Corzine must tell why toll-road study is secret

October 04, 2007

by Joe Donohue / The Star-Ledger

A Mercer County judge has ordered Corzine administration officials to appear in court next month to explain why they are keeping under wraps a study of the revenue-raising potential of the state's three toll roads.

An order issued by Superior Court Judge Linda Feinberg Sept. 28 but made public today set a Nov. 16 court hearing. Feinberg's order was issued in response to a Republican lawsuit demanding that the governor release an $800,000 study of the toll revenues and traffic trends by Steer Davies Gleave of London. The study focused on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway, plus Route 440 between the Turnpike and Parkway.

Corzine is considering a plan that would use higher tolls on the highways to reduce state debt and finance capital improvements such as new parks, bridges and schools. Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Morris) said he is pleased with Feinberg's ruling but expressed dismay that she did not order a hearing before the Nov. 6 legislative elections.

"The Corzine administration shouldn't even be wasting taxpayer dollars to fight a request to see public documents,'' said DeCroce. "But since it is, I have no doubt the governor will use ever legal trick in the book to keep his super-secret monetization report locked away until well after the election so Democrats can escape any real debate of any issue that can break the back of the state budget and New Jersey taxpayers."

Administration officials previously have refused to comment on the lawsuit, and had no immediate reaction today.