Richard researched transportation, land use, history, and other topics. Investigated site plans. Attended public meetings (planning board, zoning board, parking authority board of directors, City Council) to record and help determine what was discussed. Analyzed blueprints and site plans to determine what land uses sites would be put to. Photographed sites that would be affected by proposed projects, as well as sites involved in news events. Employed Sketchup CAD to visualize new land uses, such as buildings and structures. Critiqued and wrote articles in fast-paced work environment, writing before deadlines. Made judgments as to what constituted proper material to include in articles. Created a zoning map; am working on ways to show it to the public. Consulted vintage maps to determine historic land uses.
EXITS 6-9, NJ—After four years, the New Jersey Turnpike widening project appears to be nearing its end, but questions about the state's transportation priorities persist.
The repaving and widening has made for a smoother ride, and congestion appears to be low. The expansion lengthens the traditional Turnpike division between cars-only lanes and cars-trucks-buses lanes.
PISCATAWAY, NJ—The Rutgers University Board of Governors approved a plan to centralize administrative services in a newly-purchased office building at a total cost of more than $16.1 million.
Rutgers has recently expanded to include most of what was once the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, and the result was a worsening of a problem with administrative services being scattered. Service offices are spread throughout Piscataway, New Brunswick, and Newark.
PRINCETON, NJ—A former vice president of consumer education of Johnson and Johnson, and NBC chief medical correspondent, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, has been placed under a mandatory Ebola quarantine after allegedly being seen running errands in Mercer County in violation of a voluntary quarantine.
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–More than 200 years ago, a copper mine operated deep beneath the surface of the Hub City's Sixth Ward, according to state geologists, roughly traversing the same area where present-day Mine Street and parts of Rutgers University occupy.
"We believe mine workings have been intersected in and around Mine Street during construction of the sewer or water mains many years ago," said Fred Sickels of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—A miniature park sprouted up in downtown on Friday September 20, spanning five spaces on Bayard Street and commemorating a holiday of sorts.
The occasion was "PARK(ing) Day," on which people occupy parking spaces with temporary "parklets" in cities across the world.
The PARK(ing) Day movement began with a parking space in San Francisco in 2005, and spread around the world by 2011.
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—The federal government has taken its first step toward increasing the speed of trains along the Northeast Corridor, the nation's busiest passenger rail line.
The federal government announced plans to pour $450 million into upgrading the infrastructure that connects two of New Jersey's most important cities: New Brunswick and Trenton.
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—The city government, perhaps in a hunt for money to pay for numerous new parking decks paid for with borrowed money, approved a new charge for parking on College Avenue when Rutgers has home football games.
Previously, parking on the main drag of the university was free on weekends.
But, under the new ordinance, approved unanimously on August 6 by the City Council, the parking meters on College Avenue will now charge parkers a whopping $10, but that their parking space will be good for a full 24 hours.
New Brunswick Today is an independent, print and digital newspaper founded in 2011. Our mission is to improve the level of civic discourse in the City of New Brunswick by accurately covering local government and demanding transparency and accountability from those in authority.
