I am writing today about an all too familiar topic in New Jersey, the stunning lack of commitment on the part of the administration to properly fund the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), and the real impact that is having on the infrastructure of our state.
As I have publicly stated on a number of occasions, the failure to settle on a consistent and sufficient source of funding for the TTF has stripped New Jersey of its ability to provide and maintain the world-class transportation system that our residents deserve.
A clear example of this is the extension of Route 55 to Cape May County.
Route 55 was initially projected to extend all the way from Philadelphia to Cape May. But with construction ending in Maurice River Township in Cumberland County, Cape May remains isolated from the rest of the state with only the Garden State Parkway as a major pathway to and from the area.
The danger of this situation was drawn into view last August, when a construction accident caused significant delays on the Parkway. Should a similar event occur during a time of crisis, such as a pending storm, the results could be tragic.
The project still requires work, there are environmental considerations that need to be examined and we must always fully know the costs associated with construction.
However, the statewide inability to move forward on any transportation project because of a lack of resources is a gridlock none of us can afford.
The author is the Senate President of New Jersey.
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