SENATE, No. 2689
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
209th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 19, 2001
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH M. KYRILLOS, JR.
District 13 (Middlesex and Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Lynch, Bennett, Matheussen, Cardinale, Assemblymen Azzolina, Thompson, Bagger, Bateman, Collins, Geist, Merkt, Payne, Assemblywomen Quigley, Cruz-Perez, Assemblymen DeCroce, Guear and Assemblywoman Weinberg
SYNOPSIS
Designates U.S. Highway Route No. 9 southbound bridge over Raritan River as the "Ellis S. Vieser Memorial Bridge"; appropriates $2,500.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
(Sponsorship Updated As Of: 12/18/2001)
An Act designating the United States Highway Route No. 9 southbound bridge over the Raritan River as the "Ellis S. Vieser Memorial Bridge," and making an appropriation.
Whereas, Ellis S. Vieser was born June 22, 1922 in Newark, New Jersey, grew up in Irvington and resided in Middletown; and
Whereas, During the course of his long and productive life, Mr. Vieser accomplished many important tasks, the most important of which was his advocacy and commitment to investment in infrastructure as a key to the State's economy, environment and quality of life, for which he was widely recognized as "Mr. Infrastructure"; and
Whereas, Mr. Vieser was a founder and guiding spirit for over a quarter century of the New Jersey Alliance for Action, a unique non-profit, non-partisan Statewide coalition that has become a major voice in the public affairs of the State; and
Whereas, Under Mr. Vieser's leadership, the Alliance for Action has grown to over 600 members, representing a diverse coalition of business, labor, professional, academic and government organizations working together in common cause for the betterment of New Jersey; and
Whereas, Mr. Vieser and the Alliance have been the catalysts in mobilizing bipartisan coalitions to educate the public on infrastructure issues and to gain voter approval of ballot questions that provided some $100 billion in funds for infrastructure improvements in transportation, port dredging, water supply, college and public school construction and protection of the environment; and
Whereas, Mr. Vieser served under four governors and, by gubernatorial appointment, on numerous boards and commissions, including the Study Commission of Local and Regulatory Efficiency, the State and Local Expenditure and Revenue Policy Commission, the Cabinet and Citizens Committee on Permit Coordination and the Natural Resources Advisory Council; and
Whereas, Mr. Vieser served as Chairman of the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust, formerly the New Jersey Wastewater Treatment Trust, and was a member of the Employment Security Council within the Department of Labor; and
Whereas, Mr. Vieser received numerous awards during his career, including the Commander's Award for Public Service from the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1987, the New Jersey Society of Professional Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award in 1988, the Governor's Pride Award for Economic Development in 1995, the National Rebuild America Achievement Award from The CIT Group, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Subcontractors Association of New Jersey, Inc. in 1997, an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1995, the Cabinet of Honor Award from the Monmouth County Water Resources Association in 1997, the Legacy Award from the William Patterson University Foundation in 1998, and the Samuel S. Baxter Award from the Water Resources Association in 1999; and
Whereas, Mr. Vieser, who died on June 18, 2001 in Middletown, New Jersey, at the age of 79, served as a director of two national organizations -- the National Water Alliance and The Road Information Program; and
Whereas, In tribute to Mr. Vieser's leadership, his contribution to the development of this State's infrastructure, and his many years of service to New Jersey, it is appropriate to designate the Route 9 southbound bridge over the Raritan River in his memory; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Transportation is directed to designate the United States Highway Route No. 9 southbound bridge over the Raritan River in Sayreville Borough and Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County as the "Ellis S. Vieser Memorial Bridge."
2. There is appropriated from the General Fund, for the purposes of implementing section 1 of this act, $2,500 to the Department of Transportation for the cost of appropriate signs bearing the designation of the "Ellis S. Vieser Memorial Bridge."
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill designates the United States Highway Route No. 9 southbound bridge over the Raritan River in Sayreville Borough and Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County as the "Ellis S. Vieser Memorial Bridge" in tribute to Ellis S. Vieser's service to this State, his life and achievements. This bill appropriates $2,500 to the Department of Transportation to defray the cost of signs bearing the new designation.