TRAFFIC ALERT – MILLING AND PAVING ON VILLAGE ROADS – SCHEDULE
August 31,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, In preparation for road paving, on Monday, August 29th milling and paving will begin on Kenilworth Road, Linwood Avenue (between Oak and Maple) and Robinson Lane (between Walnut and Cottage ). See planned schedule below.
Schedule –
August 29th – Kenilworth – Milling
August 30th – Kenilworth – Paving
August 31st – Linwood (Oak to Maple), Robinson (Walnut to Cottage) – Milling
September 1st – Linwood (Oak to Maple), Robinson (Walnut to Cottage) – Paving
This work could take several days.
Please allow time for potential delays in traveling on or near these roads.
A statewide freeze on transportation projects is likely to stretch into the fall and past the November elections, dealing a blow to a state packed with commuters, Senate President Stephen Sweeney said Tuesday. Salvador Rizzo, The Record Read more
Letter from Former DOT Commissioner Fox Confirms New Jersey’s Spending $2 Million Per Mile on Roads
JUL 29, 2016 BY AFP
Americans for Prosperity: Letter from Former DOT Commissioner Fox Confirms New Jersey’s Spending $2 Million Per Mile on Roads
Pro-taxpayer Group Calls Letter a “Smoking Gun”
Trenton, N.J. – A letter from former DOT Commissioner Jamie Fox to legislators, obtained by Americans for Prosperity through an open public records request, confirms that the state is spending upwards of $2 million per mile on building, maintaining and operating its roadway system.
In the correspondence, delivered to Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-26) and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-13) on March 20, 2015, Commissioner Fox acknowledged “…the cost per center line mile is $925,704 per mile.” Adding in New Jersey’s debt service, the state’s per mile road costs approximate the $2 million figure in Reason Foundation’s Highway Report.
“Commissioner Fox’s letter is a smoking gun which puts to rest any notion that New Jersey does not have an enormous, out-of-control transportation spending problem,” said AFP spokesman Mike Proto.“Lawmakers supporting this 23 cent per gallon gas tax hike, and debt-fueled $2 billion a year TTF spending plan, owe taxpayers answers and solutions, not more excuses. AFP once again calls on lawmakers to come together to address our transportation spending problem by making the structural reforms needed to ensure our transportation dollars are being spent prudently and efficiently.”
1 Alpine W. Glen Phelps
1 Bogert #3 Meadowbrook E. Glen
1 Brookside #2 Spring E.R.A.
1 Elaine Van Emburgh Dead End
1 Foster Watlington Prospect
1 Gardner Mountain Lincoln
1 Grandview #1 Highland McKinley
1 Grandview #2 McKinley West End
1 Heights #5 W. Glen California
1 Highwood N. Broad High-Town Line
1 Hillcrest #5 Morningside N. Monroe
1 Hope #2 Spring E. Ridgewood
1 Kenilworth #1 Grove Laurel
1 Kenilworth #2 Laurel Spring
1 Kenilworth #3 Spring E.R.A.
1 Lawrence Heights Dead End
1 Linwood #1 Oak N. Maple
1 Manor Knollwood Lincoln
1 Morningside #2 N. Monroe Avondale
1 Morningside #3 Avondale Hillcrest
1 Morningside #4 Hillcrest Glenview
1 Old Stone N. Monroe End
1 Park Slope Madison Monte Vista
1 Richards #1 Norman Parsons
1 S. Monroe Godwin W. Ridgewood
1 Smith Townline N. Monroe
1 Sterling E. Glen Kensington
1 Terhune W. Saddle River East End
1 Theyken Van Emburgh Court
1 Van Dyke Midland Park Line Farview
1 Waiku #2 N. Monroe Wastena
1 Wellington N. Monroe Shelbourne
1 Wickham Arrow Westbrook
1 Wood Hollow Eastgate Rd Court
More taxes in NJ to fund more corruption. What a deal! Why doesn’t anyone come up with a plan to cut waste and expenses………..
Sweeney & Prieto Announce Agreement on a gas tax increase 23 cents a gallon for Renewed Transportation Trust Fund
July 22,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
TRENTON NJ, Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto today announced that they have reached agreement on a new plan to fund the Transportation Trust Fund and enact a series of tax cuts designed to make New Jersey more competitive.
“We have an agreement on a plan that is needed to address the state’s critical transportation needs at the same time it provides targeted tax savings for retirees, the working poor and middle class families,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Salem/Cumberland/Gloucester). “This is a bipartisan plan that supports a $2 billion a year Transportation Trust Fund and provides affordable tax cuts that will allow us to meet the state’s pension obligations without creating a fiscal crisis. This is an investment plan that will create jobs and support immediate and long-term economic growth.”
“The Assembly acted to fund transportation, but this stalemate cannot continue,” said Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen). “As I’ve been saying for more than two years, New Jersey needs a viable Transportation Trust Fund or we risk economic disaster. With efforts to negotiate a compromise with the governor stalled, I’m pleased to reach this new compromise that will provide much-needed investment in our state’s infrastructure and tax relief. I will now look for a firm commitment of strong support from Assembly Republicans to keep our roads and bridges safe and workers on the job. This is too important for our economy. We must get this done for the benefit of our state’s future.”
Senator Sweeney said that he is calling in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee to convene next week to amend the bill passed by the Assembly at the end of June to reflect the new plan.
The agreement includes a 12.5 percent increase in the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax, a four-cent diesel surcharge and a seven percent tax on non-motor-fuel petroleum products to fund the TTF, which has essentially run out of money for new transportation projects after years of over borrowing. The new gas tax revenue would cover old debt payments, freeing up $347 million from the general fund for other needs.
If passed along to motorists, the gas tax would increase by 23 cents a gallon. An estimated 35 percent would be paid by out-of-state motorists. The dedicated revenue would generate $1.2 billion annually, which would support $2 billion in infrastructure investments each year.
A sustained investment of $2 billion annually would produce an estimated $4.7 billion a year in economic activity and create more than 34,000 jobs directly and indirectly, with annual payrolls of $1.4 billion. Each dollar spent from the TTF generates $2.35 in economic activity.
The plan also includes five tax cuts worked out over the past several months during ongoing negotiations involving Democratic and Republican lawmakers from both the Senate and the Assembly. The plan does not include any changes in jet fuel taxation.
The tax cuts would provide:
Tax Savings for the Working Poor: Increase the Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor to 40 percent of the federal benefit amount beginning in Tax Year 2016. Total tax savings of $137 million annually.
Tax Savings for Retirees: Increase the New Jersey gross income tax exclusion on pension and retirement income over four years to $100,000 for joint filers, $75,000 for individuals and $50,000 for married/filing separately. In the fifth year, seniors earning up to $125,000 can take a 50 percent credit on up to $100,000 in retirement income and those making up to $150,000 can take a 25 percent credit. Total tax savings of $75 million the first year and $164 million annually when fully phased in.
Eliminate the Estate Tax To Make NJ More Competitive: Phase out the estate tax over 3 1/2 years, replacing the current $675,000 threshold with a $2 million exclusion after January 1, 2017, going to the federal $5.4 million level from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019, and eliminating the estate tax altogether as of January 1, 2020. Total tax savings of $109 million the first year and $552 million annually when fully phased in.
Tax Deductions for NJ Motorists: Provide an annual income tax deduction on up to $500 in state gas taxes paid for all New Jersey motorists with incomes up to $100,000. Total tax savings of $20 million annually.
Tax Savings for Veterans: Provide a $3,000 personal exemption on state income taxes for all New Jersey veterans honorably discharged from active service in the military or the National Guard. Total tax savings of $23 million annually.
Now nearly three full weeks old, the political impasse in Trenton over transportation funding is no closer to being resolved, and there are some signs key leaders may actually be moving further apart John Reitmeyer, NJSpotlight Read more
New Jersey brings in roughly $750 million each year from taxes on gasoline, diesel fuel and other petroleum products, but not all of that money is fully dedicated to repairing the state’s roads, bridges, and mass-transit network. John Reitmeyer, NJSpotlight Read more
The man who was once supposed to solve New Jersey’s state Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) crisis just ate a complaint by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as the state’s TTF fund decays, with a deal only now apparently in the offing. Max Pizarro, PolitickerNJRead more
Ridgewood NJ, The governor’s office released a list of transportation projects that will shut down today due to a lack of funding after legislators and the Governor failed to come to agreement on a gas tax increase to fuel the state’s Transportation Trust Fund.
The road work shutdown follows an Executive Order by Gov. Chris Christie, who last week pledged work would be halted if legislators didn’t approve a 23-cent gas tax to fund the state’s Transportation Trust Fund, which expired Friday.
The temporary shutdown of $3.5 billion worth of projects will impact both Department of Transportation (DOT) and NJ Transit initiatives. Work on projects funded by the TTF will stop by 11:59 p.m. on Friday for at least seven days, according to the governor’s office .
The temporary shutdown of $3.5 billion worth of projects will impact both Department of Transportation (DOT) and NJ Transit initiatives. Work on projects funded by the TTF will stop by 11:59 p.m. on Friday for at least seven days, according to the governor’s office .
Three local Ridgewood DOT projects are affected ; North Van Dien Avenue: $149,000
Morningside Road: $149,000 and also a $300,000 maintenance project for the Ridgewood Train Station .
By Matt Arco | NJ A
on July 06, 2016 at 6:28 AM, updated July 06, 2016 at 9:14 AM
TRENTON — The list didn’t come on Tuesday, but should today.
Gov. Chris Christie’s office is expected to announce Wednesday the list of Garden State road projects funded by the Transportation Trust Fund that will shutdown in the coming days due to a stalemate with New Jersey’s state Senate.
The list of road projects, which was expected to be released as soon as Tuesday, would effectively grind millions of dollars of roadwork to a halt that’s deemed nonessential.
Christie announced last week he is planning to shut down nonessential state-funded road projects amid the standoff with the Senate.
Ridgewood NJ, State lawmakers passed a 23-cent gas tax hike overnight that Gov. Chris Christie is set to sign by Friday saving the Transportation Trust Fund of TTF from running out of money.
There was no mention of auditing the TTF ?
The Christie backed plan is a 23-cent gas tax hike that Gov. Chris Christie is set to sign in to law by Friday.
The vote came early Tuesday came after a day of backroom talks between Christie and legislative leaders such as Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto. In the brokered deal the Democrat-led Assembly passed legislation to hike the state’s gasoline tax by 23 cents per gallon, while cutting the sales tax from 7 to 6 percent.
Motorists could see the hikes take effect by Friday. The state’s gas tax would increase from 14.5 cents per gallon to 37.5 cents per gallon under the plan.
Today the average price of a gallon of gas in New Jersey is $2.10 according to AAA Mid-Atlantic, down a penny overnight and down a penny in the last week.
Christie, in a statement, highlighted the sales-tax-cut portion of the proposal, saying he was “pleased that the Assembly has heeded my suggestion for tax fairness, which I have been calling for for a long time.”
The state Legislature on Thursday will begin to consider bills that would raise taxes on gasoline by 23 cents a gallon while reducing or eliminating taxes on estates and some income, a deal that has support and opposition cross party lines. Samantha Marcus, NJ.com Read more
Lawmakers in Trenton have begun hashing out the details of a plan to raise $2 billion a year for construction projects on New Jersey’s crumbling highways, bridges and rail lines by increasing the gas tax for the first time in 28 years. Christopher Maag, The Record Read more
Not so fast. That’s the message some New Jersey lawmakers, residents and both conservation and liberal interest groups have for legislators who plan to move forward with a 23-cent wholesale fuel tax hike to pay for road and bridge work. Associated Press Read more
New Jersey’s public infrastructure is in terrible shape, and deserves only a D+ for its overall condition, funding and safety, according to a study released Thursday by a national association of engineers. The study, structured like a student’s report card, gives the state low grades for every type of publicly funded system, from roads and drinking water to dams and hazardous waste. Christopher Maag, The Record Read more
