Chris Christie Signs $400 Million N.J. Transportation Bill

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has signed a bill authorizing $400 million from the state’s Transportation Trust Fund to be used for transportation projects, including road and bridge repairs as well as safety and technology upgrades.

The Office of the Governor cites the critical nature of repairing and improving the state’s infrastructure as the reason he approved the bill, which allocates all of the $400 million for the current fiscal year that ends June 30.

The law will allocate $260 million to the N.J. Department of Transportation and $140 million to N.J. Transit to begin upgrades immediately. The funding will go to projects that are already in an advanced stage of design to go to bid this spring and so will begin construction as soon as possible. Projects will include resurfacing work, bridge repairs, and safety enhancements.

“Having updated roads and bridges and safe transit systems that utilize state-of-the-art technology is not only vital to protect drivers and riders but to ensure the stability and expansion of New Jersey’s economy,” said Christie. “This $400 million supplemental appropriation will expedite projects this year to improve the safety and state of good repair of our roads, bridges and public transit system, with the local aid portion also serving as direct property tax relief.”

The state’s Transportation Trust Fund is financed through a 23-cent gas tax increase that was authorized by Christie late last year. That deal also included a 27-cent diesel tax increase and was the first fuel tax increase in the state in 28 years.

“These supplemental funds will put more people to work on vital infrastructure investment projects for the benefit of residents, commuters, and commerce that flows through our transportation networks.” said Christie.