FY2006 capital program provides $2.7 billion for roadway maintenance and improvement

Its $2.7 billion Fiscal Year 2006 Capital Program demonstrates the New Jersey Department of Transportation's (NJDOT) balanced approach to improving safety and attacking congestion on the state’s roadway network. NJDOT continues to employ its Fix-It-First, Safety First and Smart Growth strategies and has adopted Commissioner Lettiere’s new Hyperbuild initiative. NJDOT will continue to fund safety programs including the Median Cross- Over Prevention Program to eliminate accidents; the Safe Corridors initiative, that implements improvements in high hazard corridors; and the Intersection Improvement Program, that targets dangerous intersections for safety improvements.

Five bridge decks were temporarily stored at Trenton Mercer Airport before being hauled by trucks to a Hyperbuild construction site, the Route 1 bridges in Trenton.

As a part of the Fix-it-First initiative, NJDOT is investing $390 to repair 77 bridges across the state. Planned repairs include large scale projects such as the Route 52 Causeway in Somers Point and Ocean City, one of the largest bridge reconstruction projects in state history and smaller local bridge repairs, like the replacement of the 69th Street Bridge in North Bergen.

To complete projects faster and alleviate congestion, the 2006 Capital Program involves Hyperbuild, a process that accelerates construction by utilizing innovative design and construction techniques and materials. Hyperbuild projects will save motorists thousands of hours of delays and millions of dollars on construction costs.

The 2006 program also promotes NJDOT’s efforts to link land use and transportation planning. NJDOT is working with local communities to identify areas targeted for growth and create comprehensive transportation plans to ensure that development does not outpace the transportation network.

The Capital Program invests $325 million in direct local aid for roadway improvements by towns and counties. Local Aid dollars provide significant property tax relief to New Jersey counties and municipalities by funding roadwork that otherwise would be paid for with local property tax dollars.

Approximately $1.1 billion of the capital program is for NJ TRANSIT. NJ TRANSIT will continue to implement its “Back to Basics” approach by investing $426 million in core transit infrastructure to maintain the state’s rail, bus and light rail systems at a state of good repair. Funding is provided for preliminary work to overhaul 148 NJ TRANSIT Comet III and IV rail cars, to replace 230 Arrow III rail cars, for mid-life overhaul of NJ TRANSIT buses and systemwide bus infrastructure improvements.

An investment of $88 million in rail station will provide improvements at stations including Newark Broad Street, Metropark, South Amboy and Trenton. The program also includes funding for bridge and tunnel work, security improvements and Americans-with- Disabilities Act Station improvements.

NJ TRANSIT is moving forward with critical initiatives to meet growth and travel demands over the next decade. This includes a new trans-Hudson rail tunnel, the Meadowlands rail link, expanded parking capacity and investments in technology to improve business practices and efficiency.

The Fiscal Year 2006 Capital Program is available on NJDOT’s web site and is broken down by projects, counties and routes.