The New Jersey Transit system, with an operating budget reduced to 10 percent of its 2009 total, has become more of a vessel for nepotism than a provider of safe transit service, according to a recent editorial.
"On Oct. 21, the commissioner for the state's Department of Transportation told lawmakers that all those economic sob stories were exaggerated, and that New Jersey Transit has 'sufficient money to fund its operations,'" begins an editorial by the New Jersey Star-Ledger. Yes, there's a "but" coming: "Two weeks later, the new executive director of NJ Transit established that Chris Christie's man in charge is clueless," writes the editorial board.
The executive director who dropped the truth bombs on the situation at New Jersey Transit is Steven Santoro, who recently spent four hours testifying that the administration of Governor Chris Christie "allowed a $3 billion agency to deteriorate into an industry disgrace," now "used as a cushy stopover for the governor's political cronies."
According to Santoro's testimony, the Christie Administration has had no trouble filling six-figure executive positions at New Jersey Transit, but has "neglected to fill 305 job vacancies related to safety needs."
This news is all of critical relevance due to the crash of New Jersey train #1614 at Hoboken Terminal in September. The New York Times published an article in October detailing the depths of the New Jersey Transit system's decline in October.
Back to the editorial, which makes a larger argument that budget cuts to transit operations have dire consequences. The Christie Administration has decreased the state subsidy for New Jersey Transit's operating budget from $348 million in 2009 to $33 million last year.
FULL STORY: N.J. Transit: It's worse than anyone thought | Editorial
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.