The New Jersey Turnpike Authority voted to redirect $1.25 billion from the canceled New Jersey-New York commuter rail tunnel to local road and bridge projects over the next five years.
The move allows Gov. Chris Christie to boost the state's Transportation Trust Fund that pays for road and bridge repairs and transit services, while at the same time keeping his pledge not to raise the state's comparatively low gas tax.
The authority, which runs the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, had agreed during former Gov. Jon Corzine's administration to earmark $1.25 billion for the ARC commuter rail tunnel that was to run from Secaucus to West 34th Street in Manhattan. But citing billions in potential cost overruns, Christie terminated the $9.8 billion tunnel project in October.
State Transportation Commissioner Jim Simpson said redirecting the money from the canceled tunnel project to a capital plan that maintains roads and bridges is a better use of Turnpike Authority money for New Jersey residents.
Read the entire article at NJ.com.
