Lettiere, announces creation of
Congestion Buster Implementation Team

"In a state as heavily traveled and densely populated as New Jersey, the most workable transportation infrastructure policies must address the quality of life that motorists experience on the road. Many commuters spend two hours or more each day getting to their jobs. Anyone traveling New Jersey's highways knows that the slightest disruption to the flow of traffic can cause endless delays, especially if they occur at peak hours, keeping us from our jobs, homes and families. Congestion wastes time, money and is outright frustrating. With so many motorists on the road, state government must step up its congestion relief efforts," Lettiere said.

"That was what the Legislature envisioned when it created the Congestion Buster Task force in 2000. Last fall, the Task Force concluded its efforts and we now have a set of findings that serve as the basis for achieving results that will greatly improve the time that we spend on our roads by significantly reducing congestion, Lettiere continued.

"Reducing congestion and improving safety on all the State's roads is one of the major transportation priorities of the McGreevey Administration. For state government to accomplish this in a way that meaningfully addresses the causes of congestion, improves driving conditions and continues to enhance economic well-being for our residents, the Department of Transportation must build on the work the task force started and I am confident that we can achieve real results," he added.

Lettiere, who made the announcement during a speaking engagement at the Committee for a Smart New Jersey 2003 Symposium in Princeton, said he would convene the Implementation Team later this month.

Lettiere said the Department has begun categorizing the Task Force's recommendations by preliminarily identifying short, medium and long-term fixes. The NJDOT has also moved forward with some of the recommendations already, including the increased use of Emergency Service patrols, developing a comprehensive freight plan and expanding park and ride facilities.

The Congestion Buster Task Force is an advisory group that was created by the Legislature at the last renewal of the state's Transportation Trust Fund in 2000.

The Task Force was charged with studying traffic congestion in New Jersey and making recommendations on how best to manage traffic congestion. Those recommendations were delivered in October 2002. Task Force members included representatives from citizens groups, business groups, mass transit and highway operators, Transportation Management Associations, academic institutions, and other interested parties.

The Task Force's final report and other detailed information about its work can be found on the NJDOT website located at http://www.state.nj.us/dot/cbtf/index.html