The $500 million bond act previously would have devoted half its revenue to county and local bridges and half to state bridges. The latter half was amended, yielding a new act called the "Statewide Transportation and Local Bridge Bond Act of 1999."

The new bill troubled planning and environmental advocates who had hailed the repair emphasis of the original bridge bill and viewed it as an important precedent for directing state monies to specific transportation needs. Under the amended legislation, DOT will be able to ignore needed maintenance in favor of new, sprawl-promoting road capacity. According to its own figures, NJDOT will spend $100 million less than necessary next year to bring its bridges into a state of good repair. 25% of state-run bridges are in substandard condition.

NJDOT has not made available a project list to indicate where the newly untethered funds will be spent.

The last minute change prompted confusion in Trenton. Some senators, including those on the Budget and Appropriations Committee, acknowledged they were unaware of the new wording of the bill when they approved it by a 36-2 vote. Senator Bill Schluter abstained, and was cited by the Star-Ledger saying he was unready to commit to a general transportation spending bill without lengthier review. Some Trenton insiders speculated that the newly broadened transportation spending will help the State forestall a gas tax increase to replenish the State Transportation Trust Fund, thus insulating Gov. Whitman from the politically uncomfortable topic of tax hikes as she runs for US Senate.

The bond passed the full Legislature on Thursday alongside a $200 million hike in Trust Fund spending. It still requires the assent of voters, who will see it in a referendum in November.