L.B. approves pier management team

L.B. approves pier management team
Federal funds will pay for most of $200K contract
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH — Taking another step toward the final design of the pier and ferry, the City Council approved a nearly $200,000 contract for a pier project management team.

The contract was awarded to Skanska USA Building for $198,954 with a 5-0 vote on the resolution during the Aug. 25 council meeting.

Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley Jr. explained what the contract to Skanska includes.

“It’s for construction project management services in conjunction with the pier design,” he said. “This is for a firm to analyze the design to see if it’s buildable and what the cost will be.”

According to the contract, the city will pay close to $40,000 for the services, with the remaining funds coming from a federal transportation grant.

In 2009 the city approved McLaren Engineering to be the lead design team, and according to the resolution, Skanska will oversee the progress of the pier.

Woolley also explained the process the city went through to award the contract to Skanska.

“It was competitive procurement. We sent out notices, and I think we had 31 companies pick up the notice,” he said. “Thirteen replied, and we narrowed it down to three and selected Skanska.”

One resident said she is worried that the scope of the pier and ferry project might include the use of eminent domain by the city.

“Will there be properties that are not already in the redevelopment zone or that are in the redevelopment zone that will be necessary for that pier and that might be taken by eminent domain?” Michelle Bobrow asked.

Mayor Adam Schneider said the city may have to expand the boundaries for the redevelopment zones into the ocean, but they will not use eminent domain.

“We are going to move a few fish around,” Councilman Michael Sirianni quipped.

“I just saw a stingray. Will you please get rid of it?” Bobrow responded.

Long Branch resident Howard “Pudgy” Cooper questioned whether the money spent for the contract could have been better used elsewhere.

“Although I’m old and I grew up in this town with the pier, I think in these days and times perhaps the $40,000 might be put to a better use,” he said. “I believe in the infinite wisdom of this council, but I encourage them to vote no on this resolution.”

Councilwoman Joy Bastelli gave her assessment on where the city stands with the pier and ferry project.

“We have a long road ahead and we are making progress, and at this point I think we are doing well,” she said.

During a June meeting it was estimated that the total project would cost $91.5 million, of which $6.5 million had been secured, and officials said they are confident another $53 million could be secured from noncompetitive grant opportunities.

A fire destroyed the Long Branch pier in 1987, and since that time the city has acquired redevelopment rights and plans to rebuild the pier and other amenities, including retail, restaurants, an amphitheater and a children’s play area along the oceanfront.

The pier project is divided into three components:

The core pier, which will be the main structure, will cost approximately $36.3 million. Plans call for the pier to extend 900 feet from the boardwalk into the Atlantic Ocean.

The high-speed ferry terminal and docking facility, slated to cost $20.2 million, would provide a direct route from the Long Branch region to lower Manhattan at a travel time of 40 minutes. The pier would contain a docking system as well as the ticketing and waiting areas required for the ferry operation.

The final component is the amenity uses, at an estimated cost of $32.5 million, which include retail, restaurants, event space, a public winter garden, outdoor amphitheater, entertainment space, fishing area and a children’s play area.





Click here to enlarge



No Flash Detected
Please download the latest version by clicking below:

Get

Click for www.tomsford.com