Sweeney Calls For NJ Transportation 'Master Plan'
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey's Senate president is calling for a "master plan" to address aging bridges, roads and tunnels in the state.
Sen. Steve Sweeney on Wednesday introduced Kris Kolluri and Martin Robins as advisers to help the West Deptford Democrat craft a long-term plan. Kolluri served as former Gov. Jon Corzine's transportation commissioner and Robins is director emeritus of Rutgers' Transportation Policy Center.
The appointments come a day after Gov. Chris Christie failed to mention the transportation trust fund in his State of the State address. The fund is headed toward a shortfall for new projects by July 1.
Sweeney Calls For NJ Transportation 'Master Plan'
Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto have called for raising taxes to pay for new projects, but have not embraced a specific plan. Christie has said he will consider any option, but also has not specified how to pay for projects.
Sweeney did not address how to pay for the fund on Wednesday. He said the plan would be ready as quickly as possible.
"We're focused on actually planning the future," he said.
One priority Sweeney pointed out was upgrading freight and commuter rails because, he said, New Jersey and the federal government have not made ample investments in them.
"The Hudson-Bergen light rail is an extremely important project, as is the Camden-Gloucester light rail in the southern part of the state," the Senate president told WCBS 880's Levon Putney.
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