Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg joined with officials of the AAA of New Jersey in the release of a statewide survey of motorists who cite deteriorating road conditions and the impact on roadway safety, operating expenses and their quality of life. The survey by the association underscores the need to renew the state’s Transportation Trust Fund, the only way to provide the long-term funding needed to make the repairs and upgrades to the state’s infrastructure, Senator Sweeney and Senator Weinberg said.

“New Jersey’s motorists are experiencing the consequences of a crumbling infrastructure and it is having an impact on roadway safety, the costs of car repairs and their quality of life with increased commuting times,” said Senator Sweeney. “It is past time to get serious about fixing our roads, bridges and tunnels and the only way to do that is with a renewed Transportation Trust Fund.”

The survey of 600 New Jersey motorists found road conditions to be “only fair” or “poor” in all areas of the state, with the worst conditions on local roads. A range of 69 percent to 75 percent of drivers in the north, central and southern parts of the state rate roadway conditions as only fair or poor.

Senator Sweeney has advocated for a renewed TTF that would generate $2 billion in annual spending on infrastructure work with a doubling of aid to counties and municipalities to fix local roads.

“The state’s transportation system is not only important to the economy, it also has a real impact on the quality of life for motorists,” said Senator Weinberg. “Drivers are paying an average of $600 per year in additional repairs due to vehicle damage caused by deteriorating roads, one of the highest rates in the country, and the roadway congestion is adding to their commutes, which takes time away from other responsibilities and activities.”

The survey shows that 45 percent of drivers have seen their commutes get worse, a substantial increase from 2013, when 37 percent said their daily commute had gotten worse over the prior two years.

“Worsening commutes lead to additional time sitting in traffic, impacting the quality of life for many New Jerseyans,” said Cathleen Lewis, Director, Public Affairs & Government Relations for AAA. “These rankings are a clear result of years of neglect. Local roadways are vital arteries for residents every day. Finding a way to ensure more transportation dollars are allocated to local roadways is an important part of fixing our infrastructure.”

The TTF is fast running out of money and will go broke by April. The state has already ceased to enter new contracts, meaning that road conditions and resulting problems for motorists will only get worse.

“Until we face up to the reality of the TTF going broke, the motorists of New Jersey will be confronted with a potential transportation crisis,” said Senator Sweeney. “We need a fiscally-responsible plan that provides a stable source of long-term funding. This survey is more evidence of the importance and the urgency of acting on behalf of motorists.”

Senator Sweeney also said that the needed transportation improvements are important to the business community, which relies on safe and efficient modes of transportation to support commerce.

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