New Jersey’s undeniable transportation funding crisis

GUEST OPINIONDavid Weinstein

   Let’s face it: Transportation infrastructure discussions aren’t sexy—they’re policy talk, not pillow talk. A new school or a good, local grant? Those are politically sexy. Voters line up behind schools and grants.
   Transportation infrastructure, on the other hand, is boring. It’s difficult to say and to explain. It’s maintenance and repair, like you do on your home. Like improved plumbing or new duct work. It’s the roof and the windows. It’s expensive. Boy is it expensive. But sexy? Nope.
   So New Jersey has a political dilemma. You see, convincing voters to pay more to maintain and repair roads and bridges is really, really hard. New schools, somewhat easier. Only on the verge of funding collapse does the Garden State, historically, move boldly on transportation infrastructure funding. And then only with short-term sutures. Afterward, we wait. Until we’re next on the brink.
   Next time is 2011, at least for New Jersey’s Transportation Trust Fund. True, it’s never run totally dry, but then it’s never been totally funded either. Neither has it been reinvigorated mid-term. Our federal highway trust fund is in poor shape, too.
   This constitutes an undeniable transportation funding crisis, a crisis New Jersey’s transportation commissioners’ have detailed for the last decade. Print transportation reporters have written widely on the subject. Editorial writers have scolded us. The information is there. It’s all been said.
   And still, little attention has been paid until recently, with a spectacular infrastructure failure in Minneapolis. It reminds me of what Mark Twain once wrote: Don’t say the old lady screamed – bring her on and let her scream.
   Sadly, the old lady screamed – during rush hour.
   Consider New Jersey’s economy if motorists lose faith in bridges, if roads deteriorate or if any combination of the two become reality. What will happen afterward? Not commerce. Or tourism. Businesses move. Jobs disappear. Quality of life decreases. Poof! This infrastructure really is the state’s foundation.
   Of course, this worst-case scenario is just that. But remember: So, too, was the potential collapse of a major American bridge just two weeks ago. So where do New Jersey’s worst-case scenarios and reality intersect? Preferably, in the public discourse, with a rational, honest discussion on transportation funding. A discourse that’s impossible to contemplate these days without a word on asset monetization, particularly Gov. Corzine’s Principle #5: Sufficient funding to meet the long-term capital needs required to improve our roadways and reduce congestion will be provided.
   No other "plan" is promising sufficient funding. So we await this debate: Is a New Jersey without asset monetization able to properly maintain transportation infrastructure? I don’t know. Are we doing that now?
   I do know that other mechanisms exist for raising needed funds: Gas taxes and tolls. True user fees both.
   Understand that AAA is not fond of these alternatives. We find ourselves in the unusual position of potentially advocating more motorist taxes and fees. Frankly, neither is palatable to us, let alone to voters or to politicians. But it’s been two decades we’ve sat on the same gas tax and our tolls remain among the lowest in the region – and our infrastructure screams on. When will we get realistic about the need to maintain and build roads, bridges and yes, mass transit – and the extremely high costs for doing this?
   In the end, New Jersey must pony up. And soon. We’ve all seen the old lady scream. Clearly, failed infrastructure is never sexy.
   David Weinstein is manager of public and government affairs at AAA Mid-Atlantic, in Hamilton.