New Jersey Turnpike Authority officials have denied a petition from groups opposing a proposed $4.7 billion project that would widen the Turnpike extension to and from the Holland Tunnel.

The denial contends the Turnpike Authority has taken the action to comply with Gov. Phil Murphy’s climate change executive orders.

The petition, filed on May 12 by Empower NJ and eight other environmental and community groups, was an official rule making petition that required a formal response by law.

Objectors demanded the Turnpike Authority and State Department of Transportation adopt a pollution reduction strategy to meet 2030 goals set by Gov. Phil Murphy and require a “climate impact test” on any highway expansion project to prove it doesn’t conflict with Murphy’s goals.

The July 15 denial letter cited actions already taken, including the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in highway service areas, the beginning of a transition to a fleet of light duty electric vehicles and allocating $746 million in fiscal year 2023 to fund NJ Transit operations.

The Authority agreed to fund a total of nearly $4 billion over seven years to NJ Transit last year and said that funding is “easing the use of vehicles on state roadways and their generation of greenhouse gases.”

The environmental groups may appeal.

“While we have not yet decided on next steps, we are of course seriously considering further legal action, including an appeal to the Appellate Division,” said John Reichman, EmpowerNJ Steering Committee member and environmental committee chair of BlueWave NJ. “NJTA’s denial does not even address some of the relief we were seeking, such as doing a climate impact test and cost-benefit analysis before going ahead with highway expansion projects.”

A similar petition sent to the state Department of Transportation has not been responded to yet, he said.

The denial also said studies and public hearings about the proposed Turnpike Extension are already required and being done. Widening studies authorized in 2017 and 2021 are underway, said Tom Feeney, an Authority spokesman.

“The environmental impact statement and environmental assessment are underway,” he said. Public information sessions and hearings are expected in the fall.

Opponents to the widening project renewed their calls for consideration of alternatives during Tuesday morning’s board of commissioners meeting. Two Jersey City Council members expressed opposition to the project.

Yousef J. Saleh, Jersey City Ward D councilman said he regularly drives the Turnpike extension, has been stuck in traffic and still opposes the planned widening. Opponents contend that traffic will divert to local streets because the proposed three lanes will narrow to two lanes after Exit 14 C in Jersey City.

“I’ve sat in that traffic as well. The expansion should be off the table. Improve the Turnpike in other ways, such as more access for buses and enforcement of aggressive driving that causes crashes that backs up traffic,” he said. “I believe the Turnpike Authority can spend the money in other ways.”

Several other speakers called for creating an exclusive bus lane for the Holland Tunnel, particularly as New York City seeks to implement a congestion pricing plan to charge a fee to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street. That pricing plan is intended to reduce traffic and fund subway improvement.

Former state Board of Public Utilities executive director Jean Fox called on the authority to look at dedicated bus lanes and added ferry service to Manhattan.

“I worked at the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in lower Manhattan and took the Holland Tunnel. Why add more traffic to the Holland Tunnel,” she said. “I have two recommendations, do a comprehensive transportation congestion study, and look at the alternatives.”

Mira Prinz-Arey, Jersey City Ward B councilwoman said traffic already diverts off the Turnpike extension when there is a problem.

“What happens when there is an accident on the Turnpike on the west side of the city by Route 440 is all that traffic diverts to the westside,” she said. “Do the study, show us the work and the other options and explain why it’s the better option when there are so many other options.”

The proposed $4.7 billion project would widen the roadway and replace the Turnpike extension’s elevated structures in three phases. The first widens the extension to four lanes in both directions with shoulders between Turnpike exit 14 in Newark and 14A in Bayonne.

It includes replacing the Newark Bay Bridge that was opened in April 5, 1956. The bridge is two lanes in each direction.

The second phase replaces the two-lane highway and bridges with a three lane road and shoulders in both directions between Exit 14A in Bayonne and the Columbus Drive exit in Jersey City.

The third phase replaces the elevated structures from Columbus Drive to Jersey Avenue that soar over downtown Jersey City and retains the current two lanes in each direction and include standard sized shoulders. The existing extension was built in 1956 and has outlived its useful life, Authority officials have said.

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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.

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