Transportation Solutions News

A letter sent Friday to Governors and Legislators around the country explained that "the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the United States House of Representatives believes that many of the arrangements that have been proposed do not adequately protect the public interest" and warned that the Committee would work to undo any deals that "do not fully protect the public interest and the integrity of the national system."

NJPIRG has similarly warned that monetizing our toll roads could hurt the public, and has devised six principles that must be honored if a deal is to have a chance of protecting the public. NJPIRG has called on Governor Corzine to pledge to honor these principles, which he has so far refused to do. Thus NJPIRG is asking New Jerseyans to sign a petition urging the Governor to take our pledge.

The letter from the House Committee raises the stakes here in New Jersey. Not only will NJPIRG be scrutinizing any proposed deal to ensure it protects the public, but the U.S. House will be as well, and it will work to undo the deal if the public is not protected.

"Investors are unlikely to commit to a deal if the federal government is likely to void it," noted Abigail Caplovitz Field, Legislative Advocate for NJPIRG. "Governor Corzine will have to be able to demonstrate very clearly that his proposal protects the public if he hopes to sell it to potential investors. It's hard to see how he can if he's unwilling to take our pledge." See the Committee's press release.