DeAngelo Bill to Promote More Efficiency in TTF-Funded Projects Becomes Law

(TRENTON) – Aiming to help move along delayed Transportation Trust Fund projects and revamp the process going forward, legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer, Middlesex) to revise the process by which capital projects are authorized and administered through the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) was signed into law Tuesday by the Governor.

Assemblyman DeAngelo issued the following statement:

“Annual state spending on road, bridge and rail projects was increased from $1.6 billion to $2 billion under the 2016 TTF renewal.  When the TTF Renewal expired without a new deal in place, most transportation projects either shutdown or even, today, remain incomplete. Some of it’s due to the lengthy planning and public bidding process under which a pre-construction phase can last up to six months.

“This new law addresses this and other components of the process to help improve efficiency for current and future projects. The goal is to bring down costs and encourage efficiency and expediency with proper research and project planning.

“Among the suggestions made are requiring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop an annual highway project priority list for each county and establishing the New Jersey Transportation Research Center within DOT.  Ensuring that New Jersey remains on the path to improving their transit infrastructure is more important now that we’re moving forward in a positive direction.”