366
01:23:49,958 --> 01:23:52,727
The traffic surge demanded new solutions.
367
01:23:52,727 --> 01:23:56,898
So in 1951,
the state opened the new Jersey Turnpike,
368
01:23:57,198 --> 01:24:01,036
a straight shots, limited access
toll road that spanned the state.
369
01:24:01,269 --> 01:24:05,507
It quickly became a vital artery
for goods, commuters and cross-country
370
01:24:05,507 --> 01:24:06,641
travelers.
371
01:24:06,641 --> 01:24:11,479
Hot on its heels was the Garden State
Parkway, built to serve not just workers
372
01:24:11,746 --> 01:24:16,484
but beach bound vacationers,
scenic, tree lined and more suburban.
373
01:24:16,818 --> 01:24:20,055
It was designed for a different kind
of travel experience.
374
01:24:20,422 --> 01:24:23,591
Together,
these two roads transformed new Jersey
375
01:24:23,658 --> 01:24:27,595
into a commuter state
and reshaped development around them.
376
01:24:28,263 --> 01:24:32,200
In 1956,
President Eisenhower signed the Federal
377
01:24:32,200 --> 01:24:35,637
Aid Highway Act,
launching the Interstate Highway System.
378
01:24:36,004 --> 01:24:39,374
New Jersey became a crucial highway I-95,
379
01:24:39,574 --> 01:24:43,178
I-80, I-78, I, two, 87,
380
01:24:43,411 --> 01:24:47,615
and more connected the state to New York,
Philadelphia, and beyond.
381
01:24:48,149 --> 01:24:50,685
They made new Jersey
one of the most heavily trafficked
382
01:24:50,685 --> 01:24:53,922
and densely paved states in the U.S..
383
01:24:54,355 --> 01:24:57,192
Traffic
lights are everywhere in new Jersey.
384
01:24:57,192 --> 01:25:01,696
Over 6000 signalized intersections
control our busiest roads.
385
01:25:02,197 --> 01:25:04,999
They help manage turning movements,
pedestrian
386
01:25:04,999 --> 01:25:08,002
crossings, and high volumes of vehicles.
387
01:25:08,036 --> 01:25:12,140
They're customizable and programable,
but they're not always efficient.
388
01:25:12,540 --> 01:25:16,478
Long red lights caused delays,
and when drivers lose patience,
389
01:25:16,711 --> 01:25:21,616
crash risks go up, especially with left
turns and red light running.
390
01:25:21,983 --> 01:25:25,987
That's why newer, safer
alternatives are growing in popularity.
391
01:25:26,554 --> 01:25:31,893
Enter the modern roundabout, a circular
intersection where traffic keeps moving.
392
01:25:32,360 --> 01:25:35,864
Vehicles yield as they enter and travel
counterclockwise.
393
01:25:36,231 --> 01:25:39,400
Unlike older traffic circles,
modern roundabouts
394
01:25:39,400 --> 01:25:42,403
are designed for low speeds and high
safety.
395
01:25:42,504 --> 01:25:46,107
Roundabouts
reduce injury crashes by up to 80%.
396
01:25:46,508 --> 01:25:50,278
They also improve traffic flow, eliminate
the need for electricity,
397
01:25:50,578 --> 01:25:53,581
and are less costly to maintain over time.
398
01:25:53,781 --> 01:25:58,253
New Jersey has been quietly adding them
to suburban and even rural areas.
399
01:25:58,953 --> 01:26:03,892
A road diets might sound like cutting
back, but it's actually about redesign.
400
01:26:04,259 --> 01:26:08,596
A typical road diet reduces a four lane
road to two travel lanes,
401
01:26:08,863 --> 01:26:13,334
adds a center turn lane, and introduces
bike or pedestrian features.
402
01:26:13,801 --> 01:26:16,838
It works best where traffic volumes
don't justify
403
01:26:16,838 --> 01:26:20,375
four lanes and where
speeding or crashes are a concern.
404
01:26:20,708 --> 01:26:25,880
Cities like Montclair, Hoboken
and Asbury Park have adopted road diets
405
01:26:25,880 --> 01:26:30,985
to make streets calmer and more usable
for everyone, not just drivers.
406
01:26:31,686 --> 01:26:34,022
While
the road designs may come from traffic
407
01:26:34,022 --> 01:26:37,959
engineers, the hard work of building
and maintaining them falls
408
01:26:37,959 --> 01:26:41,563
to people on the ground,
especially operating engineers.
409
01:26:41,996 --> 01:26:45,733
These skilled union workers
operate the machinery that lays asphalt,
410
01:26:46,100 --> 01:26:50,038
digs trenches and builds
the physical infrastructure we drive on.
411
01:26:50,505 --> 01:26:52,106
It's complex work.
412
01:26:52,106 --> 01:26:54,642
The most densely
populated state in the country
413
01:26:54,642 --> 01:26:58,279
has a century
and more of underground water, sewer
414
01:26:58,413 --> 01:27:03,117
and natural gas pipelines to deal with,
along with buried electrical cables
415
01:27:03,117 --> 01:27:07,255
and myriad environmental and land
use regulations to deal with.
416
01:27:07,622 --> 01:27:10,758
A simple error
can delay a project by months.
417
01:27:11,092 --> 01:27:14,495
Road paving is often done in the summer,
when warm temperatures
418
01:27:14,495 --> 01:27:16,731
help asphalt bind properly.
419
01:27:16,731 --> 01:27:19,801
Cold weather
can crack or crumble pavement quickly,
420
01:27:20,034 --> 01:27:23,705
and it often happens at night
to reduce traffic disruptions
421
01:27:23,871 --> 01:27:26,107
and improve worker safety.
422
01:27:26,107 --> 01:27:31,045
Night paving reduces the impact
on commuters, businesses, and emergency
423
01:27:31,045 --> 01:27:31,946
services.
424
01:27:31,946 --> 01:27:36,217
But it's also about safety for workers
and for drivers.
425
01:27:36,517 --> 01:27:40,121
Lower traffic volumes at night
mean fewer close calls.
426
01:27:40,521 --> 01:27:44,726
Crews can close more lanes, work faster
and reduce their risk.
427
01:27:45,193 --> 01:27:49,430
Working at night requires additional
generators to power large lighting systems
428
01:27:49,664 --> 01:27:53,735
and additional safety precautions
to keep work crews and travelers safe.
429
01:27:54,302 --> 01:27:56,604
Still, it's dangerous work.
430
01:27:56,604 --> 01:28:00,108
Crews wear
reflective gear, use flaggers and cones,
431
01:28:00,375 --> 01:28:03,378
and operate under strict safety protocols.
432
01:28:03,411 --> 01:28:06,180
In 2023 alone, over 800
433
01:28:06,180 --> 01:28:09,183
work zone
crashes were reported in new Jersey.
434
01:28:09,417 --> 01:28:12,420
Slowing down in work zones
isn't just a courtesy,
435
01:28:12,787 --> 01:28:14,889
It saves lives.
436
01:28:14,889 --> 01:28:18,893
So why does one town get a roundabout
and another a traffic signal?
437
01:28:19,260 --> 01:28:22,897
It comes down to data engineers
look at traffic counts,
438
01:28:22,930 --> 01:28:26,334
crash records,
pedestrian usage and local input.
439
01:28:26,734 --> 01:28:31,406
Every solution is customized, and that's
part of what makes new Jersey unique.
440
01:28:31,873 --> 01:28:34,075
There's no one size fits all.
441
01:28:34,075 --> 01:28:38,646
Urban, suburban, coastal, and rural
communities all have different needs.
442
01:28:39,013 --> 01:28:42,116
A smart road
network adapts to serve all of them.
443
01:28:42,717 --> 01:28:45,553
But why are they always working
on the roads?
444
01:28:45,553 --> 01:28:48,656
Asphalt typically last 10 to 15 years
445
01:28:48,856 --> 01:28:51,859
before requiring resurfacing or repaving.
446
01:28:52,160 --> 01:28:55,096
The life span is shortened
due to traffic volume.
447
01:28:55,096 --> 01:28:58,700
Winter freeze
and thaw cycles, and heavy truckloads.
448
01:28:58,966 --> 01:29:01,235
In other words, new Jersey.
449
01:29:01,235 --> 01:29:02,904
And just like a sore tooth.
450
01:29:02,904 --> 01:29:08,176
Postponing or delaying maintenance only
makes things more expensive and painful.
451
01:29:08,910 --> 01:29:11,612
New Jersey
is investing in complete streets,
452
01:29:11,612 --> 01:29:15,583
smart traffic systems
and multi-modal courts that support
453
01:29:15,583 --> 01:29:19,187
walking, biking, public transit
and electric vehicles.
454
01:29:19,520 --> 01:29:22,390
With infrastructure
funding and new technology.
455
01:29:22,390 --> 01:29:26,561
The state is rethinking what roads
should look like in the 21st century.
456
01:29:26,994 --> 01:29:29,997
So next time you're on the parkway,
looping through a roundabout
457
01:29:30,298 --> 01:29:33,234
or waiting behind a paving crew, remember
458
01:29:33,234 --> 01:29:38,172
there's planning history and hard
work behind every inch of asphalt.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Friday that federal funding for ‘doomed’ offshore wind projects including three in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut has been withdrawn, the projects include the $20.5 million Paulsboro Wind Port.
In Paulsboro parts for the project including 400 foot steel pipes that would have been used as foundations were already sold as scrap metal.
New Jersey’s landscape is dotted with remarkable bridges that have stood the test of time. These structures, many of which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, are more than just infrastructure. They are enduring symbols of craftsmanship, innovation, and history. Next time you are road-tripping through the Garden State, take a detour — you might just be driving over history.
How these bridges were selected
Many older bridge remnants exist across the state, but some are little more than piles of stones, buried foundations, or tucked away on private land. To make this guide useful for travelers and history buffs alike, we prioritized bridges that still carry pedestrians or vehicle traffic and that are both structurally intact and publicly accessible.
For those looking to explore them, see the Google Map below with pins for every bridge on the list, making it easy to plan a visit or follow the route of New Jersey’s earliest infrastructure.
Link to Google map here:
10. Green Sergeant’s Covered Bridge (Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, 1872)
Location: Rosemont-Ringoes Road (CR 604), Stockton, NJ 08559. The oldest covered bridge in New Jersey. Built by Charles Holcombe, it features a queen-post timber truss and was briefly dismantled in 1960. Local outcry led to its restoration using the original timbers just one year later. Legend says it is haunted by a Revolutionary War-era sergeant, but even without ghosts, its charm is undeniable. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974.
9. Main Street Bridge (Clinton, Hunterdon County, 1870)
Location: 48 West Main Street, Clinton, NJ 08809. Constructed by the same team as the New Hampton Bridge, this cast and wrought iron truss crosses the South Branch of the Raritan River between the Red Mill Museum and the Hunterdon Art Museum. When the bridge was widened in 1985, its original trusses were preserved as ornamental railings. Today it serves pedestrians and offers one of the most iconic photo spots in the state.
8. New Hampton Truss Bridge (Lebanon/Washington Township, Hunterdon County, 1868)
Location: Junction of Rymon Rd and Shoddy Mill Rd, Washington Twp, NJ 07882 New Jersey’s oldest surviving iron truss bridge. Built by William Cowin and engineer Francis Lowthorp, the Pratt pony truss includes decorative iron caps and was originally designed to carry wagons and early automobiles over the Musconetcong River. It has been closed to traffic since the 1970s and now serves as a pedestrian bridge.
7. Boonton Stone Arch Bridge (Boonton, Morris County, 1866)
Photo by Sherman Cahal, courtesy of bridgestunnels.com
Location: Grace Lord Park (Plane Street), Boonton, NJ
Tucked into the Gorge of the Rockaway River, the Arch Bridge from the Boonton Ironworks is a history lesson you can walk across. Built in 1866, this single-span fieldstone arch once carried a vital water pipe to the ironworks, bringing water for fire protection to an industrial complex powered by the Morris Canal and rolling mills. Today, it serves as a charming pedestrian crossing in Grace Lord Park, offering views of both the falls and Boonton’s industrial roots.
6. Warrington Stone Bridge (Knowlton Township, Warren County, c. 1860)
Location: 17 Brugler Rd, Columbia, NJ 07832
Built around 1860, this six-span masonry arch bridge carries Brugler Road over the Paulins Kill in the Warrington section of Knowlton Township. Its gracefully curved arches and stone craftsmanship make it the largest surviving 19th-century stone-arch roadway bridge in New Jersey. Still in service today, it’s listed on both the state and national historic registers.
5. Cat Tail Brook Bridge (Hillsborough, Somerset County, 1825)
Location: Montgomery Road near the intersection with Amwell Road, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844. This single-span fieldstone arch bridge has been in continuous use for nearly 200 years. Its semicircular design has endured with little alteration. It was rated “basically sound” by county engineers in 1992 and continues to serve local traffic.
4. Bridgepoint Bridge (Montgomery Township, Somerset County, 1822)
Location: 43 Dead Tree Run Rd, Belle Mead, NJ 08502
Bridgepoint Bridge is a narrow, three-span stone arch bridge that crosses Pike Run near the old mill and dam in the heart of the Bridgepoint Historic District. Its rustic stonework and peaceful mill pond setting have made it a favorite local spot, celebrated for its charm and historic character.
3. Stone Arch Bridge (Montgomery Township, Somerset County, 1822)
Location: 210 Opossum Rd, Skillman, NJ 08558 This double-arch stone bridge has a gentle “camelback” profile and once served as a farm route to the King’s Highway. It still carries single-lane traffic over Bedens Brook. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 and fully restored in 2002.
Location: Route 27 (Kingston-Rocky Hill Road), Kingston, NJ 08528. Right at the junction of Somerset, Middlesex, and Mercer counties, this bridge replaced a wooden span destroyed by the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Its four fieldstone arches once carried the King’s Highway, now Route 27. In 1960, local residents successfully fought to protect it from demolition.
1. Stony Brook Bridge (Princeton, Mercer County, 1792)
Photo by NJDOT
Location: Lawrenceville Rd, Princeton, NJ 08540 This triple-arch stone bridge is the oldest still in use on a New Jersey state highway. Built in 1792 and widened in 1916, it continues to carry modern traffic. A 2017 restoration preserved its historic character while improving safety.
Have you visited any of these historic bridges? Share your favorite bridge photos in the comments below and let us know which one is your favorite!
Sources
Craig, R. W. (1982). National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Kingston Mill Historic District. National Park Service.https://npgallery.nps.gov
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. (n.d.). Stone Bridge in Kingston, New Jersey [Photograph by Lardner/Klein Landscape Architects, P.C.] (Photo No. 79221). America’s Byways. Public domain photograph. https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/bywaysp/photos/79221
West Jersey History Project. (1994). NRHP Nomination: Opossum Road Bridge. National Park Service.https://visitsomersetnj.org
![Largest US-built 35 MW PEM electrolyzer deployed at hydro-powered plant in Niagara Falls [Interesting Engineering]](https://tristateinfrastructurenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/large-TINN-Lede-ENERGY-NY-Hydrogen-768x512.jpg "Largest US-built 35 MW PEM electrolyzer deployed at hydro-powered plant in Niagara Falls [Interesting Engineering]")
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