Your Tolls at Work Funding Police at GSP Construction Sites

Ed. Note: Herald Staff noticed several spouts in recent weeks debating how police officers receive compensation for the work they do at Garden State Parkway construction sites. We spoke with officials to learn the answers to your questions.
COURT HOUSE – Who pays for the police officers at a construction site like the Garden State Parkway (GSP)? What is the police officer doing while at the site? Why is an officer needed at all?
“The need for police presence depends on the project,” said Lt. Brian Polite, from the New Jersey State Police Headquarters in Trenton. “Is it a state job? Is it a Department of Transportation project? Is it on a county road, or is it a privately funded project for Verizon, for instance? The need for police presence and who pays depends on the type of project. If it is a private project, then the private company pays for it.”
The police are required at the GSP construction sites in Middle Township for safety reasons. They are there, under contract with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), who is funding the construction and paying for the police presence. “Police in the construction zone in Middle Township are funded with Turnpike Authority revenue,” said Tom Feeney, NJTA media relations. “Ninety-four percent of the Turnpike Authority’s revenues come from tolls. The rest come from the sale of food, gas and other items at the service areas, operation of the PNC Arts Center, rents on fiber optic cable and cell towers, and other sources. The Turnpike Authority does not receive tax dollars.”
Middle Township actually receives revenue from the NJTA, which pays for the police officers’ time and the wear and tear on the cars, and goes into its budget, according to Captain John Edwards of the Middle Township Police Department.
Edwards said officers are at the GSP construction site outside of their normally scheduled hours, and receive a set rate of $60 per hour. While the NJTA reimburses the township for this expense, the township also makes $27.50 per hour, which covers other expenses such as “wear and tear on the police cars.” Middle Township police cover the side streets while the New Jersey State Police usually cover the main highway.
“The troopers monitor the construction site,” said Polite. “They help to ensure the safety of workers and ensure the traffic laws in a work zone and site are followed, such as lane diversions and lane closures. Some of this work can be done outside of the car, but sometimes not; they need to be in their car for protection.”
One of the results of having a police officer at the construction site, Edward believes, is that they “provide a calming effect on traffic,” among other things.
“We’re at the site at the request of the contractor and Turnpike Authority,” Edwards said. “Most of the time, people don’t see us making sure the large dump trucks can access the site, or making sure the school buses can get through the construction site on time to meet their schedules. We also provide a calming effect for traffic… slowing down traffic and making sure drivers can make the turns onto the side roads as safely as possible.”
More than 20,000 workers are injured in road construction work zones each year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Work Zone and Mobility and Safety Program. Between 2003-2008, 12 percent, or 2,400 of those injuries, were caused by transportation incidents. The Highway Administration has established rules and regulations that must be followed by contractors to ensure the safety of the site, especially if federal funding is wanted to help fund projects.
According to Bob Scancella, an engineer who works for a private consulting firm hired by the NJTA to represent them at the GSP construction site, the original contract between the NJTA and contractor provided for police to help maintain the safety of the work site. Hours are allocated within the project and used as needed. In the case of the GSP project, Middle Township provides police when requested.
“Obviously during the summer and warmer weather months, when construction is pretty heavy, we are on site more than during the winter months,” Edwards said. “This is extra coverage that we provide, and the NJTA sends the township money for this.”
According to Polite, the support by the state police varies by department and project. “Sometimes the police are at a construction site on overtime, sometimes it is part of their regularly scheduled hours. It depends on the time and needs of the contractor. We do have a unit whose responsibility is mainly construction sites during their regularly scheduled hours, so it depends.”
The federal government has instituted a multi-faceted approach for reduction of work zone fatalities through engineering, education, enforcement and coordination with public safety agencies. According to the New Jersey State League of Municipalities website, the New Jersey Work Zone Safety Partnership was formed in the mid-1990s representing public and private sector members who support the New Jersey State Police Construction Unit in reducing work zone fatalities.
New Jersey Department of Transportation and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) representatives train these troopers in worker safety compliance and work zone inspection. As a result of this collaborative effort, the number of work zone fatalities in New Jersey has continually decreased to one of the lowest national rates, “which is an accomplishment for the most congested state,” according to the web site.
Projects such as the GSP project have a full-time health and safety officer whose responsibility is to ensure various government safety rules are followed. If something potentially presents a problem, engineers such as Scancella would inform the contractor’s officer of the need for correction.
The GSP project to remove the traffic lights in Middle Township is expected to be finalized in approximately one year.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.