“The likelihood of it being resolved for the moment is not ideal,” said Commissioner Jamie Fox in reference to the upcoming November election when all 80 seats of the state Assembly are on the ballot. The primary filing deadline for that race is Monday. “It’s election time, which makes it a much more difficult thing to do.”
Since the beginning of the year, Fox and leaders of both political parties have said the state’s transportation system faces a serious budget shortfall, and they pushed to fix it immediately. The fund that pays for major transportation projects takes in $1.2 billion annually, mostly from motor fuels taxes and turnpike tolls. Nearly all the money is dedicated to paying off more than $18 billion in debt, however, with little left for big maintenance projects and new construction.
In January, Fox ordered emergency safety reviews of 40 bridges around the state. He also warned mayors and county leaders that money for road projects could run dry by July 1. Both moves were widely viewed in state political circles as attempts to ratchet up pressure on lawmakers. Fox was joined by state Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, both Democrats, who gave press conferences urging other legislators and Governor Christie to find a new source of revenue, possibly including a gas tax increase. New Jersey’s motor fuels tax is 14.5 cents, among the lowest in the nation.
