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Just another editorial on the TTF that fails to address where all the money went

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TTF crisis hurts more than roads and bridges

Editors note : once again another editorial that failed to address :
 
1- what happened to the presidents stimulus money ?
2- where has the TTF money been spent?
3- why does road work cost so much in New Jersey
4- why haven’t we audited the TTF ?
5- we already have enormous revenues from tolls and taxes how is it being spent?
 
answer any of these questions and you may get some public support for “solutions”June 28, 2015We were disappointed to learn earlier this month that, despite overwhelming opposition from riders and public officials, NJ Transit will be proceeding with the planned fare hikes and service cuts it proposed earlier this year.The action is unavoidable, says NJ Transit, because the agency has a $56 million budget gap; to close it, fares will jump 9 percent, on average, and rail and bus routes will be cut back.This is bad news for commuters, no doubt about it, but it’s bad news for business owners, too. Earlier this month, NJ.com published a report on the median property values along NJ Transit rail lines, and unsurprisingly, people are willing to pay quite a price to live near access to employment hubs such as Newark, Morristown, New Brunswick, Princeton and others. That gives companies incentive to locate in these areas, which gives developers incentive to make investments in these towns, which in turn brings more businesses — especially smaller ones — and powers downtown revitalization. Towns such as Summit and Montclair would be a much tougher sell for commuters if they lacked reliable rail transportation.This is just another example of New Jersey’s poor transportation planning coming home to roost. The depleted Transportation Trust Fund, starved by an insufficient gas tax, has made major rail investment an afterthought. Raising fares is only going to push more cars on the road at rush hour, exacerbating what many consider to be the Garden State’s worst problem, and will harm investment in rail towns by developers and businesses. No one likes a tax hike, but a small increase in the gas tax is preferable to another big transit fare hike. It would be nice if legislators wised up and ensured this is the last increase for the foreseeable future.

Part of the reason we’re here is poor policy. No public transit agency is going to break even, much less turn a profit, but NJ Transit has often been a victim of not getting what it needs from the state, combined with its own share of dunderheaded decisions, such as rail car storage during Sandy. The state must take a hard look at the impact rail service has on municipalities when it thinks about funding infrastructure upgrades or new station construction. And that goes for bus and light rail projects, too — the tremendous impact of the Hudson-Bergen light rail line on property values was long ago demonstrated. Given that the only new jobs being talked about in New Jersey are at casinos or megamalls, professionals are likely to need reliable access to New York to find the work they want — and they’re paying for that privilege.

https://www.njbiz.com/article/20150628/NJBIZ01/306299994/editorial-ttf-crisis-hurts-more-than-roads-and-bridges

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Scott Garrett: Repair infrastructure before taking on new projects

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JUNE 9, 2015    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015, 1:21 AM

BY SCOTT GARRETT
THE RECORD

By reducing funding to the program that gives grant money to transit agencies for new projects by 4 percent, Congress could have fully funded our nation’s rail safety and operations.

WHAT WOULD be your top priority if the roof on your house was caving in? Would you build a new addition? Renovate the kitchen? Put in a swimming pool? Of course not — you would fix the roof, because it protects your home and your family.

Just as you wouldn’t add a new addition before fixing your home, Congress shouldn’t prioritize new transit over the immediate safety needs of our freight and passenger rail lines.

The number of train accidents is a growing concern among all Americans. Just this year we have seen oil train derailments in West Virginia and North Dakota, and more than a dozen Amtrak-related accidents. Most recently, a tragic crash in Philadelphia claimed eight lives and injured dozens more.

In New Jersey alone, we have more than 1,000 miles of commuter railroad tracks and 2,400 miles of freight railroad tracks. Furthermore, New Jerseyans travel more than 100 million miles on commuter trains every year. Americans both here and across the nation need assurance that Congress and the rail industry are taking the appropriate steps to ensure rail safety.

The Federal Railroad Administration’s Safety and Operations Account funds safety projects for both freight and commuter trains across the country. In light of the recent concerns over train safety, I was disappointed that the FRA’s safety account did not receive an increase in funding in the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Bill.

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-guest-writers/repair-infrastructure-before-taking-on-new-projects-1.1351902

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Ridgewood Receives NJDOT Paving Grant

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file photo By Boyd Loving

Village of Ridgewood Street Resurfacing and Repair Program – 2015

Ridgewood Receives NJDOT Paving Grant 

Ridgewood has been selected to receive funding from the New Jersey Department’s (NJDOT) Fiscal Year 2015 Municipal Aid Program for Morningside Road in the amount of $149,000.

NJDOT’s Municipal Aid Program is a very competitive program. This year the Department received 630 applications requesting more than $253 million. There is $78.75 million available in funds from the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF).

Streets and Schedule  – 2015

For the 2015 street paving list

Click Here

For the criteria for paving and maintaining streets

Click Here

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Village sets ambitious street repair and resurfacing schedule for 2015

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file photo by Boyd Loving

April 07,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood  NJ, Ridgewood will be paving this spring and summer in two rounds with two separate contractors. The Village posted an updated schedule on March 26, 2015.

According to the Village website during 2015 the Village will embark on a very ambitious street resurfacing and repair schedule
staring this spring .

Ridgewood Street Resurfacing and Repair Program – 2015

For the 2015 street paving list

Click Here

For the criteria for paving and maintaining streets

Click Here

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AAA Mid-Atlantic: New Jersey gas prices still falling

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TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Motorists continue to see lower prices at the pumps in New Jersey.

AAA Mid-Atlantic says the average price of a gallon of regular gas in the state on Friday was $2.16, down a penny from last week. That’s also much lower than the price from a year ago, when motorists were paying $3.38.

This marks the fourth straight week that pump prices have fallen in New Jersey. (Houston Chronicle)

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/AAA-Mid-Atlantic-New-Jersey-gas-prices-still-6178901.php
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Concrete falls from Route 17 overhead walkway; DOT declares Ridgewood site safe for traffic

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file photo Boyd Loving

APRIL 4, 2015, 8:47 PM    LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2015, 9:00 PM
BY RICHARD COWEN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — The state Department of Transportation says a pedestrian walkway over Route 17 is safe enough to allow cars to pass under it, following an emergency inspection on Saturday afternoon prompted by chunks of concrete falling onto the road.

DOT spokesman Steve Schapiro said there was “no immediate danger of collapse” at the walkway, which crosses Route 17 just south of Racetrack Road and connects to the Park and Ride on the southbound side of the highway. Schapiro said a DOT crew arrived and picked up the debris, and conducted a brief inspection to make sure it was safe. A more thorough inspection will be done on Monday, he said.

“They took a look and determined there was no immediate danger,” he said. “We’ll be sending a crew out on Monday to take a look at what needs to be done.”

Chunks of concrete fell onto the northbound side of Route 17 around 12:30 p.m., and drivers reported damage to two cars, police said. Ridgewood police and firefighters rushed to the scene and, using pike poles, pulled down a layer of loose concrete from the central pillar that supports the walkway. Two of the northbound lanes were closed to traffic for about 40 minutes, police said.

Ridgewood Fire Capt. Scott Schmidt said the concrete that peeled off was the outer layer of one of the pillars that support the walkway. Schmidt referred to it as a “skin coat” that likely was weakened by the combination of moisture and road salt. “Road salt and concrete don’t really go well together,” he said.

Unable to dispose of the debris, firefighters piled chunks of concrete onto the left shoulder of the road and summoned the DOT. “We responded, and it made it as safe as possible before re-opening the road,” Schmidt said.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/concrete-falls-from-route-17-overhead-walkway-dot-declares-ridgewood-site-safe-for-traffic-1.1302888

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Village seeks bidders for “2015 Road Resurfacing and Repair of Various Village Streets In the Village of Ridgewood”

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file photo Boyd Loving

Village seeks bidders for “2015 Road Resurfacing and Repair of Various Village Streets In the Village of Ridgewood”

BID NOTICE – 2015 Road Resurfacing and Repair of Various Village Streets

Sealed bid proposals will be received by the Village of Ridgewood, in the Village Hall Level Three Conference Room, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450, on Thursday, April 9, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. prevailing time, and then publicly opened and read aloud for the following project:

“2015 Road Resurfacing and Repair of Various Village Streets In the Village of Ridgewood”.

The principal items of the work of the project include: Installation of NJDOT HMA 9.5 M64 Top Course, approximately 7,500 tons; Installation of NJDOT HMA 19 M64 Base Course, approximately 1,900 tons; Installation of NJDOT DGA, 6 inches Thick, approximately 8,000 S.Y.; Thermoplastic Line Striping, 6-inch wide, approximately 10,000 L.F.; Milling 0 to 3 inches thick, 48,000 S.Y.; Topsoil and Seeding, 4 inches thick, 2,000 S.Y.; Installation of 7-inch Thick Concrete Driveway Aprons or Handicap Ramps, 1,500 S.Y.; 9-inch by 18-inch Concrete Vertical Curb, approximately 6,800 L.F.; Concrete Sidewalk, 4 inches thick, approximately 1,200 S.Y.; Bicycle Safe ECO-Grates, approximately 10 each; Repair Inlets and Manholes, 5 Each; Cast Iron Extension Frames for Inlets, 5 Each; NJPDES Storm water Management Phase II replacement curb inlet heads, Type N, approximately 5 each; Bituminous Concrete Driveway, 4 inches Thick, approximately 400 S.Y.; Reset manholes approximately 50 Each and other related work for a complete project.

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained by mail from the office of the Division of Engineering, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450, for a non-refundable fee of $50.00 per set of bid documents. Documents may be examined or picked up in person between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450, Monday through Friday. Prospective bidders requesting bid documents be mailed to them shall be responsible for providing their own postage/delivery service remuneration. No Specifications and/or Proposal forms shall be given out after 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2015.

The contractual obligation of the Village of Ridgewood under this Contract for these items is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment for this Contract can be made.

Prices quoted must be net and exclusive of all Federal, State and Local Sales and Excise Taxes. Bids may be submitted in person or by mail prior to the bid opening, addressed to the Office of the Village Clerk. The Village assumes no responsibility for loss or non-delivery of any bid sent to it prior to the Bid opening.

Each bid must be enclosed in a sealed envelope with the name of the bidder thereon and endorsed, “2015 Road Resurfacing and Repair of Various Village Streets in the Village of Ridgewood ” and must be accompanied by the following: a certified check, cashier’s check, or Bid Bond (Schedule B), drawn to the order of the Village of Ridgewood for ten percent (10%) of the amount bid, or $20,000, whichever is less; a Consent of Surety (Schedule A); a Corporation or Partnership Statement (Schedule C); a Non-Collusion Affidavit (Schedule D); and a Statement of Responsibility (Schedule E). Any award or awards may be made at a later or subsequent time or meeting of the Village Council. All required schedules, that is Schedule A, B, C, D, E, and G, are required to be submitted on the forms attached to the bid documents. No other forms will be accepted.

The successful bidder shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Prevailing Wage Act, as determined by the New Jersey Department of Labor. All contractors, their subcontractors, and material suppliers shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Public Works Contractor Registration Act, pursuant to Public Law 1999 Chapter 238 and the Contractor Business Registration Program, pursuant to Public Law 2004 Chapter 57. Evidence of satisfactory registrations shall be submitted at the time of the bid. All bids submitted shall contain a copy of the bidder’s New Jersey Business Registration Certificate and a copy of the bidder’s Certificate of Employee Information Report.

The successful bidder shall furnish and deliver to the Village of Ridgewood a performance and payment bond in the amount of 100 percent of the accepted bid amount as security for the faithful performance of the Contract. Additionally, the successful bidder shall furnish policies or Certificates of Insurance required by the Contract. In default thereof, said checks and/or bid bond and the amount represented thereby shall be forfeited to the Village of Ridgewood as liquidated damages, not as a penalty.

Proposals submitted by Bidders and/or Bidder’s Insurance Company(ies) not chartered in the State of New Jersey, must be accompanied by proper certificate(s) from the Secretary of State, indicating that such Bidders, Bidder’s Insurance Company(ies), and/or Surety Company(ies) is (are) authorized to do business in the State of New Jersey. The Village of Ridgewood reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informalities or to accept a bid, which in its judgment best serves the interest of the Village. No bids may be withdrawn for a period of sixty-days (60) after the date and time set for the opening of bids.

“BIDDERS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27). A complete statement as to these requirements is included in the specifications.”

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No repair in sight for N.J. transportation fund; talks collapse in hunt for revenue

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No repair in sight for N.J. transportation fund; talks collapse in hunt for revenue

MARCH 25, 2015, 3:51 PM    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015, 11:07 PM
BY CHRISTOPHER MAAG AND MELISSA HAYES
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD

Negotiations to fix New Jersey’s depleted transportation funding system have broken down, the state transportation commissioner said Wednesday. That means any permanent fix — including a possible gas tax increase — probably will not happen this year, elected officials and transportation experts said.

“The likelihood of it being resolved for the moment is not ideal,” said Commissioner Jamie Fox in reference to the upcoming November election when all 80 seats of the state Assembly are on the ballot. The primary filing deadline for that race is Monday. “It’s election time, which makes it a much more difficult thing |to do.”

Since the beginning of the year, Fox and leaders of both political parties have said the state’s transportation system faces a serious budget shortfall, and they pushed to fix it immediately. The fund that pays for major transportation projects takes in $1.2 billion annually, mostly from motor fuels taxes and turnpike tolls. Nearly all the money is dedicated to paying off more than $18 billion in debt, however, with little left for big maintenance projects and new construction.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-transportation-funding-talks-over-for-now-1.1295459

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Reader says NJ Transportation Trust Fund is a Black Hole of Waste

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Reader says NJ Transportation Trust Fund is a Black Hole of Waste

Raising the gas tax is only for one reason… decades of bad management, deceptive accounting, and the continual awarding of higher wages and benefits to union workers without adequate funding by governors and legislatures.

Raising gasoline taxes in a state that is already the nation’s highest taxed isn’t plausible, and it only goes to fund a BLACK HOLE… NJ spends 12X the national average and 3X the next highest state at over $2 million per mile of state road; the whole system is corrupt (see this if you haven’t read it already https://watchdog.org/201704/new-jersey-gas-tax-highways-cost/ ). Given the gravity of the situation, no part of the status quo is acceptable, and yet Senators Sarlo and Sweeney just blindly want to raise taxes on our gasoline to keep their gravy train for overpaid union labor going..

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Bergen County freeholders agree to enlist ‘Pothole Killer’

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Bergen County freeholders agree to enlist ‘Pothole Killer’

MARCH 18, 2015, 7:49 PM    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2015, 8:05 PM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

In the seemingly endless war against potholes, Bergen County officials are bringing back a big weapon: “the Pothole Killer.”

The freeholders voted unanimously to spend up to $60,000 to rent the pothole patching system from Patch Management Inc., a company based in Fairless, Pa.

The vote came after County Executive James Tedesco made a last-minute personal request for the device, which he described as far more effective than the so-called “hot patch” method the county has been using this winter.

The truck costs $9,000 a month to rent. Tedesco said the county was also exploring whether to buy the unit at a cost of about $700,000 and make it available to the 70 towns in the county as a shared service.

Tedesco said the potholes filled by the truck, which the county has used in the past, are guaranteed to stay filled for up to a year if the equipment is used properly.

He said the system had a long snout-like attachment with a compressor that blows out any water in the pothole and dries it.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen-county-freeholders-agree-to-enlist-pothole-killer-1.1291408

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the Village of Ridgewood : If you See a Pothole Report the Pothole

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the Village of Ridgewood : If you See a Pothole Report the Pothole

Welcome to the Ridgewood Service Request System (RSR)

This website will allow the registered user to report specific categorized items to the correct departments.  Once the item is reported, the submitted information will be copied to the user that has created request.  Throughout the entire process, the user will receive status update emails pertaining to the request until it is resolved.

Currently the request that can be submitted will be pertaining to the following categories (additional categories will be added in the future):

-Potholes

The request:

Each request must have a:

Title (example: “Big Pothole”, “Multiple Potholes”, “Deep Pothole”, ect…).
Category – Currently Pothole is the only choice.
Address –  (Location of pothole) Address can be entered with just street number and name of street (example: 131 N Maple Ave).  The user can also enter the entire address (example: 131 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ, 07450).  After the address is entered, use the “Find Address on Map” button below to pinpoint the area on the map.  The map is interactive, and the user can define the exact location of the request by zooming in and dragging the red marker to the exact location.
Upload an Image – While this is not mandatory, it will help in providing information that can be useful in determining needed materials or extent of damages that require attention.  Do not put yourself in harm’s way in order to take a photo.
Description – The more information the better.  An estimate on the size of the pothole (examples: “12 inches irregular, about 6″ deep”; “Multiple large potholes in a cluster covering a 10 foot section of the road on the northbound lane”) and any other pertinent information would be helpful.

The website can be accessed on most devices and has been tested on: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Android (internet app), iPhone (safari app), and iPad (safari app). If you experience any issues with RSR, please email: dhansen@ridgewoodnj.net. Please provide as much information pertaining to the issue, time and date of when the issue occurred in order to assist us in troubleshooting the problem.

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT RSR
RSR IS NOT AN EMERGENCY REPORTING SYSTEM. If your issue or concern involves an immediate risk to life or personal safety, CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY. RSR requests are reviewed during the Village’s regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All requests will be reviewed and addressed in accordance with Village polices and within the limits of available resources.

https://rsr.ridgewoodnj.net/index.php/login-register

https://rsr.ridgewoodnj.net/index.php/service-request

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Village Resuming Rear Yard Pick Up and Springing Ahead to Pothole Repair

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Village of Ridgewood  ,Rear Yard Pick Up, Springing Ahead , Pothole Repair

E Notice – Resuming Rear Yard Pick Up and Springing Ahead to Pothole Repair

Dear E Notice Residents,

Beginning Thursday, March 12th, we will resume rear yard garbage pick-up. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that there will be no more snow and icy conditions this season.

We are turning our attention and our resources to fixing potholes. Please report potholes to us either using our online application on our website or by phoning 201/670-5585.

As always, thanks for your patience during this challenging winter and thanks for your feedback and suggestions to make things better – it takes a Village!

Best,

Roberta Sonenfeld
Village Manager

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Highway robbery? Bill seeks probe of New Jersey road costs

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Highway robbery? Bill seeks probe of New Jersey road costs

By Mark Lagerkvist | New Jersey Watchdog

Why does New Jersey spend more on its highway system than any other state?

On the heels of reports by New Jersey Watchdog, a state senator is introducing legislation Monday to create a task force to address that question.

“When we’re spending two or three times more per mile than any other state, it’s extremely likely that significant savings can be found by the task force,” said Sen. Mike Doherty, R-Washington Township, the bill’s sponsor.

New Jersey pays in excess of $2 million a mile per year — more than 12 times higher than the national average — to maintain 3,338 miles of state-administered roads, according to a Reason Foundation study.

State transportation Commissioner Jamie Fox responded by calling the study “inaccurate and unfair” in a column published by NJ.com. However, Fox did not offer alternative figures, nor did he dispute that New Jersey has the costliest roads in the country.

“Some may quibble over how much more New Jersey spends on our highways than other states, but nobody disputes that we do spend more than everyone else,” said Doherty. “With New Jersey drivers already shouldering such a heavy tax and toll burden, it’s imperative that we find out why millions we spend on our roads get us so little in return.”

That weight will only get heavier if lawmakers pass a proposed 25-cents a gallon hike in the state gas tax. According to its proponents, the state must to raise $2 billion a year to fund its transportation projects.

The Transportation Trust Fund is almost out of cash and must repay $17 billion in debt for money already spent. That figure equals half of New Jersey’s entire annual state budget.

“It leaves us with this very, very long tail of debt,” testified David Rosen, budget officer for the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services, at a public hearing in November. “Literally, out to the next 25 years, we still have over $1 billion a year in debt service for stuff we’ve already done.”

Even though TTF soon will run out of money, the state continues to build roads and bridges.

“We just don’t have any cash to do it, so we’re borrowing all the cash,” said Rosen.

The task force proposed by Doherty would be composed of 15 state officials, legislative leaders and transportation representatives. It would release its findings within six months of its organization.

https://watchdog.org/204570/new-jersey-highway-robbery/

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Examining New Jersey’s Highest in Nation Highway Costs

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Examining New Jersey’s Highest in Nation Highway Costs

SATURDAY, 07 MARCH 2015 12:36

BY BRAD SCHNURE

SPECIAL TO NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

In response to concerns that New Jersey highways are the nation’s most expensive to build, operate and maintain, Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) hasdrafted legislation that will give policymakers the information they need to lower costs for drivers and taxpayers.

As Doherty expressed in a recent editorial, the new measure addresses the dual concerns of excessive state highway costs highlighted in a recent report by the Reason Foundation and calls by some legislators to raise the state’s gas tax to fund new transportation projects.

“Some may quibble over how much more New Jersey spends on our highways than other states, but nobody disputes that we do spend more than everyone else,” said Doherty. “With New Jersey drivers already shouldering such a heavy tax and toll burden, it’s imperative that we find out why the many millions we spend on our roads get us so little in return.”

According to the Reason Foundation’s 21st Annual Highway Report, New Jersey’s overall highway performance ranked 48th among the states despite our roads being the nation’s most expensive. The next most expensive state, Massachusetts, was found to spend two-thirds less per mile than New Jersey despite similarities in population density, climate and highway system size.

Doherty’s legislation would create the “State Transportation Cost Analysis Task Force” to conduct a methodical analysis of the factors that contribute to New Jersey’s road costs, compare our costs to those of other states, and provide recommendations to complete projects more cost-effectively.

https://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/economy/examining-new-jerseys-highest-in-nation-highway-costs

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Gas Tax Hikes Are Not The Answer

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Gas Tax Hikes Are Not The Answer
Christine Harbin Hanson

For most Americans across the country, the lower prices at the gas pump have had a direct positive impact on everyday living. The average price of a gallon of gasoline hovers around $2 across the country, saving the average household about $100 every month. These lower gas prices shouldn’t be an excuse to raise taxes, but that’s exactly what many federal and state lawmakers are poised to do.

Governors and state legislators are currently considering per-gallon tax hikes of 2 cents per year in South Dakota, 10 cents in Iowa, 10 cents in Utah, 10 cents in Texas, 10 cents in South Carolina, 13 cents in Illinois, and a whopping 25 cents in New Jersey.

In Minnesota, Gov. Mark Dayton proposed a 6.5% gross receipts tax on gasoline at the wholesale level, in combination with a number of other tax hikes. In Michigan, legislators approved a plan that could push per gallon gas taxes as high as 40 cents by 2018, pending voter approval. In Georgia, lawmakers are considering replacing the state gasoline tax with state and local excise tax on gasoline, which would effectively raise the tax per gallon from 45.4 cents to 53.6 cents.

Additional states seem poised to follow suit in proposing gas tax hikes as governors around the country unveil ambitious comprehensive transportation plans.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2015/03/06/gas-tax-hikes-are-not-the-answer/