Controversy surrounds NJ transport, transit plan

Gov. Chris Christie last week outlined a plan to replenish the state’s Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), tapping funds generated from toll roads and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PA) that initially were to be generated for the now-cancelled trans-Hudson rail tunnel.

The five-year plan, if enacted, would generate $672 million per year for New Jersey Transit Corp. The governor (pictured at left) said that the plan’s $4.4 billion borrowing component was more “fiscally responsible” than previous TTF funding and that $1.6 billion per year would be funded by cash on hand.

Democrats quickly suggested the governor’s plan to redirect money originally planned for the cross-Hudson River rail tunnel was in fact Christie’s reason for scuttling the rail project from the beginning; the governor denies this. Others note that the PA has to approve redirecting its funds to the TTF, though this might be accomplished if neighboring New York State is allowed to redirect its share of PA infrastructure funds in a similar manner.

The measure also likely would prompt the PA to raise tolls on its bridge and tunnel crossings serving both states, and perhaps other user fees at its airport facilities. But Christie has rejected any consideration of raising New Jersey’s state fuels tax, by most measures currently third-lowest in the nation.