NJ highway chief to ask lawmakers to solve funding crisis

By TOM HESTER Jr.
The Associated Press

4/30/2008

TRENTON, N.J. — The state transportation commissioner is expected to warn lawmakers on Wednesday that New Jersey will have no money for highway, bridge or rail improvements in three years if the state doesn’t find new funding.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine earlier this year proposed significantly increasing highway tolls to pay for such work, but the plan lacks public and legislative support.

In recent testimony before Assembly lawmakers, Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri noted plans to spend $42.1 billion on transportation projects in the next decade. Projects include a new Hudson River rail tunnel and widening portions of the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.

But Kolluri said nothing can be built if new funding isn’t found.

“I hope you don’t interpret my statement to be either a threat or an attempt to scare the public,” Kolluri said. “It is just a statement of fact.”

Senate budget committee members are expected to hear a similar message on Wednesday.

Kolluri has noted how a recent Rutgers University study estimated the construction plan would create 27,000 new jobs per year.

“In this tough economic cycle, we need to do everything we can to keep people employed,” Kolluri said. “Investment in infrastructure does just that.”

Corzine has said he is weighing alternatives to his toll hike plan, but hasn’t settled on any. He has said he is reluctant to increase the gas tax to fund transportation work.

Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, said this week that he wants the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to consider increasing tolls 45 percent to 50 percent to pay to widen the turnpike and parkway and repair bridges on them.

He said he’ll also push for another 50 percent toll increase in five years and for adding tolls to Interstates 78 and 80 at the Pennsylvania border.

Republicans are skeptical.

“Any talk of a toll increase is premature when the administration has failed to prove to the public that the money we are currently spending is being spent wisely,” said Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth.