>>> MAY JOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT B" IS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

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>> HI, EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

WE WILL TAKE A VIRTUAL WALK ALONG THE ROUTE OF THE ESSEX-HUDSON GREENWAY AND SEE HOW FEASIBLE THAT IS OR ISN'T.

THAT'S LATER IN THE SHOW.

WE BEGIN TODAY WITH A VIEWER-DRIVEN SEGMENT.

WE HAVE BEEN GETTING BOMBARDED WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAFFIC AND TRANSIT AND COMMUTING FROM TWITTER FOLLOWERS FOR OUR FIRST GUESTS WHO COVER THAT STUFF.

COLLEEN WILSON COVERS TRANSPORTATION.

LARRY HIGGS IS THE REPORTER FOR NJ ADVANCED MEDIA.

I'M SURE YOU WON'T BE SURPRISED THAT OUR TWITTER FEED HAS BEEN ABLAZE.S COVER SO MUCH.

PROBLEMS AT NJ TRANSIT.

THE VICE CHAIR OF THE AGENCY'S BOARD RESIGNING SUDDENLY.

COLLEEN, WAS IT AS ABRUPT AS WE HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE?

WHAT'S THE BACK STORY HERE?

>> YEAH.

IT WAS VERY ABRUPT.

THERE WERE SOME, I THINK, WARNING SIGNS.

IF YOU WERE WATCHING OR LISTENING TO THE BOARD MEETING IN DECEMBER, FULTON MADE A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE AND SERIOUS CHARGE ABOUT THE AGENCY NOT LISTENING TO HIS CONCERNS, NOT INVOLVING THE BOARD ENOUGH, NOT BEING TRANSPARENT ENOUGH ABOUT CERTAIN PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HE THOUGHT WERE EXTREMELY COMPLEX AND NEEDED MORE DISCUSSION AND WANTED TO HAVE MORE OF A HANDS ON APPROACH WITH THOSE.

SO HE SEEMED PRETTY FRUSTRATED BACK IN DECEMBER.

THAT SEEMED TO BUBBLE UP AGAIN LATE JANUARY INTO FEBRUARY, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATED TO A REAL ESTATE DEAL INVOLVING NEW JERSEY TRANSIT'S SOMEWHAT -- SEEMINGLY SUDDEN DECISION TO MOVE ITS HEADQUARTERS.

THAT WAS THE FINAL STRAW FOR HIM.

I DON'T TLI IHINK IT WAS AN EAS DECISION FOR HIM TO MAKE.

HE WAS AMONG THE MORE VOCAL, INVOLVED, ENGAGED MEMBERS, FROM WHAT I COULD TELL.

ALWAYS ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

WANTED TO GET TO THE BOMBTTOM A CHALLENGES FACING THE AGENCY.

FOR HIM TO DEPART WAS A SURPRISE.

>> LARRY, IS THERE UPHEAVAL ON THE BOARD?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO SAY THAT DEPENDS.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN THE LEADS, AND PART OF THAT MAY BE BECAUSE UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM, THEY WENT IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

JAMES ADAMS WHO WAS THE BOARD MEMBER WHO WAS RENOWNED FOR VOTING NO A COUPLE OF TIMES ON SEVERAL BUDGETS.

WITH A VERY, VERY GOOD EXPLANATION THAT HE OBJECTED TO THE PROCESS, THAT HE EXPECTED THE BOARD TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN THE ACTUAL NUTS AND BOLTS CRAFTING OF THE BUDGET.

YOU COULD COUNT ON CEDRIC FULTON TO ASK QUESTIONS.

HE WAS RESPECTFUL TO STAFF.

HE WAS RELENTLESS ON WANTING TO GET ANSWERS ON CERTAIN TOPICS THAT VEXED COMMUTERS.

I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR HIM ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.

A LOT OF TIME S HE WOULD GET ANSWERS THAT WE IN THE MEDIA DIDN'T GET.

>> WE HEAR ABOUT HOW NJ TRANSIT NEEDS A STABLE FUNDING SOURCE AND HOW THEY ARE USING CAPITAL FUNDS EARMARK FORED FOR FIXING THINGS.

WHAT'S UP WITH EITHER OF THOSE RIGHT NOW?

>> THAT HAS BEEN THE STATUS QUO SINCE THE INCEPTION IN THE LATE '70s.

I DON'T THINK -- >> STILL?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO CHANGE ANY TIME SOON.

I HAVEN'T HEARD -- THERE HAVE BEEN RUMBLINGS.

THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A CONTINGENCY OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO -- THE LEGISLATURE AND G GOVERNOR TO TAKE THAT ON.

DISCUSSIONS ARE ALWAYS BEING HAD.

THEY DON'T SEEM TO RISE TO THE LEVEL IT NEEDS TO TO MAKE A REAL CHANGE THERE.

>> WHAT'S THE OLD LINE?

EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THE WEATHER BUT NOBODY DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

QUICK QUESTION ON FARES.

ALL THE POLITICIANS SAY, NO FARE INCREASES.

A LOT OF TRANSIT EXPERTS SAY COMMUTERS SHOULD PROBABLY PAY A LITTLE MORE EVERY FEW YEARS TO KEEP PACE.

NO POLITICIAN IS GOING TO SAY THAT OUT LOUD.

COMMUTERS DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT EITHER.

>> YOU COULD USE THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH TOLLS AS AN EXAMPLE.

THAT IS -- THEY HAVE DONE EXACTLY THAT WITH THEIR ANNUAL INDEXED INCREASE.

INSTEAD OF WAITING TEN YEARS AND THEN HITTING PEOPLE WITH A LARGE DOUBLE DIGIT TOLL INCREASE, THEY HAVE BEEN INCREASING THEM AND TIEING THEM TO AN ECONOMIC INDICATOR.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS, WHAT IS THAT WITH THE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY?

IT'S TIED TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY, IT'S TIED TO WHATEVER INDEX WOULD BASICALLY CAUSE THE TOLERATES TO RISE NATURALLY BY A DOLLAR.

THAT'S WHAT SOME FOLKS HAVE SAID.

EVEN IN SOME OF THE PAST FARE INCREASES, COMMUTERS HAVE SAID, I WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU INCREMENTALLY INCREASE IT THAN WHACK ME WITH A GIGANTIC DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASE THAT'S A REAL BUDGET BUSTER.

THE THING IS, YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES YOU SERVE.

YOU HAVE THE LONG-DISTANCE, SUBURBAN COMMUTER GOING TO A WELL-PAYING JOB.

YOU HAVE LOCAL BUS RIDERS, SOME OF WHOM ARE WORKING POOR, SOME OF WHOM ARE THE POVERTY LEVEL.

T THEY HAVE GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY TO HOLD THE SINGLE ZONE BUS FARE THAT WOULD AFFECT THOSE PEOPLE TO A LOW LEVEL.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH DO YOU INCREASE FARES?

WHAT'S THE RIPPLE AFFECT ON SOME OF THE POOREST OF THE POOR?

>> LARRY, WHAT IS THIS I'M HEARING ABOUT A STRIKE AT NJ TRANSIT?

>> THE BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS IS THE LAST TO SETTLE.

THEY HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING THEIR -- THEY ARE AT A TECHNICAL IMPASSE WITH MEDIATION.

THE STUMBLING BLOCK IS SALARY.

THE LOW COMOTIVE ENGINEERS ARE SAYING IT'S A TECHNICAL PROFESSION.

IT TAKES TWO YEARS TO BECOME ONE OF US.

YOU HAVE TO MEMORIZE THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RAILROAD LINE YOU ARE OPERATING ON.

THAT WOULD BE LIKE IF YOU ARE DRIVING A CAR AND HAD YOU TO MEMORIZE EVERY TURN ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY ON YOUR ROUTE.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS THAT, WE ARE STATISTICALLY THE LOWEST PAID IN THIS REGION.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A BLE CHART.

OUR ENGINEERS COULD LITERALLY WALK ACROSS THE PLATFORM, GET A JOB WITH THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD AND EARN MORE MONEY INSTANTLY.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS, THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE SAME SALARY OFFER THE OUR UNIONS HAVE ACCEPTED BECAUSE THEY ARE SAYING WE ARE A HIGHER LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY, TECHNICAL TRAINING, AND THAT IT TOOK NJ TRANSIT SEVERAL YEARS TO REFILL THE RANKS OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS.

IT'S A DEMANDING JOB DEPENDING ON WHAT SHIFT YOU GET.

YOU COULD BE AWARE FROM YOUR FAMILY.

YOU DON'T HAVE 9:00 TO 5:00 HOURS.

YOU COMMIT TO THAT LIFESTYLE.

THEY WANT TO BE COMPENSATED.

>> IT'S MORE THAN JUST TRAINS.

BUSES ARE A BIG PART OF THE OPERATION.

IT SEEMS, THAT WOULD BE BEST PLACE FOR INNOVATION.

WE CAN'T EVEN GET BUS RAPID TRANSIT ON KENNEDY BOULEVARD IN JERSEY CITY LET ALONE BROAD STREET IN NEWARK.

WHAT UP?

>> IT SHOULD BE A BIGGER TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.

I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT IT.

I'M SURE LARRY HAS.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THERE IS THAT YOU HAVE TO ALSO HAVE LOCAL BUY-IN FROM YOUR MUNICIPALITIES WHO OFTEN TIMES THOSE ROADS ARE UNDER THEIR DIRECTION.

BUS RAPID TRANSIT FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T AWARE IS A SERIES OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT SHOULD EASE AND ACCELERATE BUS MOVEMENTS ON ROADS.

SO THINGS LIKE DEDICATED BUS LANES, TECHNOLOGY THAT WOULD ALLOW STREET LIGHTS TO STAY GREEN LONGER WHEN A BUS IS APPROACHING AND MAKING SURE THERE ARE LEVEL BOARDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE HAVE SEEN STYSTEMS AROUND TH COUNTRY ADOPT THOSE MEASURES.

VASTLY IMPROVE BUS SERVICE, ALMOST TO A LEVEL OF A SUBWAY RELIABILITY AND FREQUENCY.

THEN THE RIEDERSHIP FOLLOWS.

>> A LOT OF INJURJURISDICTIONAL ISSUES.

>> DEFINITELY.

>> YOU HAD A PIECE ON THES COMI.

WHAT'S AT THE TOP?

WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON THE AUTOMOBILE COMMUTE?

MAYBE ONE FOR THE NORTH AND ONE FROM THE SOUTH, IF YOU HAVE THEM.

>> THE BIGGEST ONE IN THE NORTH IS THAT JUNK OF ROUTE 3, ROUTE 46 AND A COUPLE OF LOCAL ROADS.

THAT'S BEEN A LONG ONGOING PROCESS.

I GET A LOT OF READERS WHO KEEP ASKING BASICALLY, WHEN IS IT GOING TO GET DONE?

THE MOST FUNCTIONAL PART OF IT IS PRETTY MUCH DONE.

THAT'S BASICALLY STRAIGHTENING OUT THE JUNCTION BETWEEN 46 AND ROUTE 3.

BASICALLY, ROUTE 46, TRAFFIC GOES OFF ON A FLYOVER.

IT CROSSES OVER ROUTE 3.

TRAFFIC BOUND FOR ROUTE 3 CONTINUES STRAIGHT ON UNDERNEATH.

BACK IN THE BAD OLD DAYS, THAT WAS LITERALLY A Y INTERSECTION.

A SPLIT GOING IN EACH DIRECTION.

>> WHAT ABOUT SOUTH JERSEY?

>> SOUTH JERSEY, IT'S THE INFAMOUS ROUTE 295, ROUTE 42, ROUTE 76 DIRECT CONNECTION.

THAT'S FOR PEOPLE IN NORTH JERSEY.

THAT'S BASICALLY LIKE THE ROUTE 3, ROUTE 46 INTERCHANGE.

THIS IS THE LAST INTERCHANGE TO ALL THE PHILADELPHIA BRIDGES.

THIS IS TRYING TO MAKE A MODERN JUNCTION OUT OF THAT TANGLE OF ROADS.

IT'S A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT.

IT'S $900 MILLION.

IT'S BEEN COMPLICATED BECAUSE TWO YEARS AGO WE HAD THE COLLAPSE OF A RETAINING WALL THAT TOOK DOWN A SECTION OF ROADWAY.

THE DOT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF DEMOLISHING THE WALL.

THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT DESIGN THAT SUPPORTS IT IN A MORE STABLE WAY OF LITERALLY USING I-BEAMS DRIVEN INTO THE GROUND AND SEALED IN CONCRETE.

DRAINAGE SYSTEMS SO WE WON'T, HOPEFULLY, HAVE THE PROBLEM THAT TOOK DOWN THE OLD RETAINING WALL, WHICH WAS BASICALLY THE SOILS THAT HELD UP THE ROADWAY WERE COMPROMISED BY LARGE AMOUNTS OF DRAIN WATER AND RAINSTORMS.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE WITH US.

THIS TURNPIKE EXPANSION THROUGH JERSEY CITY INTO THE HOLLAND TUNNEL.

LOTS OF OPPOSITION.

THE GOVERNOR IS STILL UNMOVED.

WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT?

>> YEAH.

AS YOU SAID, IT SEEMS UNMOVED.

HE MADE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES RECENTLY AND WANTING TO TRANSFER THAT.

THAT SEEMS TO BE HIS BIGGEST TALKING POINT IS THAT ELECTRIC VEHICLES WILL SOMEHOW -- I THINK A PIECE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE A-- T WILL NOT HAPPEN FROM WHAT I CAN TELL.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SEE HIGHWAY EXPANSION.

THEY DON'T SEE THE BENEFITS.

I THINK THERE'S A CONVERSATION TO BE HAD ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE TRAFFIC, TRUCKS ESPECIALLY, WHICH ARE NOT PART OF THAT CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES AT THIS MOMENT.

I WILL BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THAT DOES PLAY OUT POLITICALLY, ESPECIALLY FOR HIM.

>> LARRY, I WILL LEAVE THE LAST QUESTION FOR YOU.

GATEWAY IN YOUR LIFETIME OR WHAT?

>> I THINK -- THIS IS MOSTLY A COMMENT ON MY OWN AGE, BUT I THINK I WILL BE PUSHING UP DAISIES BEFORE THAT OPENS.

HOWEVER, THAT'S KIND OF ALSO BASED ON SOME CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH RETIRED FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WHO BASICALLY SAID DESPITE THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS AT THE CEREMONY IN NEW YORK CITY, BASICALLY ALLOCATING MONEY FOR THE TUNNEL, IT'S A LONG, UPHILL ROAD FOR GATEWAY.

YOU ARE GOING TO LOOK TO GRAND CENTRAL AS A HARBINGER.

THERE WERE COST OVERRUNS AND BEING THROWN OFF SCHEDULE.

WHEN YOU BUILD TUNNELS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WILL FIND DOWN THERE.

THE GATEWAY DEVELOPING CORPORATION TRIED TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT.

THEY ARE TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE AN IDEA WHAT'S DOWN THERE AND TO TRY TO ZONE IN ON THE COST.

THE THING IS, THERE ARE OTHER FINANCIAL GUARANTEES THAT HAVE TO BE MADE BY NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.

PART OF THAT IS THE GUARANTEE THAT THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THIS ASSET.

THEY HAVE TO PROVE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THAT MONEY IS THERE AND AVAILABLE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPHILL FIND IN ADDITION TO SECURING THE FEDERAL LOANS THAT NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY WANT TO USE FOR THEIR SHARE OF THE PROJECT.

A LONG TIME AGO, I INTERVIEWED A COMMUTER.

I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE TUNNEL.

HE IS ALL OF 25 YEARS OLD, STARTING HIS CAREER.

HE SAID, I DON'T THINK I WILL BE RETIRED BY THE TIME IT'S DONE.

I LOOKED UP AND THOUGHT, YOU ARE A CYNICAL YOUNG MAN.

NOW I THINK HE HAD CLAIRE INVCLAIRE INVOICE ANSWER.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> LET'S GET OFF THE ROAD AND ON THE TRAILS.

WHEELER ABTABINES IS A FILMMAKER.

HIS DOCUMENTARY FOLLOWS THE HISTORIC TRAIL OF WHAT SOME PEOPLE HOPE WILL BECOME THE ESSEX-HUDSON GREENWAY.

AT THE SAME TIME, HE CASTS DOUBTS ON IT.

HE JOINS US NOW.

GOOD TO MEET YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> TELL ME A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE LINE.

YOU ARE IN MY WHEELHOUSE WITH THIS STUFF.

TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS LINE.

>> I MOVED TO MONTCLAIR IN 2007.

I STARTED WALKING ON THE ABANDONED TRACKS BECAUSE I LIVE IN LACKAWANNA PLAZA.

I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY WHATSOEVER.

I JUST WANTED A GOOD PLACE TO WALK.

I LIKE TO WALK AND THINK ABOUT THE STUFF I'M WRITING.

THEN I WAS ALSO DOING ALL THE PASSAIC RIVER STUFF.

I WAS LOOKING AT THIS BRIDGE THAT WAS RIGHT THERE.

IT GOES OVER THE PASSAIC RIVER.

HEY, THAT'S THE SAME TRAIN LINE THAT GOES THROUGH MONTCLAIR.

THOSE ARE THE SAME TRACKS.

I FOUND OUT IT WAS WHAT WE CALL THE OLD BOOTEN LINE.

IT'S PART OF THE NEW YORK GREENWOOD LAKE LINE OF THE ERIE RAILROAD THAT GOES BACK TO THE 1800s.

THIS ONE ABANDONED PART THAT WAS ABANDONED SINCE 2002, THAT'S KNOWN LOCALLY AS THE OLD BOOTEN LINE.

THAT'S WHY MY BOOK IS CALLED THAT.

>> IT'S ABANDONED.

WHEN DID IT SEIZE OPERATING?

THIS WAS A COMPUMUTER LINE?

>> LAST TRAIN WAS 2002.

NOW THEY ARE MAKING THE GREENWAY OUT OF IT, WHAT THEY CALL THE GREENWAY.

IT'S A PAVED BIKE PATH, A ROADWAY FOR BIKES THEY WANT TO MAKE.

IT WAS A GREENWAY FOR THOSE 20 YEARS.

ANIMALS LIVE THERE.

IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO HIKE.

YOU COULD WALK ALL THE WAY FROM MONTCLAIR TO JERSEY CITY, WHICH IS WHAT I DID AND MAKE A BOOK AND MOVIE ABOUT IT.

MY HISTORY THERE IS JUST REALLY THE ABANDONED PART.

I'M A WRITER.

I'M INTERESTED IN ABANDONED STUFF.

FOR ME, IT WAS THE BEST LINE TO WALK IN NEW JERSEY.

>> YOUR FILL BM IS LIKE A SCENI TOUR OF THIS LINE.

HOW LONG IS IT?

>> THE PART THAT THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE INTO A GREENWAY IS NINE MILES.

IT USED TO BE 11 MILES FROM MONTCLAIR TO JERSEY CITY.

THE REASON WHY IT'S ONLY NINE MILES FOR THE TRAIL IS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE HUDSON WITH IT WHERE THE TRACKS USED TO BE IN JERSEY CITY.

IT'S NOW BUILDING AND ROADS.

ALL THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS GONE.

THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE IT FROM MONTCLAIR TO JERSEY CITY, SUPPOSEDLY, IF THEY CAN PULL IT OFF.

THEN IT'S GOING TO STOP BEFORE IT GETS TO THE ARCHES, WHICH I FEEL MISSES THE POINT.

IT'S THE CLIMATE OF THIS WHOLE THING HERE.

>> THERE'S A WHOLE SET OF TRACKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT GOES LITERALLY ALMOST RIGHT TO THE WATER.

RIGHT?

>> WELL, IT USED TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE WATER.

NOW IT GOES TO JERSEY CITY PROPER.

BASICALLY, IT'S THE BEST PART OF THE WHOLE TRAIL.

THE MEADOWLANDS IS AMAZING, TOO.

BUT WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THESE ARCHES, THE RAIL LINE UNDER JERSEY CITY.

IT'S THE JERSEY CITY UNDERGROUND.

YOU WALK THROUGH THERE, IT'S ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT.

I THINK I HAVE FOOTAGE THAT YOU COULD SHOW OF ME FLYING MY DRONE UNDER JERSEY CITY.

MOST PEOPLE THINK OF FLYING A DRONE HIGH UP.

I FLEW IT UNDERGROUND.

IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING DRONE FLYING DOWN THERE.

ONE THING THAT COULD BE A DANGER IS WHEN YOU GET INTO THAT ERIE CUT, WHICH IS THE ARCHES IT'S TUNNELS AND BRIDGES THAT GOES UNDER JERSEY CITY, IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IN THERE.

THERE'S PEOPLE LIVING DOWN THERE IN CAMPS AND STUFF.

THERE'S A LOT OF DRUG USE AND STUFF.

IF PEOPLE WERE TO WALK DOWN IN THERE, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT.

YOU CAN EASILY GET CORNED.

THERE'S SECURITY CONCERNS THERE.

IN NEWARK THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GREENWAY.

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO?

>> YOU MENTIONED THE MEADOWLANDS AS BEING BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PARTS OF THIS?

>> I LOVE WALKING OUT INTO CARNEY MARCH M-- MARSH.

THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE EASTERN SPUR IS RIGHT THERE.

THE ABSOLUTE GORGEOUSNESS OF THE ME MEADOWLANDS AND THE SOLITUDE IS INCREDIBLE.

I HAVE BEEN WALKING THERE FOR AT LEAST A DECADE.

NOW THEY HAVE TORN UP ALL THE TRACKS TO MAKE WAY FOR THIS GREENWAY.

STILL PRETTY COOL.

ONCE THEY PAVE IT AND IF THEY DO SOMEHOW CONNECT IT ACROSS THE RIVER, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY CROWDED WITH PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW?

I PROBABLY WON'T BE GOING THERE ANYWHERE.

I WILL HAVE TO FIND A NEW PLACE TO WALK.

>> A LOT OF IT IS INACCESSIBLE.

IF YOU WANTED TO WALK THAT NOW, YOU COULDN'T DO IT STRAIGHT.

YOU WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT AND GET ON ROAD AND GET BACK IN ANOTHER SECTION, RIGHT?

>> A LITTLE IN NEWARK.

SOME INDUSTRY HAD TAKEN OVER THE LINE FROM THE TIFFANY AND COMPANY FACTORY TO BROADWAY.

I DIDN'T TRESPASS TOO MUCH ON PEOPLE'S PRIVATE BUSINESSES.

THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY PLACE.

OTHER THAN THAT, YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH WALK FROM MONTCLAIR TO JERSEY CITY.

>> SOME OF THE BRIDGES ARE A LITTLE SKETCHY.

>> YEAH.

THEY ARE REALLY OLD.

THEY ARE FROM THE 1800s.

THEY NEED TO BE REPAIRED.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT NEEDS TO GO INTO THIS LINE BEFORE IT'S GOING TO BE SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO WALK ON IT.

FOR ME, I JUST KIND OF BALANCE ACROSS THESE THINGS.

THAT'S JUST WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING MY WHOLE LIFE.

>> A LOT WAS MADE ABOUT THIS ESSEX-HUDSON GREENWAY.

IT MENTIONED IT HERE.

$65 MILLION IN STATE MONEY TO BUY THE LAND.

ACCORDING TO YOU AND OTHERS, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A HECK OF A LOT MORE THAN THAT $65 MILLION TO MAKE THIS AN ACTUAL GREENWAY.

YEAH?

>> THEY SAY THE BUDGET IS $90 MILLION IN TOTAL.

THEY HAVE SPENT $65 MILLION TO ACQUIRE IT.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE BRIDGES ON THE WAY, ALL THE PAVEMENT THEY HAVE TO PUT DOWN TO MAKE THIS BIKE PATH, YEAH, THE BUDGET IS GOING TO SKYROCKET.

THAT'S NOT INCLUDING IF THEY WANTED TO MAKE A BRIDGE OVER THE HACKENSACK RIVER.

HOW MUCH DO BRIDGES COST?

A LOT.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY.

WE'RE TALKING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

IF THEY WANTED TO GO OVER THE FREIGHT LINES AND CONNECT IT WITH THE ARCHES, THAT'S ANOTHER BRIDGE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER BILLION.

MEANWHILE, WE HAVE PARKS JUST ROTTING AWAY.

THEY WANT TO SPEND MANY ON A NEW PARK.

THE THING THAT REALLY GETS ME ABOUT IT IS THAT IT ALREADY WAS A GREENWAY FOR 20 YEARS.

WHEN THEY ABANDONED IT, IT GREW UP, ANIMALS WERE USING IT.

IT WAS THE ONLY PLACE THE ANIMALS HAD LEFT.

PEOPLE LIKE ME, I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE TO HIKE IT.

MANY PEOPLE HIKED IT.

IT WAS REALLY A GREAT RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE.

IT WASN'T REALLY WELL-KNOWN.

IT WAS EVEN BETTER.

NOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS THEY'RE GOING -- WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS TEAR OUT ALL THE OLD TRACKS AND THEY WANT TO PAVE THIS THING FROM MONTCLAIR TO JERSEY CITY.

THAT'S A ROADWAY, NOT A GREENWAY.

THEY ARE DESTROYING THE GREENWAY AND SELLING US A LIE.

YOU KNOW?

IT'S A PR THING.

>> IN YOUR FILM, YOU SHOW A FOX AND DEER AND BIRDS WHO HAVE ALL MADE THIS PART OF THEIR HOME.

THERE'S ALSO ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THERE.

IF YOU HAVE HAD RAILROADS RUNNING UP AND DOWN THAT LINE, YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE CONTAMINANTS WATER?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF POLLUTION ALONG THE LINE.

WITH THE ANIMALS, IT WAS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE.

THERE'S HERDS OF DEER, FOX TAND WILD TURKEY, REGULAR ANIMALS, TOO, POSSUM AND WOODCHUCK AND SQUIRRELS AND BIRDS.

WITH THE DEER AND WILD TURKEY, IN MONTCLAIR, JERSEY CITY, WHERE ELSE ARE THEY GOING TO GO?

THIS IS THE LAST STOP FOR THEM.

THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE THEY HAVE.

NOW THAT THEY ARE TEARING IT UP AND GOING TO PAVE IT, WHERE ARE THEY GOING?

IN YOUR BACKYARD.

NOT A GOOD PLACE.

WE NEVER CONSIDER THAT SORT OF THING.

PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GREENWAY.

IT'S GREAT.

THEY NEVER THINK ABOUT WHAT CONSEQUENCES THAT HAS FOR FLOODING, FOR THE ANIMALS THAT ARE THERE.

IT'S TOUGH FOR ME -- I'VE BEEN GOING THERE FOR SO LONG AND I'VE BEEN LOVING IT SO MUCH.

IT'S HARD TO SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE WITH THEIR PLANS COME IN AND JUST BASICALLY RUIN IT.

YOU KNOW?

>> IT'S CALLED WALKING THE OLD BOOTEN LINE.

YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING EVENT COMING UP IN MONTCLAIR.

>> YEAH.

I MADE A MOVIE AND A BOOK ABOUT THIS.

NOW I'M BASICALLY TAKING THE SHOW ON THE ROAD AND DOING IT LIVE.

I'M DOING TWO SHOWS, MARCH 23rd, MARCH 24th, AT SILVER STREAM STUDIO IN MONTCLAIR.

IT'S A SMALL, INTIMATE RECORDING STUDIO.

I'M GOING TO DO BASICALLY A GUIDED TOUR WHERE I'M GOING TO TAKE THE AUDIENCE FROM MONTCLAIR TO JERSEY CITY VIA MY VIDEO.

THEN I'M GOING TO GIVE A LIVE NARRATION OF IT, JUST TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY ARE SEEING.

WE WILL TAKE THAT TRIP.

AFTERWARDS, THEY CAN ASK ME ALL THE QUESTIONS THEY WANT.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT.

I LOVE TO HEAR OTHER PEOPLE'S ADVENTURES ON THE RAILS AS WELL.

>> GOOD TO MEET YOU.

THANKS.

>> DUDE, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> THANKS TO COLLEEN WILSON AND LARRY HIGGS FOR JOINING US.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.

WATCH "CHAT BOX" AND "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" AND OTHER CONTENT WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

JOIN US TUESDAY AT 2:00 P.M. FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT COVERAGE, LIVE COVERAGE OF THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS.

I WILL BE THERE.

THAT'S LIVE TUESDAY AT 2:00 P.M. ON NJ PBS AND OUR STREAMING PLATFORMS.

FROM THE ENTIRE CREW HERE AT GATEWAY CENTER IN NEWARK, WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD, NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ, A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK, DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.