On Friday, NJ Governor Christie’s transition team released a sweeping review of state operations. Not surprisingly, nearly all of the key transportation issues facing the state have to do with lack of funding.

The team’s transportation committee, chaired by former NJDOT Commissioner Jack Lettiere, interviewed agency staff and expert groups like the Tri-State Campaign before releasing a report that pulls no punches: the Transportation Trust Fund which supports most state transportation projects will be bankrupt in 2011, NJDOT’s operating budget has been cut to the point that it may “threaten the safety and efficiency of the state’s highway and bridge network,” and NJ Transit will face a $200 million operating budget deficit in 2011.

The media has focused on revenue-raising ideas such as a referendum on increasing the gas tax and adding tolls to interstate highways, but so far the governor has pledged only to review the report. Earlier this month Christie ruled out raising the gas tax but said NJ Transit fare hikes and service cuts could be on the way.

The report said the state must continue building the Access to the Region’s Core rail tunnel, as well as widen the NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Atlantic City Expressway (TSTC opposes the three road projects). It recommended investment in several road, bridge, and transit projects such as extending the Hudson-Bergen rail line, improving coastal bridges, and bus rapid transit on Routes 1&9 — none of which are possible without fixing the Transportation Trust Fund. Also suggested was a merger of the NJ Turnpike and South Jersey Transportation Authorities.

Other transition reports make conflicting recommendations on the Highlands Council, which regulates development in rural parts of North Jersey to maintain the integrity of a key state watershed. The transition team’s Authorities report claims the Council could be eliminated without hurting environmental protection, while the Environmental Protection report suggests giving the Council more authority over permitting.

Image: TSTC graph using federal Consumer Price Index data.