A Road Map for Tackling NJ’s Transportation Problem

New Jersey Cannot Afford a Gas Tax Hike

The High Costs of Driving in NJ

Where Did All the Money Go?

New Jersey already has the 2nd highest tax burden and highest property taxes in the country. High taxes are hurting our economy and costing NJ jobs.(http://taxfoundation.org/article/facts-figures-2015-how-does-your-state-compare?mc_cid=fa4ca825bd&mc_eid=52ce65c525)

AFP opposes legislation which would raise the gas tax hike 25-cents per gallon, effectively tripling the state’s gas tax, and imposing a $1.5 billion per year hike on motorists.(http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2014/Bills/A4000/3886_I1.HTM)

Americans for Prosperity understands that a well-maintained, modernized infrastructure is vital to commerce and economic growth in the Garden State. Addressing New Jersey’s transportation needs is one of the highest priorities of state government. Unfortunately, years of borrowing have led to enormous indebtedness. Today, our Transportation Trust Fund is running dry. Americans for Prosperity believes it is incumbent upon lawmakers to reduce spending elsewhere in the budget to help finance infrastructure projects. At the same time, with New Jersey spending a nation’s worst $2 million per mile to maintain our roads and bridges, it is essential for lawmakers to embrace reforms that will significantly rein in these out-of-control costs.

New Jersey already pays about one-fifth of all tolls in the United States. Meanwhile, tolls have nearly doubled in recent years on the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway and soared on Hudson River crossings.(http://www.app.com/story/news/traffic/commuting/2015/10/23/nj-tolls-highest/73819930/ )

New Jersey has the 5th highest “costs of driving” in the country according to Bankrate.com.(http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/best-and-worst-states-for-drivers-how-each-state-measures-up.aspx

NJ spends over $2 million per mile in roadwork – that is 3 times more than the next closest state, Massachusetts, and 4 times more than New York.(http://reason.org/files/21st_annual_highway_report.pdf)

NJ collects more revenue for roads than 42 other states, yet ranks 48th in overall road conditions.(http://reason.org/files/21st_annual_highway_report.pdf)

InfoNJ@afphq.org | 550 West Main Street, Suite 5, Boonton, NJ 07005

A Big Gas Tax Hike for Light Rail Boondoggles

What are the Solutions?

For more information and to take action visit AFPNewJersey.com or JumpStartNewJersey.org!

• Audit the Department of Transportation to identify and eliminate wasteful spending.

• Purge the tax code of corporate welfare tax breaks and subsidies to politically connect-ed companies which cost the state millions of dollars every year.

• Earmark revenues generated from the sales of automobiles and automotive parts and service transactions to the transportation fund.

• Ensure that gas tax revenues are not misappropriated for transit initiatives and other pet projects – but are used only to take care of our roads and bridges.

• Adopt public-private partnerships for functions such as operations and maintenance – a model which has proven successful in reducing completion times, improving quality and saving billions of dollars.

• Abolish prevailing wage requirements which inhibit competition and drive up costs.

• Streamline planning, design and environmental reviews which contribute to delays and higher infrastructure costs.

As a user fee, the gas tax should be used for our maintaining our roads and bridges. These monies should not be used for subsidizing light rail projects which have been shown to be an extraordinarily wasteful use of taxpayer dollars.

(http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/light-rail-wrong-choice-cities)

Transportation spending in NJ nearly doubled from 2007-2012.(http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-guest-writers/new-jersey-doesn-t-need-a-gas-tax-hike-1.1421492)

For years, Trenton has raided millions in statutorily dedicated transportation funds for pet projects and to plug budget holes.(http://www.state.nj.us/ttfa/financing/apprevenues.shtm)

InfoNJ@afphq.org | 550 West Main Street, Suite 5, Boonton, NJ 07005