New Jersey unveils $3.3 billion budget

New Jersey unveils $3.3 billion budget The New Jersey Department of Transportation unveiled a proposed $3.3 billion fiscal year 2008 capital program Tuesday that includes $50 million for the Liberty Corridor.
   The Liberty Corridor is a project that combines both road and rail improvements to help move freight in and out of the marine terminals of the Port of New York and New Jersey as well as Newark Liberty Airport. It also aims to increase warehousing and manufacturing activity at brownfield sites around the port to reduce unnecessary truck traffic.
   One of its strong supporters has been Sen. Robert Menendez. The corridor starts at the marine terminals of the Port of New York and New Jersey and runs southwest across the state, encompassing all or parts of Hudson, Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Union, Somerset and Middlesex counties.
   New Jersey said the $3.3 billion in spending it is proposing would be funded with $1.6 billion in state funding and $1.7 billion in federal funding.
   The state said the program will invest heavily in bridge and roadway preservation, safety, local aid and economic growth.
   Highlights include:
   * $543 million for bridge rehabilitation and safety upgrades, including repair of the more than 100-year-old Newark Drawbridge.
   * $337.9 million will be devoted to roadway preservation, focusing especially on fixing deteriorated sections of the interstate highway network.
   * $98.7 million for safety initiatives, including a median crossover crash prevention program, safe corridors program, safe routes to school program, and pedestrian safety initiative.
   * $1.29 billion for New Jersey Transit improvements.
   * $403.3 million in direct local aid to towns and counties for roadway.