As it happened, our group won the fight based on an obscure home rule law. We then participated in an administrative planning hearing that reviewed the merits of the project on traffic planning factors and a cost benefit analysis. The hearing officer ruled definitively in our favor and against the road project being revived.
As we knew and proved at hearing, the planning professionals were quietly against the project as wasteful and unnecessary. The project was pushed though because it offered a massive payday for road builders and real estate speculators along the route. Supportive politicians were given shady deals and campaign contributions to favor the road.
The same dynamic of corruption is almost certainly underway in New Jersey behind this road project. My sympathies are with the opponents.
How is Orlando’s road congestion now?
Not saying that the project you mention was the solution to any touted problem at all; just wanted to think of alternatives that were not under government control.