New Jerseys are facing longer commutes, worsening road conditions and mounting car repair bills. Paying more into the system isn’t their first choice, but with the proper safeguards, motorists are willing to pay more at the pump to see improvements in their roadways.
The dire situation facing the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) is not unknown to motorists. AAA’s biannual survey of motorists found both their commutes and their opinions of road conditions has gotten worse over the last two years. Residents are more aware than even of the TTF’s main funding mechanism, the gas tax. Fifty-nine percent of respondents were aware that New Jersey has one of the lowest gas taxes in the nation, a 12-point increase over the last 10 years. But with that awareness is a nearly matched skepticism that the money will get to the right place. A majority (57 percent) did not believe all the money from the gas tax is dedicated to the Transportation Trust Fund.
When asked how to best pay for new investment in our infrastructure, respondents list raising additional taxes as their least popular choice. When provided with more information, 63 percent of respondents are willing to pay for an increase to the gas tax, if the proper safeguards are in place.
“Every day, New Jersey motorists pay the price for our failure to invest in the state’s transportation infrastructure,” said Tracy Noble, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “From longer commutes, to an additional $600 a year in repair costs, New Jersey’s motorists are paying more and getting less.”
“Motorists understand that paying more at the pump will give them safer roads, shorter commutes and lower maintenance costs,” continued Noble.
Part of those proper safeguards is making sure that all gas tax revenue gets to the Transportation Trust Fund. Respondents overwhelmingly (71 percent) support a constitutional amendment to dedicate all revenues to the TTF.
“The largest obstacle to support for raising the gas tax is the lack of faith that the money will get to the right place,” Noble added. “It’s clear that the constitutional amendment is an effective tool to not only dedicate TTF monies, but to restoring the public’s trust on this issue.”
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I don’t want pay more gas price
It the governments responsibility to take care of highway and roads conditions well.
This motorist is NOT willing to pay more in gas to pay for the TTF. The Democrats will only squander the money on some other project.
Stop giving the contracts for repairs to campaign donners.
I do not believe that the present legislators in Trenton are capable of spending any money wisely, therefore they should not be allowed to take more money…..STOP THE MADNESS!!!!!!
The AAA does not represent my views on this issue.
I would be interested to know what side “deals” or “benefits” the people in charge of the AAA Mid-Atlantic region may have received from some of the legislating Democrats which have been pushing for this extra tax.
Additionally, I would be curious to see the language of the legislation and see if they are even proposing a pricing cut-off point when they will terminate the tax. In other words, if the price of gas reached an expensive $3.00 (or even $2.00) again — do they still want to hit us hard with this unfair tax?!??
The pension fund: Once has the largest surplus in the country.
The lead fund: Large surplus.
The transportation fund: Large surplus.
All raided by Republican Gov. Christie Todd Whitman and an all Republican legislature and continued by successive governors and legislators of BOTH parties to fund their pork projects until all three are broke.
And now they plan to raise taxes and fees to re-fund them without cutting spending.
And as for the gas tax, they tell us that the majority of the fees will come from out of state motorists, Right!!
And at $.50 cents a gallon more it will ONLY cost $8 to $10 dollars more a tank fill and we all can afford that for safe roads.
The won’t tell you that it costs Millions of Dollars More A MILE in NJ to do roadwork than in all of the other states due to corruption, unions and kickbacks.
The gas tax is a done deal under this lame duck Republican Governor and a Democrat legislation controlled by Union boss Sweeney who wants and most probably will be our next governor. We all should remember , and must loudly campaign against anyone who votes for it.
I don’t know who was polled but I definitely would not want to pay more in gas. I can promise you the extra money would not be used to fix the roads. Another way to get more money from us and do nothing with it.
Maybe rt 9 will be widened!!
What a joke.
One of the benefits of living in NJ is cheap gas.
Wanna save $, leave the pricing alone and do away with the full service attendants at the gas stations