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Meadowlands Area Mayors Want Traffic Study For American Dream Complex

CARLSTADT, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - Wednesday's traffic nightmare near the Meadowlands was enough to prompt local mayors to call for a traffic study on the American Dream complex being built nearby.

More than 90,000 people filled MetLife Stadium for a Jewish gathering, forcing the New Jersey Department of Transportation to declare a traffic advisory.

Carlstadt Mayor William Roseman was among those caught in the gridlock. He said it took him nearly two hours to make the trip back from Manhattan.

"[The] American Dream project is anticipating 144,000 people per day," Roseman told 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg. "That's 1.5 times of what we had and the impact is obviously gonna be substantial."

1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reports

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The mega-complex formerly known as Xanadu is expected to have up to 150,000 visitors a day, far eclipsing the number who attended the Talmud event at the stadium on Wednesday.

So, Roseman and 13 other mayors in the Meadowlands area are calling for a traffic study to be done.

"And the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and American Dream are simply not doing it. And there is nothing more preposterous than that," Roseman told WCBS 880's Levon Putney.

WCBS 880's Levon Putney reports

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Mayor Roseman worries traffic cops would cost his borough more than $1 million a year.

"Well, what good is a project if it destroys the quality of life for the area?" Roseman said.

American Dream developer Triple Five Worldwide is promising a tremendous increase in direct bus and train service, but it remains unclear who would foot the bill.

Regardless, Mayor Roseman isn't banking on that option, saying "When was the last time you took a train or a bus to a mall?"

American Dream is due to be completed by the end of 2013.

Do you think the American Dream project should be scrapped, in light of Wednesday's traffic debacle? Share your thoughts in our comments section below.

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