After New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) halted the $8.7-billion ARC tunnel to Manhattan in October, transportation firms were left with gaping holes in their plans. The Christie administration returned with a new five-year capital program for the New Jersey Dept. of Transportation that starts with a $3.5-billion fiscal 2012 spending plan effective next month. Although the plan puts a greater emphasis on new highway and bridge construction, firms expect stiff competition for upcoming bids, and critics warn that a future funding stream remains uncertain.
In relative terms, the future prospects for transportation could have been worse. Christie approved deep cuts at several state agencies in response to budget woes during the recession, yet transportation investment remains essentially flat.