Clarity From Governor, Transportation Director Is Vitally Needed
Republican Senate Whip Kevin O’Toole, District 40, has sent a letter to state Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri asking that he state, once and for all, whether the state must have funding in place by Oct. 1 to win matching federal financing for the ARC tunnel project into Manhattan.
“In response to my request for information, Commissioner Kolluri sent a letter in May that implied that Oct. 1 is the federal deadline for securing state funding for the Access to the Region’s Core tunnel project. Now, according to one published account, the governor says a decision on funding can wait until Jan. 1.
“My letter asks that Kolluri please state, without ambiguity, when he plans to have a proposal ready for financing this vital mobility project. Funding for transportation is rapidly depleting, and the Democrat leadership rejected a Republican plan to reallocate money to critical repair, maintenance and construction projects as part of the 2009 budget passed in June.
“Waiting until the last minute to find critical funding increases the chances that legislators will be pressured into toll and tax increases that Garden State residents can’t afford.
“I urge the transportation commissioner to say with unmistakable clarity when the tunnel funding must be approved. I ask the governor to call a summer session dedicated solely to transportation funding so a funding bill can be considered thoughtfully and responsibly, and not rushed through at the last minute.”
Link to Post:
http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/otoole/otoole-tunnel-funding-deadline-is-near-or-is-it/612
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