WHEREAS, a vital
transportation system in New Jersey is essential for the health and well
being of our communities, our working families, and our economy; and
WHEREAS, New Jersey
is already the most densely populated state in the country and its population
is expected to grow by 1 million people by the year 2020; and
WHEREAS, New Jersey's
highway and bridge system is overburdened and in need of repair; and
WHEREAS, New Jersey's
public transportation system is over capacity and suffering from ten years
of deferred maintenance; and
WHEREAS, the aging
transportation infrastructure in New Jersey poses a significant and ongoing
safety and security concern; and
WHEREAS, New Jersey
drivers waste 261 million hours sitting in traffic, costing each New Jersey
driver nearly $1,300 per year, negatively impacting our quality of life
and losing valuable time that could be better spent with our families;
and
WHEREAS, improving
the transportation system to meet the needs of the 21st century is an
important goal of this Administration, especially as it relates to reducing
congestion, enhancing safety, and improving the quality of life for all
working families in New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, the needs
of New Jersey's transportation system outweigh the resources available;
and
WHEREAS, in this
time of limited resources it is important to identify and prioritize transportation
needs and allocate available resources by incorporating the principles
of "Fix it First" and "Smart Growth"; and
WHEREAS, a "Fix
it First" strategy will focus our efforts on improving aging bridges and
rehabilitating highways, rail and aviation systems first, instead of pursuing
an expansion policy; and
WHEREAS, smart growth
principles will focus and direct transportation investments into the redevelopment
of our older urban and suburban areas, protect existing open space, conserve
natural resources, increase transportation options and transit availability,
reduce automobile traffic and dependency, stabilize property taxes, and
provide affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century is a vital funding mechanism for the Department
of Transportation to address the transportation system needs in New Jersey;
and
WHEREAS, the United
States Congress is scheduled to reauthorize the Transportation Equity
Act for the 21st Century in 2003; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation
Trust Fund was created in July 1984 to provide a stable and predictable
funding source for state and local transportation capital improvements
in New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, of the
36,000 miles of roadway in New Jersey, 32,000 miles are controlled by
county and municipal governments whose responsibility it is to maintain
the quality of this local infrastructure; and,
WHEREAS, the Local
Aid programs funded through the Transportation Trust Fund were created
to provide counties and municipalities the tools and resources needed
to maintain and operate these local roadways, which account for nearly
90% of New Jersey's roadways; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation
Trust Fund must be renewed by July of 2004; and
WHEREAS, the current
and future transportation needs of New Jersey are greater than the resources
provided by the Transportation Trust Fund and the Transportation Equity
Act for the 21st Century;
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, JAMES E. MCGREEVEY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue
of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the statutes
of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
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There is hereby
established a Blue Ribbon Transportation Commission ("Commission")
to examine and make recommendations on the pressing transportation
issues facing New Jersey over the next ten years. The Commission shall
also identify the means necessary to address these pressing transportation
issues and recommendations for their consideration during the upcoming
renewal of the Transportation Trust Fund. The Commission shall issue
a final report containing its findings and recommendations, including
any recommendations for legislation that it deems appropriate, within
one year after the Commission organizes.
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The Commission
shall consist of seven (7) public members appointed by the Governor,
and the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation
(DOT), ex officio. The Commissioner of DOT shall serve as Chair of
the Commission. The public members shall include representatives of
the business, labor and environmental communities, as well as individuals
with expertise in New Jersey transportation issues. The Commission
shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment
of its members. The members shall appoint a secretary, who need not
be a member of the Commission.
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The Commission
shall meet at the call of the chairperson. The Commission shall be
entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services
of the employees of any State department, board, bureau, commission
or agency, as it may require and as may be available for its purposes,
and to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling
and other miscellaneous expenses as may be necessary in order to perform
its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made
available to it for its purposes.
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DOT shall work
closely with the New Jersey congressional delegation and with other
similarly situated states to establish funding priorities and develop
a strategy to maximize the State's share of federal resources. This
strategy shall consider proposals to provide DOT with the flexibility
to ensure the expedited and efficient completion of transportation
infrastructure improvements.
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DOT, New Jersey
Transit (NJT), the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), the New Jersey
Parkway Authority (NJPA) and the South Jersey Transportation Authority
(SJTA) shall implement:
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An expedited
project delivery pipeline initiative, that will shave 1 to 4 years
off the time to deliver a typical project, reduce project cost and
increase the total number of projects that can be advanced in a
year. This initiative will replace the "one-size-fits-all" schedule
historically used by State agencies, whether projects are minor
or major in nature. This improved project delivery process will
accelerate the amount of work contracted by State agencies, create
jobs and ensure that State agencies spend the maximum possible on
transportation improvements; and
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A highway
safety initiative designed to reduce accidents on our highways through
improved infrastructure, driver education, and traffic safety compliance
enforcement; and
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A statewide
rail plan designed to increase the efficiency of freight movement
and thereby reduce the number of trucks on our highways; and
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An improved
access permit process that will expedite regulatory review and incorporate
the principles of Smart Growth, when allowing access to New Jersey
highways. This new process will curtail sprawl by directing development
in growth areas, such as urban and older suburban corridors, and
prevent it in environmentally sensitive and overdeveloped areas;
and
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An information
and signage program that will convey clear, concise, consistent,
and "smart" information to the motoring public. This initiative
will consist of a Pilot Program to identify the resources necessary
for Statewide implementation. DOT, NJT, NJTA, NJHA and SJTA will
immediately begin to take steps to implement this Pilot Program
and report to the Governor's Office on its progress in sixty days.
The Pilot Program will fix confusing directional signs and implement
technology to provide real-time traffic information. The Pilot Program
will also reduce red tape by transferring traffic engineering decision-making
from the State to local governments and by expediting transportation
improvements on local roads; and
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An expanded
Park & Ride initiative, with a goal of achieving over 20,000 new
parking spaces within the next five years at mass transit facilities
and transportation centers, along with a public awareness campaign
that will provide user-friendly information to the public.
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DOT, NJT, NJTA,
NJHA and SJTA, in conjunction with the Smart Growth Policy Council,
shall develop plans that are consistent with New Jersey's smart growth
policies and that promote and encourage the use of public transportation.
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DOT, NJT, NJTA,
NJHA and SJTA shall include in their capital investment strategy a
process that will expedite projects determined to advance the principles
of "Fix It First" and "Smart Growth." These projects shall receive
priority treatment. Such projects shall include, but not be limited
to, preserving and rehabilitating bridges and roadways, increasing
capacity for all modes of public transportation, eliminating bottlenecks,
preserving and rehabilitating airports, improving rail freight services,
improving ferry services, enhancing safety, and making our communities
more livable.
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The Port Authority
of New York and New Jersey, the Delaware River Bay Authority, the
Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission and the Delaware River
Port Authority shall consider incorporating, on a priority basis,
policies consistent with "Smart Growth" and "Fix It First" principles,
with respect to New Jersey projects. In addition, these bi-state authorities
shall consider the following measures:
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implementing
an expedited project delivery pipeline initiative to reduce project
costs and increase the number of projects that can be advanced in
a year;
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coordinating
their efforts, where appropriate, with the development of a Statewide
rail plan;
-
implementing
highway safety initiatives;
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improving
their access permits process to allow expedited regulatory review,
while incorporating smart growth principles;
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implementing
information and signage programs to convey accurate and appropriate
information to the motoring public; and
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supporting
and contributing to the expanded Park and Ride initiative.
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This Order shall
take effect immediately.
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GIVEN, under
my hand and seal this 7th day of
January in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand
and Three, and of the Independence of the
United States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-Seventh.
/s/ James E.
McGreevey
Governor
[seal]
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Attest:
/s/ Paul A. Levinsohn
Chief Counsel to
the Governor