U.S. DOT proposes changes for Sussex County

NEWTON — The U.S. Dept. of Transportation recently proposed rule changes for Sussex County regarding transportation planning regulations.
Sussex County Freeholder Richard A. Vohden shared at a recent Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders meeting, the U.S. DOT proposed combining Sussex County within one New York Metropolitan Planning Area. The proposed change would lump Sussex County with: New York City, Long Island, the southern N.Y. Counties, and Connecticut. Vohden added the proposal would drastically alter N.J. transportation planning and have a major longterm effect on Sussex County road and bridge funding.
Vohden said currently Sussex County is part of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, a federally funded and authorized metropolitan planning organization, comprised of 13 northern counties, from Monmouth to Sussex. The authority oversees more than $2 billion in transportation improvement projects each year.
He further explained Sussex County already competes for funding with only one vote in competition with the votes of: 13 other counties, Jersey City, Newark, NJ Transit, N.J. Department of Transportation, N.J. Turnpike Authority, and governor's office. Vohden continued it is already difficult to bring any projects from this planning authority to Sussex County.
“We're fighting for every dollar," he said. “If these rule changes are approved, we will be in competition with the entire New York metropolitan area, fighting for funding.”
Vohden also showed a proposed map listing Sussex County as part of the newly proposed N.Y. Metropolitan Area, but he said they did not shade in Sussex County, except a little of Sparta.
"That's how unimportant we are in the scheme of this thing," Vohden said.
Vohden concluded it is important Sussex County voices concerns during the public comment period through Aug. 26 “because we just keep getting pushed further and further out back of the corridor with less and less funding.”

Public comments

Outreach Representative Gema Diaz of Community Hope said Community Hope serves 13 counties where they address veteran homelessness. She added they are involved with the Sussex County Health and Human Services Advisory Committee.
Diaz introduced her colleague, Case Manager Joseph Iturriaga, who works one-on-one counseling veterans regarding housing.
She went on to explain they also help with transitional housing and mental health counseling. For more information, see: communityhope-nj.org.
Freeholder Deputy Director Carl F. Lazzaro encouraged veterans to also be aware of the “Habitat for Humanity” program, adding he did not think veterans were aware the program also is for them.