FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        
January 16, 2013


ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO RECEIVES
SERVICE AWARD FROM NJTPA

NEWARK, NJ - The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Board of
Trustees recognized Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. with an
award for his 11 years of service on the board at its Annual Board Meeting
on Monday, January 14th.

"Major highways, the airport and Port Newark make Essex County a
transportation hub. Ensuring our roadways and transportation infrastructure
are safe and meet current motor vehicle needs, and is sufficient for future
demands is important to maintaining the economic viability and quality of
life in this region," DiVincenzo said. "I want to thank the NJTPA for this
recognition. It helps raise awareness about the positive impact the NJTPA
has supporting our infrastructure, revitalizing our economy and creating
jobs," he added.

DiVincenzo joined the NJTPA Board in 2002 when he took office as Essex
County Executive. He was elected a member of the Executive Committee in 2010
and currently serves as its Third Vice Chairman. He is also the Vice
Chairman of the NJTPA's Planning and Economic Development Committee.

During his time on the Board, DiVincenzo has led efforts to put Federal
transportation dollars to work on county construction projects and planning
studies. Some of the many local transportation projects completed during his
time on the Board include the rehabilitation of the Bloomfield Avenue Bridge
over Essex County Branch Brook Park and resurfacing and improvements on
Central Avenue in Newark.

Under his leadership, Essex County has made great strides in safety
improvements at major intersections with the aid of 11 NJTPA Local Safety
projects. With his support, the county also is currently updating its
Comprehensive Transportation Plan for the first time since 1984, in an
effort funded through the NJTPA's Subregional Studies Program.

The NJTPA is the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for 13 northern
New Jersey counties. Under federal legislation, MPOs provide a forum where
local officials, public transportation providers and state agency
representatives can come together and cooperatively plan to meet the
region's current and future transportation needs.

The NJTPA oversees $1 billion in federal transportation investments annually
for a region of 6.6 million people. The Board consists of one local elected
official from each of the 13 counties in the region (Bergen, Essex, Hudson,
Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex,
Union and Warren), and the cities of Newark and Jersey City. The Board also
includes a Governor's Representative, the Commissioner of the New Jersey
Department of Transportation, the Executive Director of NJ Transit, the
Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey,
and a Citizen's Representative appointed by the Governor. Board membership
is an uncompensated position.