An NJDOT spreadsheet shows that "congestion management" and "strategic mobility" projects - which are generally lane additions and new bypasses - will cost $1 billion during 2002-2004. Bridge and roadway preservation spending will total $1.24 billion during the same period. Environmental and pro-transit groups, municipalities and other constituencies supported a multi-year increase in state transportation spending with the understanding that DOT's program would emphasize maintenance and repair. DOT has said it cannot meet the ambitious repair targets the legislation sets, but it is hard to sympathize with such claims when the agency feels able to allocate $1 billion to competing areas.

DOT's chart shows a spike in maintenance spending and a slackening in road expansion categories in 2005. An optimistic interpretation is that road expansion projects now in the pipeline will be finished, and maintenance can finally become the state's priority. However, the numbers for 2005 and 2006 are untrustworthy "out year" estimates that DOT does not have to live by. They can change radically over the next few years.

The budget also shows an increase in rail freight spending in 2002, which drops away again in later years, and a hike in local aid funds.