At a Trenton news conference today, New Jersey environmental and transportation advocacy groups announced strong support for the $500 million transportation bond issue being put before New Jersey's voters. The "Statewide Transportation and Local Bridge Bond Act of 1999" will be Public Question Number 1 on Tuesday's ballot. Last week, DOT released a comprehensive spending plan for the bond proceeds.

"New Jersey should vote 'yes' on this bond question," said Greg Meyer of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. NJ DOT's spending plan for the bond issue represents a strong step toward a capital program that emphasizes highway maintenance and investment in alternatives to cars and trucks. A "yes" vote will send a strong signal to Trenton that the public approves of this approach.

NJ Transportation Commissioner James Weinstein has pledged repeatedly that monies from the bond will be directed to fixing existing infrastructure, and will not be used to add new sprawl- and traffic-inducing highway capacity.

"If you build it, they will come. If you fix it, they will remain. Preserving the transportation we've already got is a means to focus growth in already developed areas without encouraging sprawl on the fringe. The bond plan follows this principle," said Meyer.

Jeff Tittel, Executive Director of the Sierra Club-NJ Chapter, considered the spending proposal for the bond issue a positive departure from past DOT capital plans. "In the past, DOT has spent too many resources paving open space. The current plan holds DOT's feet to the fire to fix what's been ignored for too long."

Speakers also noted that NJ Transit will receive $80 million of the bond issue. William Wright, a director of the NJ Association of Railroad Passengers, stated, "The transit projects listed in the bond spending plan are improvements that will benefit travelers across the State. While there's much more to be done, we endorse the bond issue."

NJPIRG Citizen Lobby also backed the bond issue.

The bond spending plan allocates $9 million to bicycling and pedestrian projects, and $8 million to rail freight infrastructure. "Demand across the state for better cycling and walking is high. Meanwhile, New Jersey is being overrun by trucks. The bond plan will help New Jersey attack these problems," said Meyer.

Click here to reach NJDOT's bond act site, with proposed project list and more.