N.J. officials unveil $3.6B transportation plan

"You'll see people going to work, and it will improve the economic climate of the state quite substantially," New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine said.

By ELI SEGALL
The Associated Press

4/14/2009

TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey state Department of Transportation wants to spend $3.6 billion on road and mass transit projects in the coming budget year, saying the plan would create jobs and improve New Jersey's battered economy.

The package does not include any money for the New Jersey Turnpike or the Garden State Parkway. Tom Feeney, a spokesman for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which manages the two highways, said improvements are funded almost entirely by tolls collected on them.

The bulk of the Transportation Department's spending plan would be funded by the state and federal governments. Money from the federal stimulus package, which President Obama signed into law in February, is not included.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine told reporters that the spending would create or save 40,000 jobs.

Like most states, New Jersey has been hit hard by the recession. Its jobless rate has spiked and tax revenues have plunged this past year.

"You'll see people going to work, and it will improve the economic climate of the state quite substantially," Corzine said.

The department's proposal, for the fiscal year starting July 1, includes a range of upgrade projects, including highway resurfacing and rail track replacement. It's $300 million more than this year's transportation spending plan.

Announced yesterday at a transportation conference in Trenton, the plan was also submitted to the New Jersey Legislature. Lawmakers have until June 30 to approve it.

In the plan, $2.2 billion would be used for roads, bridges and other driving-related projects, including pedestrian and bicycle safety. NJ Transit would get $1.4 billion for signal upgrades and train and bus station improvements, among other things.

The Trucker staff may be reached to comment at editor@thetrucker.com.