At a press conference that morning, and in testimony at the public hearing, representatives from the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, the Association of NJ Environmental Commissions and the NJ Environmental Lobby made it clear they would oppose any bill that turns over a $1 billion blank check to the NJDOT. The NJ Environmental Federation, NJPIRG, Clean Ocean Action, Environmental Defense and the American Lung Association also supported the message urging Senators to hold out for amendments that would offer clear transportation spending guidelines. "DOT has consistently put expensive and environmentally destructive highway projects before road repair," explained Janine Bauer, Tri-State Transportation Campaign director.

The NJ State Planning Commission - the board responsible for oversight of the State Plan - recently passed a motion criticizing the absence of references to the State Plan in the Senate's Trust Fund bill.



The Commission wrote to State Senators, arguing "inclusion of language requiring coordination between transportation investments and the State Plan is critical to maintaining and enhancing the quality of life in NJ."



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