Ciesla Calls for Special Session to Discuss Transportation Programs

Says NJ Must Act Quickly to Provide Mass Transportation Alternatives

Senator Andy Ciesla (R-10) today called on Governor Jon S. Corzine and Senate President Dick Codey to convene a special session of the Legislature this summer to address critical transportation issues, including the rapid development and implementation of mass transportation alternatives. Ciesla, a 17-year member and former chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, stated his concerns and request for the special session in a letter delivered today to Corzine and Codey.

"As a commuter state, New Jersey has been hit especially hard by rising energy costs," said Ciesla. "With oil approaching $150 per barrel and gasoline nearing $5 per gallon, getting to work and school is increasingly difficult for many of our hardworking families."

Ciesla noted that the state has not put enough focus on prioritizing mass transportation projects that people now seek, and that several long-planned projects such as the Monmouth-Ocean-Middle rail line, remain stuck in "bureaucratic limbo."

Ciesla further states, "The difficulties that we now face are so great that I believe we cannot wait for committee action to provide the affordable transportation solutions that our residents so desperately need. The welfare of our state and our residents depends on our swift action now, not months from now."

A request for a special session to discuss transportation funding was made last week by Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean.

"It's clear that the issues of transportation funding and our long-term transportation strategy should be discussed at the same time," added Ciesla. "A special session of the Legislature is necessary to quickly address the funding and availability of mass transportation projects that would so greatly affect the affordability of living in New Jersey."

Letter to Governor Corzine follows:

July 10, 2008

Dear Governor Corzine:

For the past 17 years, I have either chaired or been a member of the Senate Transportation Committee. During that time, the committee has addressed many pressing transportation issues to the benefit of the people of New Jersey.

As I am sure you would agree, the transportation and energy issues that now confront the State of New Jersey and its residents are immense.

As a commuter state, New Jersey has been hit especially hard by rising energy costs. With oil approaching $150 per barrel and gasoline nearing $5 per gallon, getting to work and school is increasingly difficult for many of our hardworking families.

As the cost of energy and transportation has risen, bills for food and other living essentials have similarly skyrocketed. The national economy has stalled and markets are universally down. I am sure you will agree that the forces of a most destructive perfect storm are upon us.

The difficulties that we now face are so great that I believe we cannot wait for committee action to provide the affordable transportation solutions that our residents so desperately need. The welfare of our state and our residents depends on our swift action now, not months from now.

Accordingly, I respectfully request that you convene a special session of the Legislature this summer to immediately and comprehensively address these matters.

It's abundantly clear that the era of cheap energy that much of our transportation infrastructure was created for is over, yet we are ill-prepared to provide the mass transit alternatives that our citizens are now looking for.

As their elected representatives, our residents should and will depend on us to provide expanded and convenient mass transportation, and I know that we currently are ill-prepared to deliver.

We do not have any plans to provide relief to the motoring public with immediate transportation alternatives, and many long-term proposals, such as the long-proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex rail line, remain stuck in bureaucratic limbo.

We need to act immediately to develop comprehensive short-term relief and enact long-term solutions. This will require not only a reprioritization of existing programs, but also the quick implementation of new transportation solutions as they are developed.

To this end, it is my strong recommendation and request that we convene immediately to begin the process of charting our course out of this perfect storm.

Sincerely,
Andrew R. Ciesla
Senator, 10th District