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I agree but ultimately I blame NJ residents and the US public. Most of the US with the exception of big cities is car centric and looks at all the mass transit capital projects with deep suspicion. Yet all the useless highway expansion is automatically supported.
I agree but ultimately I blame NJ residents and the US public. Most of the US with the exception of big cities is car centric and looks at all the mass transit capital projects with deep suspicion. Yet all the useless highway expansion is automatically supported.
It is a bigger, unsolvable problem in NJ that does not have much to do with NJ residents. Because of local rule, every town in NJ has its own zoning rules and requirements. The result is most towns have housing and commercial. This means many people have no choice but to drive from one town where they live to another town where they work. There is no way to accommodate these trips with mass transit. Even when there might be a chance of using a train line when your home and work locations are on the same line, the odds that your work location will be near the train station are slim (other than at the end). At this point there is no way to change this in NJ.
Mass transit still needs better financial support. It helps all commuters to have better mass transit.
I wish the politicians, news media, and public at large were as capable of seeing the big picture (few bucks for gas tax vs lots of bucks for car repair/maintenance) as you guys. I agree, the gas tax should be increased to pay for this stuff.
Step 1: Cry we don't have money for roads
Step 2: Increase gas tax
Step 3: Divert gas tax money somewhere else (NJ Transit, Chris Christie Benevolent Fund, Abbot District Schooling, pension funds, whatever)
Step 4: Go to step 1.
That's one reason there's precious little support for increasing the gas tax. The other big reason being the huge burden of all the other taxes in this state.
Step 1: Cry we don't have money for roads
Step 2: Increase gas tax
Step 3: Divert gas tax money somewhere else (NJ Transit, Chris Christie Benevolent Fund, Abbot District Schooling, pension funds, whatever)
Step 4: Go to step 1.
That's one reason there's precious little support for increasing the gas tax. The other big reason being the huge burden of all the other taxes in this state.
Diverting gas tax money to NJ Transit is more than acceptable. NJ Transit has a similar recovery rate to public highways.
In fact, the only highways that recover their own operational costs are the toll roads (which residents ***** about).
It really doesn't matter which mode of transportation that money goes to, provided the infrastructure needs of the state are funded in the most efficient way to increase economic productivity.
According to what one has read (see posted links) 2030 is the target date. Given the nature of large infrastructure projects in the USA I'd say closer to 2035 or even 2040 more like. Hey, everyone has to get their taste, am I right?
According to what one has read (see posted links) 2030 is the target date. Given the nature of large infrastructure projects in the USA I'd say closer to 2035 or even 2040 more like. Hey, everyone has to get their taste, am I right?
1. It is a federal/local government funded major infrastructure project this means everyone has to have their taste.
2. It is a federal/local government funded major infrastructure project which means the longer it drags on the more everyone can have and continue getting their tastes.
3. It is a federally funded major infrastructure project which means subject to numerous "anti-discrimination" (gays, minorities, women, etc...), environmental, contract bidding, and other laws/rules that will drag things out.
And so it goes.... For reference point look across the Hudson River to the other major railroad infrastructure project in NYC; the East Side Access LIRR to Grand Central project.
Diverting gas tax money to NJ Transit is more than acceptable. NJ Transit has a similar recovery rate to public highways.
No it doesn't. About half the operating budget is covered by fares. That leaves the entire capital budget.
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