"Today, we are launching a bold initiative to ensure our economic prosperity and to improve the lives of millions of New Jerseyans," said Fenster. "We must view regional transportation assets as critical elements of an overall economic engine. What is needed is collaboration and a smart, coherent plan that efficiently ties together transportation, economic development, land use and quality of life perspectives. NJIT will provide the forum and know-how to realize this plan."

Symposium speakers included New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner James Weinstein, New Jersey Assembly Majority Leader Paul DiGaetano (D-36), Assembly Deputy Speaker and Chair of the Transportation Committee Alex DeCroce (R-26), and Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage. Weinstein described the IITC as a critical resource for NJDOT. "We look forward to working in partnership with NJIT to achieve the vision for the corridor and success for the IITC."

The program also included a videotaped statement from Congressman and vice chair of the Democratic Caucus Robert Menendez (D-NJ), who sponsored the federal legislation that provided IITC funding. "The corridor will be a comprehensive approach that will help us meet New Jersey's needs," said Menendez. "Our vision for the corridor is bold. New Jersey already has world class port, airport, highway and rail facilities to move our innovative products. The international corridor will be a place like no other in the United States - a place where someone can take an idea for a product, research and develop it, finance it, manufacture it and export it anywhere in the world."

Leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors who will serve on the IITC Advisory Board also attended. A full listing of the advisory board members is attached.

The center will act as an independent facilitator in a forum for stakeholders to develop a cooperative agenda for a dynamic, regional plan. The center will utilize advanced modeling tools and provide a communication channel for the public. The IITC also will provide important support for the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.

The IITC is funded from a $2 million grant from the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the High Priority Projects Program of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). NJDOT designated New Jersey Institute of Technology as the center.

NJIT is a public research university enrolling over 8,200 bachelor's, master's and doctoral students in 80 degree programs through its five colleges: Newark College of Engineering, New Jersey School of Architecture, College of Science and Liberal Arts, the School of Management and the Albert Dorman Honors College. Research initiatives include manufacturing, microelectronics, multimedia, transportation, computer science, solar astrophysics, environmental engineering and science, and architecture and building science.

According to Yahoo! Internet Life magazine rankings, NJIT has been America's "most wired" public university for three consecutive years. U.S. News and World Report's "2000 Annual Guide to America's Best Colleges" ranked NJIT among the nation's top universities, and Money magazine's most recent issue of "Best College Buys" rated NJIT as the sixth best value among U.S. science and technology schools and among the top 100 overall. In September 1999, Mademoiselle ranked NJIT as the second most Internet-connected university in the nation.

International Intermodal Transportation Center
Advisory Board

1. Maxine Ballen, President, New Jersey Technology Council
2. Philip K. Beachem, President, New Jersey Alliance for Action, Inc.
3. James Benton, Executive Director, New Jersey Petroleum Council
4. The Honorable J. Christian Bollwage, Mayor, City of Elizabeth
5. The Honorable Mark Boyd, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Labor
6. Hal Bozarth, Executive Director, Chemical Industry Council of New Jersey
7. Thomas A. Bracken, Director, Public Sector Group, First Union National Bank
8. Michael F. Brimmer, Regional Vice President, CSX Transportation
9. Sam Crane, Vice President of External Affairs, Maher Terminals, Inc.
10. The Honorable Alex DeCroce, Assembly Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee
11. The Honorable Paul DiGaetano, Assembly Majority Leader
12. The Honorable Joseph V. Doria, Jr., Mayor, City of Bayonne and Assembly Minority Leader
13. Caren Franzini, Executive Director, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
14. Joseph E. Gonzalez, Jr., President, New Jersey Business and Industry Association
15. Edward Gross, Executive Director, New Jersey Turnpike Authority
16. Charles E. Hance, Chief Executive Office and Secretary, New Jersey Commerce and Economic Growth Commission
17. The Honorable Sharpe James, Mayor, City of Newark and State Senator
18. Barbara L. Lawrence, Executive Director, New Jersey Future
19. Marc Lebovitz, Executive Vice President, East Coast Warehouse and Distribution Corp. / Romark Logistics, Inc.
20. Joseph Maraziti, Jr., Chairman, State Planning Commission
21. Frank McDonough, President, Nation's Port
22. Angelo C. Morresi, Attorney at Law
23. The Honorable Robert A. Roe, Former Congressman and Chair, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
24. Hank Ross, President, Union County Alliance
25. Stephen Sasala, President and Chief Executive Officer, Prosperity New Jersey
26. The Honorable Robert C. Shinn, Jr., Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
27. Ron Signorino, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Maersk Sealand
28. Joan Verplanck, President, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
29. Christopher O. Ward, Chief of Planning and External Affairs, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
30. Joel Weiner, Executive Director, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority
31. Charles Wowkanech, President, New Jersey State AFL-CIO