First we had the news of the increased speeding pressure. Now we have the Yahoo news of California has worst U.S. traffic Some 83.33 percent of California's urban interstates are overcrowded, followed by Minnesota at 77.78 percent and New Jersey at 73.35 percent ...whose Democratic Gov. John Corzine might partly privatize its toll roads. New Jersey's administrative costs were the nation's highest at $68,352 per state-controlled mile, the study said. New Jersey's total road budget -- $2.36 million per state-controlled mile -- was also more than double that of the next biggest spender, which was Massachusetts at $893,236. New Jersey was 5th with 1.013, followed by New York at 1.039. California took 19th place with 1.315 fatalities. Now the odd piece of news. Though often driver-maddening, traffic jams can actually cut deaths by slowing speeds. "Most of the states with very low accident rates also have very high congestion," said Hartgen. yet our state has one of the highest insurance rates, lowest accident rates, is getting the federal money to pass out tickets (and we should have the fewest speeders & fewest deaths) and collect more revenue and not put it towards roads and we spend the most on roads. Hmmmmm. See that guy leaning on the shovel at the forever maddening Rt 46, Rt 80, Rt 23 interchange? How much is he getting overpaid? And his company is gouging NJ taxpayers how much? Grrrrr
That has got to be the biggest PITA ever. Now they have that separate left lane on 46 and it slowed everything down even more. People all of the sudden realize they can't exit from it and swerve to the right. Oh and don't get me started on driving there in the rain... standing puddles and potholes covered with water everywhere.
Clyde, You don't know the half of it. NJ has something called the Prevaling Wage Law that covers the rates of pay that construction workers must receive on State funded projects. NJ's Prevailing Wage law REQUIRES that workers be paid at the highest UNION rate of pay, whether they are union or non-union. As a result, our government (actually US, you and me) are paying approximately 30 to 50% MORE than we should be to have most public construction work done in this state. It's a major payoff to the unions that support the politicians in Trenton, including our idiot governor. If you were building an addition to your house or having your driveway paved, would you tell the contractors bidding on the job that they have to pay their workers top dollar? No. You'd bid it and let the contractor worry about what he pays, and you'd get the benefit of a lower cost. Not our state government. We pay top dollar for labor on government jobs, even though 90% of all construction in this state is done non-union at rates significantly lower than the union rates. Well, so much for my ranting. Nothing is going to change as long as the pols in Trenton continue to be owned by the unions. I'll shut up now, rant over.
