NJ Legislature Supports Progressive TTF
Bill
The NJ Assembly Appropriations Committee amended, then released, the
Transportation Trust Fund reauthorization bills and resolutions dedicating
more existing sales and gas taxes for the TTF. Chairman Richard Bagger
led the cause for a "fix it first" amendment that will direct a large
chunk of the Fund over the next five years to repairing existing roads
and bridges. But the measure was unanimously supported by Democrats and
Republicans alike, with Transportation Chairman Alex DeCroce's and Senate
President Don DiFrancesco's consent. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign,
NJ Environmental Lobby and other anti-sprawl groups championed the "fix
it first" agenda as their top priority. Action is expected in the Senate
and Assembly next week, without further revision.
What was won:
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Next March 1st, DOT must submit to the Legislature a Capital
Investment Strategy with five year goals, targets and performance measures
for reducing vehicular and pedestrian crashes, reducing by half the
backlog of structurally deficient bridge repair projects and pavement
deficiencies, and building 1,000 lane miles of bike paths. Each subsequent
March 1st DOT must report on its progress toward meeting the
enunciated goals;
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By 2007, NJTransit may only buy buses with reduced particulate emissions
or that are powered by fuels other than diesel.
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No new highways may be built without a joint resolution of
the legislature, but DOT may extend, modify or widen existing state
highways.
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A year-long Congestion Buster Task Force will study highway congestion
and develop a commuter options plan that would result in peak hour vehicle
trips being capped at 1999 levels.
The fix-it-first, reduce traffic, anti-sprawl focus of the debate in the
Legislature was a heartening sign of real reform to come. Had State Senator
William Schluter (R-Hunterdon) not refused to vote to fund the original
measure in the Senate, environmental and transportation watchdog groups
would have had neither the time nor the leverage to gain the revisions
that made this bill a solid first step toward a responsible
spending plan.
Democratic leaders deserving credit include Sens. Kenny and Sacco (Hudson),
Adler (Camden) and minority Leader Dick Codey (Essex), while Republicans
who didn't support the original lackluster measures included Connors, Singer,
Sinagra, and Allen. Numerous others influenced the measure behind-the-scenes
including Hudson Co Executive Bob Janiszewski.
