View Other Items in this Archive |
View All Archives | Printable Version
June 13, 2016
Trenton, NJ
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PROPOSAL BENEFITS TAXPAYERS
AND MOTORISTS
Officers and Members of the League of Municipalities- like
Past Presidents Tim McDonough (Mayor of Hope) and Brian Wahler (Mayor
of Piscataway) and Mayor Robert Jackson of Montclair - have repeatedly
called for adequate and reliable funding to address local and State
transportation infrastructure needs.
Today in Trenton, Senators Paul Sarlo and Steve Oroho,
joined by Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senators Joe Kyrillos and
Loretta Weinberg and Assemblyman Lou Greenwald, presented a plan that
answers those calls.
Municipal representatives - like Mayor Liz Lempert of
Princeton and Cathleen Lewis of Lawrence (Mercer) - have testified to
the need for increased, adequate and reliable funding to meet local
transportation requirements.
Today in Trenton, key legislative leaders agreed, as they
described a detailed, bipartisan proposal that would double the
resources provided to municipalities and counties through the Local Aid
component of the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF).
Time and time again, League President Joe Tempesta, in
statements echoed by number of other League members, has reminded State
officials that local property taxpayers would be forced to bear the
full burden, absent dramatic action on the TTF, before July 1 of this
year.
Today’s announcement, along with assurances given by
Speaker Prieto that a substantially similar proposal was being readied
for introduction in the General Assembly, gives hope for timely action
on a plan to save the TTF and our property taxpayers.
The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that 66
% of New Jersey’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition. The
State Department of Transportation reports that New Jersey's
municipalities are responsible for 64% of our roads. County
governments are responsible for another 22%. Together, local
governments are responsible for 39% of our bridges. Local
roadways and bridges carry about 55% of all traffic. Despite
those numbers, over the past 20 years, Local Aid has averaged only
15% of total funding, per year.
Given the extent of the local infrastructure, and given
the need for strong and steady investment in that infrastructure, and
given the fact that without a renewed and reinvigorated TTF local
property taxpayers will need to cover all costs, we salute Senators
Sarlo, Oroho, Sweeney, Kyrillos and Weinberg and Speaker Prieto and
Assemblyman Greenwald.
* * * *
For further information contact: Michael Cerra., Assistant Executive Director at 609-695-3481, extension 120.
|