Dear Mayor,

Frenchtown Mayor Ron Sworen and the League’s Executive Director Bill Dressel yesterday testified before the Assembly Transportation and Public Works Committee in support of A-2813 and ACR-182 as positive and necessary steps out of our current transportation funding crisis. A-2813 is the companion to S-1470, which would replenish the 22-year old Trust Fund and increase Local Aid funding (for municipal and county roads and bridges) from $150 million, per year, to $175 million. ACR-182, like its companion, SCR-78, would seek voter approval for an amendment to the State Constitution to dedicate the entire 10.5 cents per gallon of the gasoline tax to the State Transportation system.

The bills were released and have been sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, which has scheduled consideration of the matters on Monday, March 13. We expect favorable action in that Committee. And, we anticipate final action in both Houses prior to the Governor’s Budget Address on March 21.

Please see our March 7 “Dear Mayor” letter on the “Transportation Trust Fund,” for details on the bills and on the funding crisis, which they seek to address.

Absent passage of the legislation, the TTF will be completely bankrupt by June 30, 2006. All $805 million in constitutionally dedicated TTF revenues will be consumed by debt payments. The New Jersey Department of Transportation and NJ TRANSIT could be forced to shut down. And $150 million in annual Local Aid for municipal and county transportation projects will disappear. But even before June 30, the effects of inaction will be apparent, as municipalities and counties begin work on their annual budgets.

Please contact your Legislators and urge them to support S-1470/A-2813 and SCR-78/ACR-182. For additional information, consult our website or contact Jon Moran at 609-695-3481, ext. 21.