NJ Transportation Commissioner Jim Weinstein said Wednesday that NJ DOT will identify how $250 million from the upcoming transportation bond issue will be spent before voters are asked to approve the measure in November. The bond proceeds will total $500 million; $250 will be invested in local and county bridge repair but until now, DOT had declined to say where the other $250 million would go (see MTR #236).

In addressing an environmental advisory group, Weinstein said DOT needed help in passing the bond issue and was aware of concerns raised by the Tri-State Campaign and environmentalists that the $250 million might be used for highway expansion projects. While he did not make a firm commitment, he said it was his "objective," to avoid such projects.

Commissioner Weinstein said the Dept. would draft a bill with the Office of Legislative Services in 10 days to identify and effectuate the spending plans. Weinstein said a "minimum of $80 million would go to NJTransit," and that some would go to rail freight as well. The recently released State Rail Freight Plan shows needs in the range of $22 million. Marie Curtis of the NJ Environmental Lobby, a member of the group, told Weinstein that the public would not buy a scheme that lacked clear accountability, and Sally Dudley of the Assn. of NJ Environmental Commissions confirmed that funding new highways would cause a problem.

This year, NJDOT is spending $100 million less than is required to repair state bridges, according to its own capital investment strategy. Bridges are in such poor repair that several commentators have stated that they are afraid NJ could see a disaster akin to NY's Schoharie Creek or CT's Mianus River, where interstate highways literally collapsed into watercourses. While DOT managers have complained that they can't get the bridge projects designed and ready to build quickly, DOT can surely cut the funding shortfall in half or more by devoting another $50 million to bridges.

DOT's budget will also fall short of bicycle and pedestrian capital needs by about $25 million. Last year, municipalities applied for $31 million in pedestrian safety and access projects; DOT granted just $1.5 million for them and has allocated $4.7 million this year. Cities and towns also sought $16 million in bike projects, but NJ DOT allocated just half that amount.

The rest of the money should be dedicated to system preservation projects; DOT and Governor Whitman have stated before that "fix it first" is their top priority.