Frustrated by the lack of attention to the looming transportation funding crisis in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, TSTC sent surveys to the three major candidates late this summer. Below is a narrative of the responses to the survey, broken down by issue. Coincidentally, the surveys were received the same week that transportation entered the race in a big way. Republican candidate Chris Christie declined to comment.

Fix-It-First and Development

Raising revenue isn’t New Jersey’s only transportation need. Also important are policies ensuring that New Jerseyans get the biggest bang for their buck. Tri-State asked specific questions about codifying NJDOT’s “fix-it-first” policy and expanding it to other agencies. Neither Corzine nor Daggett supported a cap on road expansion, but both highlighted their support of smart growth policies.

Governor Corzine said he would not support a hard cap on roadway expansion, but agreed that it is not a cure-all for traffic congestion. Instead, he is in favor of implementing smart growth policies and complementing NJDOT’s existing fix-it-first policy. He felt a better solution would be to adopt an overall cap for the 10-year plan, instead of year-to-year. He also highlighted his administration’s commitment to infrastructure, specifically the doubled investment in pavement preservation, and $200 million increase in bridge rehabilitation funding.

Chris Daggett did not answer whether or not he would support a cap on widening. He reiterated the state’s need to implement smart growth, and felt that proper land use policy would negate the need for a specific limit. Daggett’s goal is to bring all the state’s roads into good or very good condition, but he wants to keep that goal in context with overall transportation strategy and funding plans.

Tri-State was unable to find any statements by Chris Christie on “fix-it-first” issues or the appropriateness of road widening, but his “urban plan” calls for “reasonable housing policies that encourage new units where rapid growth is most appropriate and desirable – in our revitalized urban areas and transit hubs.”

Traffic Safety

In 2008, 592 people died on New Jersey roadways. Of those, more 160 were pedestrians or cyclists. Here’s what the candidates said they would do to make roads safer:

Governor Corzine cited success in his 2006 goal of reducing traffic fatalities to below 700 annually. Part of that success he attributes to his $74 million pedestrian initiative, which included a Safe Routes to School program, Safe Routes to Transit program and other pedestrian infrastructure improvements and programs. The Democrat also mentioned that NJ is still working toward the goal of creating 1,000 miles of bikeways in the state, noting that the League of American Bicyclists ranked NJ the ninth most bike-friendly state in the nation.

Corzine stated that he will sign a Complete Streets policy if it should cross his desk, and is willing to accept the goal of reducing traffic accidents and pedestrian fatalities by 50% in the next five years. As evidence of his commitment to senior pedestrian safety, he cited NJDOT’s Senior Safety Study, which incorporates senior-friendly infrastructure and education into a targeted intersection pilot program. Corzine also noted that while he doesn’t often have the chance to ride a bike, he enjoys running marathons.

Chris Daggett did not specifically address our questions regarding pedestrian safety, but specified the need for investment in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure elsewhere in his responses, calling safe walking and cycling “one of the challenges of the 21st century” that the next governor must address.

TSTC was unable to find statements from Chris Christie regarding traffic safety. Both he and Gov. Corzine have been criticized for poor driving records.

Accountability and Transparency

New Jersey residents are far more likely to support increased revenue for transportation if they know where the money is going and what the investment is buying.  Here’s where the candidates stand on providing the legislature and the public with up-to-date information on transportation performance measures and investments.

Governor Corzine feels that the state’s current levels of online reporting are sufficient, citing the availability of a 2007 NJDOT report on bridge conditions and the State Police’s annual report on road fatalities.

Chris Daggett supports an increase in online reporting. The independent candidate said that the state needed to be “boldly accountable” by “measuring success and performance on the beneficial social, economic and environmental outcomes of our transportation investments rather than the current input-based model that equates success with dollars spent.”

On his website, Chris Christie says that all state agencies should put their data in a searchable format online. He also writes that he will eliminate “blatant conflicts of interest” on the boards of state agencies like the NJ Turnpike Authority and Transportation Trust Fund Authority, which often include private contractors and others who could benefit from agency decisions.