NJ on Right Path to Improved Transportation Infrastructure
September 8, 2009
(TRENTON) - Responding to a recent report that rated New Jersey′s roadways as the nation′s worst, Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), the Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee chairman, issued the following statement on Tuesday:
"Any comparison of New Jersey′s roadways to those in other states that doesn′t take into account the heavy use of our highways and federal underfunding of transportation work in our state is simply an unrealistic analysis.
"New Jersey is the nation′s most densely populated state. We have the nation′s busiest and fifth busiest toll roadsin the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike, the nation′s third busiest port system and a roadway network that serves as a round-the-clock thoroughfare between two of the world′s major cities - New York City and Philadelphia.
"Simply put, on any given day in New Jersey, a road is getting more wear and tear than a road in, for instance, a small Midwestern state.
"But it′s also important to remember how New Jersey, despite being home to major interstates, has been forced to do more with less, thanks largely to the Bush administration and its underfunding of federal transportation dollars forNew Jersey.
"Fortunately, that is changing.
“The Legislature, Gov. Corzine and the state Department of Transportation are working diligently to improve our roadways with a smart and aggressive $3.6 billion capital improvement plan that for this year includes an extra $50 million for counties and municipalities. That money will not only help stimulate local economies, but will help keepproperty taxes in check.
"Thanks to President Obama′s stimulus package, New Jersey is spending over $600 million on bridge repairs and has spent more on roadway resurfacing in 2008 and 2009 than in the preceding 5 years combined.
"New Jersey′s infrastructure was once the envy of the world, and is on the right path toward earning that recognition once again."
