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Transportation
 The
Platform for Progress Transportation Coalition seeks to
improve the state of transportation in New Jersey by raising
public and legislative awareness of key issues.
The
goal of this initiative is to push for a stable, long-term
transportation funding program that best serves residents,
target construction projects that will relieve congestion, and
to develop a state and regional master transportation plan.
Coalition Chair: Hazel Gluck, Senior Partner, MBI GluckShaw
Contact: Michael Egenton
2008-09 Agenda
Long Term Goal:
Ensure that the transportation infrastructure of New Jersey continues to be a major contributor to a healthy economy through sufficient funding of critical projects and maintenance activities.
Objective 1:
Ensure that k ey projects of regional significance receive top priority and proper funding.
Consensus Items:
- Advocate for the prioritization and provide funding for NJ’s contribution to the Access to the Regions’ Core (ARC) tunnel and the widening of the NJ Turnpike (Exit 9 – 6) and the Garden State Parkway.
Objective 2 :
Advocate for the inclusion of the Platform Coalition’s applicable Guiding Principles in all future transportation funding plans.
Consensus Items:
- Require that proceeds realized through funding proposal(s) be solely directed toward transportation projects.
- Advocate for significant funding increases for NJ Transit.
- Require that construction and maintenance projects by toll road authorities are publicly bid and awarded to the “lowest responsible bidder.”
- Continue the toll road authorities’ procurement process (quality based selection) for project design contracts in its present form.
- Allow the staffs of the current toll road authorities to plan and administer their respective construction and maintenance program.
- Require that the state develop a “lock box” provision for funding so that proceeds are dedicated to transportation capital projects.
Objective 3: Provide for a long-term, dedicated funding source for the Transportation Trust Fund.
Consensus Items:
- Fund the 10-year construction program of the toll road authorities’ and maintain, at a minimum, the current level of annual construction funding, including adjustments for annual construction inflation.
- Encourage the funding and prioritization of projects and policies including innovative technologies that will help relieve congestion and ease the flow of freight and commuters.
- Advocate for an increase in the state’s Motor Fuels Tax with an annual increase reflecting the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for future increases.
- Require that future annual TTF debt service will not exceed 50% of the future annual revenues as recommended by the Blue Ribbon Commission.
- Provide additional aid for municipal and county transportation projects to include multi-modal programs.
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