NJDOT/NJ TRANSIT
Capital Program
The New Jersey Department of Transportation
(NJDOT) and NJ TRANSIT
prepare a Transportation Capital Program annually which lists
all projects that can be funded from the Special Transportation
Fund (more commonly known as the Transportation Trust Fund).
This project list is submitted each year on March 1 to the Legislature
for review and approval. The Legislature makes any necessary
changes and provides its final decisions in the Appropriation
Act which takes effect July 1 each year.
The Special Transportation Fund capital improvement funds are
allocated by the Commissioner of Transportation to NJDOT, NJ
TRANSIT, and Local Aid projects. The Trust Fund statute specifies
that the project list and final appropriation should not exceed
$1.6 billion.
A review of the NJDOT/NJ TRANSIT Capital
Program Appropriation History shows how funds have been
distributed between NJDOT, NJ TRANSIT, and Local Aid since 1985
and reveals that the program has increased from only $249 million at Trust Fund inception to $1.6 billion currently.
NJDOT and NJ TRANSIT must also prepare a State
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) each year for
approval by the three Federal Metropolitan Planning Organizations
(MPOs) that cover the State of New Jersey. The STIP provides
a list of all federal and state funded projects planned for
the next three fiscal years within expected Federal and State
resource levels.
The MPO's must specifically approve projects programmed for
Federal funds in order for the projects to be authorized for
advancement by the Federal Highway Administration.
The appropriation of funds from the Special Transportation Fund
to NJDOT, NJ TRANSIT, and Local Aid are separate and distinct
from the Legislature's appropriation of transportation revenues
(e.g., motor fuels tax, good driver surcharges, etc.) to the
Transportation Trust Fund Authority. The capital project appropriations
from the Special Transportation Fund function like a credit
card with a limit which allows NJDOT and NJ TRANSIT to issue contracts and purchase
orders for projects.
The Authority acts as the credit card bank by reimbursing project
vendors from its appropriations and bond proceeds as invoices are submitted. Since most
major projects take several years to complete, the Authority
must translate the contract values reflected in the capital
project lists to actual cash flow payments to the vendors.
NJDOT/NJ TRANSIT Capital Program
Appropriation History
FY
|
Highways
|
NJT
|
Local Aid
|
Total
|
1985
|
166.0
|
29.0
|
54.0
|
249.0
|
1986
|
209.5
|
50.0
|
64.0
|
323.5
|
1987
|
256.0
|
121.0
|
54.0
|
431.0
|
1988
|
191.0
|
60.0
|
72.0
|
323.0
|
1989
|
221.9
|
71.5
|
71.6
|
365.0
|
1990
|
182.4
|
89.0
|
93.6
|
365.0
|
1991
|
346.1
|
119.8
|
99.1
|
565.0
|
1992
|
276.0
|
223.0
|
94.3
|
593.3
|
1993
|
249.5
|
187.5
|
100.0
|
537.0
|
1994
|
268.5
|
196.5
|
100.0
|
565.0
|
1995
|
265.0
|
200.0
|
100.0
|
565.0
|
1996
|
312.0
|
258.0
|
130.0
|
700.0
|
1997
|
310.5
|
259.5
|
130.0
|
700.0
|
1998
|
476.1
|
283.0
|
140.9
|
900.0
|
1999
|
279.8
|
288.0
|
132.2
|
700.0
|
2000
|
375.1
|
360.0
|
164.9
|
900.0
|
2001
|
360.0
|
390.0
|
150.0
|
900.0
|
2002
|
385.0
|
572.5
|
150.0
|
1,107.5
|
2003
|
430.0
|
528.0
|
150.0
|
1,108.0
|
2004
|
460.0
|
618.2
|
150.0
|
1,228.2
|
2005
|
541.0
|
519.0
|
145.0
|
1,205.0
|
2006 |
526.0 |
534.0 |
145.0 |
1,205.0 |
2007 |
750.0 |
675.0 |
175.0 |
1,600.0 |
2008 |
800.0 |
625.0 |
175.0 |
1,600.0 |
Total
|
8,637.4
|
7,257.5
|
2,840.6
|
18,735.5
|
|