Christie's Transportation Order Halts Plenty Of NJ TRANSIT Projects
RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's executive order to stop all state-funded transportation projects will, some say, put a huge strain on New Jersey's roads. But NJ TRANSIT's budget is at risk as well.
At the Port Imperial light rail and bus station in Weehawken, for example, caution tape surrounds loose brick. The repairs along with dozens of other NJ TRANSIT projects will not get done any time soon following Christie's order.
About $2.7 billion dollars worth of upgrade and repair projects on NJ TRANSIT rail and bus lines have stopped because of the budget fight between the governor and legislators, CBS2's Meg Baker reported.
Transportation expert Martin Robbins said many of the canceled projects are essential.
"Capital programming process can't be permitted to stop for very long," said Robbins, founding director of the Alan M. Vorhees Transportation Center. "It's got to get stoked up and going as soon as we possibly can so that the citizens of New Jersey will not have an adverse affect from this suspension."
One of the many projects on hold is an $8.6 million plan to extend the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line into Bergen County.
And there's more.
At the Rutherford Station, plaza repairs got the ax, and commuters Baker spoke to said the station needs more repairs than what was planned.
"I don't know how elderly people get up and down these trains," said commuter John Lucas. "If you happen to be disabled, I don't know how you could get around."
On weekdays, more than 100,000 people travel into New York City using NJ TRANSIT. Statewide, it's more than 900,000 people.
In a statement, NJ TRANSIT said: "This shutdown will not compromise the safety or reliability of our system and we will continue to provide regular service for customers."
Both commuters and NJ TRANSIT say they hope the issue will be resolved quickly.
The trans-Hudson plans for a new tunnel will not be affected because it is funded by Amtrak.