Leadership New Jersey, a non-profit fellowship program aimed at expanding and improving the pool of the state’s civic leaders, held its sixth annual forum on the Future of New Jersey last Wednesday, October 15. The yearly forum invites a cross-section of leaders to share their best ideas to deal with the complex problems that challenge NJ’s growth and progress. In four minutes, speakers were challenged to offer their solutions in municipal governance, land use and transportation policy, higher education, housing, job creation, energy and the environment. Participants were then able to vote on each presenter’s ideas or concepts, with the results displayed seconds later on screens.
This year, TSTC Associate Director Veronica Vanterpool offered solutions that would help NJ curb its cycle of borrowing to finance transportation projects. She suggested NJ stop raiding the Transportation Trust Fund, which is projected to be bankrupt by 2011; increase the gas tax, which is the third lowest in the country; stop widening roads as a solution to traffic congestion when other less costly and more sustainable alternatives exist; and find a dedicated revenue stream to fund mass transit operations as NJ Transit remains the largest transit agency in the country with no dedicated source of operating funds. These troubling trends have contributed to NJ’s high debt, contributing to its ranking as the third most indebted state in the country.
As solutions, Veronica suggested NJ’s leadership renew and revive its support for smart growth projects under the NJFIT program, an idea that had the strong support of nearly 70% of participants. She also suggested increased funds for bike and pedestrian improvements of which 52% of respondents strongly agreed. But, when it came to innovative and controversial solutions to fund mass transit, such as tolling new roads, the vote was more split, with 34% strongly in favor and 24% strongly opposed.
Earlier in the session, respondents expressed support for many ideas that have historically been huge political lifts and unpopular amongst New Jerseyans. When asked whether they supported toll increases and an increase in the gas tax, a large majority of respondents strongly agreed. When asked if the state should have a statewide transportation plan for transportation funding, 79% of participants strongly supported the idea.
Also at the Forum, Monmouth University Polling Institute director Patrick Murray released a poll showing that most state residents believe their leadership in NJ is failing them. Two-thirds of state residents strongly support an overhaul of government as the majority of residents do not feel existing government was working. For additional details about the Forum, visit Leadership New Jersey’s Podcast Blog. A summary of the data and comments presented will be available from LNJ in the upcoming weeks.
Veronica,
There is one comment that is correct. Widening roads will NOT resolve traffic jams, gridlock and congestion.
To do that needs intersection designs of the 21st Century at http://www.ubtsc.com.au where when you enter them you do so without stopping and exit them the same way. They give Liquid Flow traffic and they allow all motorists in peak traffic to cross town without stopping on all major roads eliminating jams gridlock and congestion as well as reducing your fuel bill and pollution by up to 40%.
As to toll roads they do nothing in resolving the problems .
Would you like to drive across town every day and get a presidential green light run without the lights.
Just look at all the intersections and designs being used today . Traffic lights just stop traffic and the rest slow you down in peak traffic . That’s the way they are designed.
Liquid flow traffic intersection just have to be built and then you will cross town faster safer and no more congestion.
The intersections designed in the last 140 years will never solve the problems. To do that you need Liquid Flow designed for the future ..