New Jersey is a transportation state. Our economy and quality of life depends on a safe and efficient transportation system, something our residents and businesses need and deserve, something that needed to get done. 

I am grateful an agreement has been made to fund the Transportation Trust Fund and thankful that people can get back to work maintaining and modernizing our transportation system; that local aid can flow to communities; and that we can start-up stalled projects and get New Jersey moving again.

During the past three months I have spoken at length with Governor Christie and Speaker Prieto, and I thank them for their willingness to find areas of agreement.  They found a way to responsibly fund our transportation system while also providing tax relief to New Jerseyans.  They showed that compromise can happen.

Our transportation system needs a reliable and sustainable funding source to meet New Jersey’s needs and we have it with this agreement.  I congratulate everyone who had a hand in making this deal possible and look forward to it being signed into law as soon as possible. 

Raymond M. Pocino is Vice President and Eastern Regional Manager for the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), representing more than 40,000 construction workers in New Jersey, New York City, Long Island, Delaware, and Puerto Rico. LIUNA is at the forefront of the construction industry, a powerhouse of workers who are proud to build America.