A new report released today strongly criticized politicians and policies that favor building new roadways while neglecting existing bridges and roads nationwide

A Monmouth University Poll released today finds that 95 percent of New Jersey residents think it is important that we pay to maintain and improve our transportation system. Yet almost half of the state’s residents don’t know that the Transportation Trust Fund is going broke.

Trenton, Jan. 28 - Statement of Rebecca Alper, NJPIRG Program Associate on today’s announcement from the Obama administration that New Jersey will receive $38.5 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to prepare for high speed rail in the state.

On Tuesday the Consolidated Appropriations Committee bill included $2.5 billion for high-speed rail for fiscal year 2010, more than doubling President Barack Obama’s original recommendation of $1 billion and the Senate’s original $1.2 billion figure, but still short of the $4 billion recommended by the House.

In a bold and far-sighted move, Congress added $9.3 billion in the American Reinvestment and Economic Recovery Act for development of high speed rail and other intercity rail. This amount was large increase from the Senate version of the bill and came on top of $8.4 designated for other public transit agencies.

A new study of the state Department of Transportation (DOT) wish lists, recently submitted to Congress for funding under a new economic recovery package, suggests that current project lists would undermine efforts to repair and modernize our deteriorating infrastructure and reduce U.S. dependence on oil.

Today, a coalition of environmental, transportation, and public interest groups argued that the governor's plan to use increased tolls to widen the state's major highways would be a bad investment and would pass up better options that would grow the economy and protect the environment.

Without sufficient alternatives to driving, American families spent their entire economic stimulus check on high-priced gas.

By releasing "core principles" for asset monetization, Governor Corzine is seemingly responding to NJPIRG's longstanding call that he make specific commitments to the public.

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."

Trenton—Our beloved Turnpike and Parkway, even our Expressway, play intimate roles in New Jerseyans’ everyday lives. Based on polls and letters to the editor, it’s obvious that New Jerseyans are worried and deeply skeptical about what monetization of our roads means. NJPIRG’s research shows people are right to be worried.

NJPIRG Citizen Lobby, the Sierra Club, the IFPTE196 (Toll workers union), and Hands Across New Jersey announced a variety of concerns with privatization of any of New Jersey’s toll roads.