Looks like these plans have been in the works since the mid 70's, with the intention of a passenger route to NYC...
http://www.nycroads.com/roads/NJ-15/
ALL very interesting, read especially under Sparta/Lafayette, and click on Figure 2 there... We should feel bad for those people in Ryan homes…
http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/works/studies/rt15/#top
