Transportation Issues Ignite New Jersey Constructors
When New Jerseys Democratic contingent in Congress, plus 1,000 construction industry movers and shakers, got together last week in Trenton, they had not yet learned that President Bush raised the administrations surface transportation funding proposal to nearly $284 billion, up from $256 billion. But that didnt stop local officials from pushing for a near-doubling of the states 15�-per-gallon gasoline tax or massive construction delays in the heavily traveled state.
Congressional speakers at the Feb. 7 annual transportation conference of the New Jersey Alliance for Action, a Trenton-based lobby group of contractors, engineers, real estate and local government groups, hinted that even the higher proposal would shortchange the state, and were prepared for battle.