Passenger Trains > NJ: Transportation Fund hits a red light

New Jersey's transportation commissioner has ratcheted up the pressure on legislators to find a funding solution for NJ's rail and highway requirements. NJ's legislature and governor have been at loggerheads over whether the program needs more funding, and how should it be raised.  There's general agreement that short term solutions have reached the end of the line. The state is expected to run out of transportation funding for other than bonds already issued later this year.

NJ Transit, for example, is expected to repay a $240 million loan, which will go toward the general fund. There had been hope the agency could borrow some money right back. The beleaguered Port Authority of NY and NJ is already funding the Pulaski Skyway rebuilding, and has made it clear that well has run dry.

NJDOT has begun posting weight limits or closing bridges altogether. In one Somerset County district, three key bridges have been closed or posted, leading to great irritation among motorists. Key intersections are being restricted (NJ-3 in the Meadows, NJ-42 by the merge, etc).

Part of the problem is political posturing. The legislature won't vote any increase in the 14.5 cents gasoline tax in an election year. Especially if the governor might veto it to "help the little guy". The governor won't ask the legislature for an increase, since that would expose him as a fraud or tax and spend politicians.

Many voters recognize that the roads and bridges need serious repair or replacement work. But years of experience suggest much of the money would be stolen, or given to low ball contractors and immediately inflated as the work is underway.



http://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-transportation-funding-talks-over-for-now-1.1295459

That was the same situation in NM last week. The Democratic controlled senate wanted to raise the gas tax to fund highway construction and repair, but Republican Governor Martinez said she would veto any tax increases. The Republican controlled house agreed that highways need repairs but took a different tack by overhauling the senate passed (40-0) $264 million capital outlay bill (financed by bonds) by cutting funds for non-highway projects (including the Cumbres and Toltec) and adding highway jobs. This led to a floor fight that extended to the end of the session at noon Saturday and all died with adjournment.

It will be interesting to see how this progresses, given Gov. Christie's presumed Presidential ambitions.  He can't be seen as supporting a gas-tax increase, even though New Jersey has one of the lowest gas taxes in the US. 

The Port Authority funding of the Pulaski Skyway reconstruction is a sham.  There's really no other way to describe it.  The Port Authority's bylaws say it can only fund its facilities and "feeder roads" leading to those facilities.  The Pulaski Skyway "feeds" the Holland Tunnel.  That's it.  But the Holland Tunnel's feeder roads can't be used for Port Authority funds because the Holland Tunnel actually predates the establishment of the Port Authority.  The way that the Christie administration found around that bylaw was to declare that the Pulaski Skyway is a "feeder road" to the Lincoln Tunnel, which would make it legal to expend Port Authority funds on the Skyway. 

You could stand at the Lincoln Tunnel toll plaza and ask who used the Pulaski Skyway to reach it, and you'd come up craps.  Not a soul.  But that's the rationalization that the Christie administration used to have Port Authority funds pay for the Pulaski Skyway reconstruction.

Here's the best video describing how the Christie administration's actions are questionable: http://www.nj.com/ledgerlive/index.ssf/2014/06/chris_christies_bridge_fiction_the_pulaski_skyway-lincoln_tunnel_claim_debunked_ledger_live_video.html  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceg44R97OFs

Rediculous that they can't raise the gas tax by two cents - literally no one would notice as NJ would still be cheaper than any surrounding state.

". . . the Holland Tunnel's feeder roads can't be used for Port Authority funds because the Holland Tunnel actually predates the establishment of the Port Authority."

That's nuts. The Holland Tunnel is under the PA's jurisdiction NOW, isn't it?

Anyone ever document the actual "take" from fuel tax in NJ?

It's one thing to say the rate is low, it's another to determine the impact of the actual volume taxed, plus the impact of tolls, registrations, and the "cop on every corner" to generate ticket revenue

RichM, yes, the revenue from the fuel taxes is calculated every year.  Here you are: http://www.state.nj.us/ttfa/financing/apprevenues.shtm 

Interesting that the taxes on gasoline and diesel in New Jersey haven't increased since 1989.  But according to the Consumer Price Index calculator, the rate of inflation between January 1989 and January 2015 has been 92.99%.

And New Jersey wonders why its bridges are being closed and its roads are falling apart.  But the residents say they can't afford gas-tax increases and Gov. Christie has Presidential ambitions, so this can will get kicked down the pothole-filled road for another 18 months, at least.

It's annoying that the Americans for Tax Reform is quoted in the article, but no representative of the American Society of Civil Engineers is quoted.