Pulaski Skyway Shutdown: City Held Hostage!!

Big stories with big ideas need big annoying headlines like you see on teevee news don't you think?

We'll start with Terrence T. McDonald at The Jersey Journal:

Hudson County and Jersey City officials this morning urged a state Assembly panel to consider options to minimize the traffic nightmare expected when the northbound lanes of the Pulaski Skyway close for two years starting in 2014.

Here's another issue where Mayor Healy and Councilman Fulop argue on the same side yet because of the political acrimony can't really show too much cooperation. The Mayor understands the huge impact this has on our city:

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy additionally suggested banning single-occupancy vehicles from the Holland Tunnel during rush hours. Healy acknowledged that the Skyway “must be fixed,” but added that even on a normal day there is a crush of vehicles heading in and out of Manhattan during rush hours.

Fulop too understands the economic impact this will have beyond just traffic:

“I think that the costs to the financial Waterfront, our business committee … could be much more substantive,” Fulop said. Jersey City Ward E City Councilman Steve Fulop, meanwhile, told the panel that the DOT should explore keeping one of the northbound lanes open, even if it means the rehabilitation project takes longer and costs more.

But citizens for once people came with possible solutions in mind not just brickbats. Ideas on having motorists carpool from the Frank Lautenberg Secaucus Junction station (good luck with that), extending Jersey Avenue out to the Turnpike extension and keeping one lane open northbound regardless. Johnny likes very much the idea of extending Jersey Avenue out to the turnpike extension. Can they get it done by 2014? Somebody hurry up and make that call. Once they do get that open consider closing both northbound lanes at off hours and weekends because yes, the bridge needs to be saved because ferry boats would suck more than traffic jams.