RUMANA QUESTIONS WHAT NEW JERSEY IS DOING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION ISSUES

RUMANA QUESTIONS WHAT NEW JERSEY IS DOING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION ISSUES         

As two studies were released last week examining the status of New Jersey’s repair of structurally deficient bridges and its cost-effectiveness in maintaining its roads, Assemblyman Scott Rumana, who is a member of the Assembly Transportation Committee, is wondering why resolving the state’s transportation issues is not a top priority for the Corzine administration.  Since the Governor’s asset monetization plan that proposed increasing tolls by 800% was resoundingly rejected by the public in the spring, no other plans have been revealed by the state.

“The 2009 budget did not address the solvency of the Transportation Trust Fund,” stated Rumana, (R- Passaic, Bergen, and Essex).  In June, Republicans offered a plan that would provide additional resources to the TTF by constitutionally dedicating $500 million annually in motor vehicle fees.  Our suggestion was not considered and addressing the problem was put off.  Now there are two reports by independent sources that indicate New Jersey has serious issues regarding its road system.  Yet, I hear a very little response from the Governor, except that a revised funding plan is in the works. Immediate attention should be given to fixing our highway infrastructure problem, not sometime this summer.”

According to an Associated Press study, New Jersey has fixed only one of its 20 busiest structurally deficient bridges in the last year.  The ‘structurally deficient’ definition indicates that elements of a bridge need monitoring and parts of the bridge need to be repaired or replaced.  It does not necessarily mean a bridge is unsafe, though it is one of the key factors used to determine when a bridge is at risk, and which ones qualify for federal funding.

The Reason Foundation, based in Washington D.C., found that for the seventh consecutive year, New Jersey has the least cost-effective roads in the country. The report measures effectiveness and performance in areas such as maintenance, pavement and bridge conditions, congestion, and fatalities.  The state was last in total money spent per mile of road, and in total disbursements that include such areas as capital, bridge, and maintenance expenditures.

 “Having served as Mayor of one of New Jersey’s largest municipalities, I have great experience in deciding what areas of a budget require prioritization.  I firmly believe that investing in our transportation infrastructure must be a top priority.  By dedicating money to the TTF, the state would prove its commitment to ensuring that our roads are safe, congestion would be reduced and we would keep men and women in the construction trades working.  I urge the administration to evaluate our plan and give it due consideration.”

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