Sweeney presses transportation funding issue

Continuing his statewide tour to call attention to New Jersey's crumbling infrastructure, state Senate President Steve Sweeney will be at the Gordon Street Bridge in Roselle on Tuesday. The bridge, built in 1911, has never been reconstructed, making it structurally deficient, unsafe for public use and long overdue for full replacement.

"Right now our biggest problem is, there is no plan. There needs to be a plan," said Sweeney (D-West Deptford), highlighting the need to find a recurring revenue stream to pay for transportation projects. "What we want to do is bring attention to how bad the roads are, and then we need to have a discussion on what the proper funding source is."

A bill has been introduced in the Senate to increase the gas tax five cents per year for three years. A fee on gasoline corporations has taken effect in some other states, and there has been talk about a vehicle mileage tax.

"We really have to have a discussion on what is the best form," Sweeney said. "There will be a discussion on 'is it a gas tax or another tax?' There's a whole lot of different options; I'm not promoting any one of them yet."

Sweeney said it would be great if Gov. Chris Christie came up with a plan.

The Senate president will continue his tour with a stop in Edison on Wednesday and another stop at a bridge in Trenton on Thursday.