Late last night, New Jersey legislative Democrats released a budget which allocates funding for the Transit Village program, which helps towns support walkable, transit-oriented downtowns. The Christie Administration proposed cutting the $1 million program in fiscal year 2012. Tri-State Transportation Campaign, NJ Future, and other groups have advocated for the program’s restoration for months.
The bill would not add $1 million to the Department of Transportation’s budget for the program, but allocate funding within the agency’s existing budget. Language restoring funding for Transit Villages can be found on page 172 of the bill (S4000/A4200).
The Senate and Assembly budget committees were set to debate this bill this morning. The NJ Constitution requires a balanced budget to be passed by June 30.
[…] for the Transit Village program was eliminated in this year’s budget. While funding was restored through advocacy by Tri-State and NJ Future, Governor Christie used the line-item veto to cut it […]
[…] about that session—it wasn’t good. Despite the efforts of Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-15), Governor Christie cut funding for the state’s transit village program, a which […]