The architect of a multi-billion dollar transit blunder - - New Jersey's Republican Governor - - was recently in the state to raise money for a kindred spirit and known transit enemy Scott Walker, no doubt exchanging frat-boy secret handshakes to keep their state's air dirtier and highway builders happy by killing trains.
Gov. Christie wiped out 20 years of regional planning and billions in spending to double the commuters who could ride a train between New Jersey and New York City.
Walker was a cheerleader for the unfunded $6.5 billion Southeastern Wisconsin freeway reconstruction plan, which still has about $4 billion to go, and wants another unfunded $1 billion to expand I-39/90 from Madison to Rockford - - but claims with a straight face that Wisconsin cannot afford $6 million to contribute annually to operate the federally-constructed high-speed train being built from Milwaukee to Madison.
This is all about politics and campaign rhetoric, not money.
If Walker were a true fiscal conservative, he'd oppose unfunded highway expansion.
When I first read--well, skimmed--your post and headline, I thought it said "America's Biggest Transit Dude" which was funny because it was so unusual for your writing style, duuuude !
ReplyDeleteOr state another way the tax on gas to pay for the $6M represents 4 cents on a $50 fill up.
ReplyDeleteBetter get used to seeing a lot of Chris Christie, as he will be sworn in as #45 on January 20th, 2013.
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