Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-12-18
Financing.

tire this Wnte Is WneInef VI uoI ~ pun d eA III S"0oA"' 'N
the increasing demand for money for highways and with taxes on
real estate already at the limit, some means must be found
for raising the funds to finance the improvements needed to take
care Of the traffic.
This increase traffic is caused by the motor vehicle, yet the
only contribution made by the motor vehicle to the building and
upkeep Of the highways is an insignificant license fee paid once a
wear. that averages eight to twelve dollars. With the recent re
auctions in the price of gasoline the autoist would hardly feel a
small tax placed upon this fuel, and it would go a long ways toward
meeting the expenses of building and maintaining the highways
Either this must be done or there must be a decided increase in the
license fee charged. In fact, the license ought to be increased any
way, especially on trucks which do the greatest damage and cause
the greatest congestion.
The recommendations of the engineering advisory committee
engaged by the State Highway Commission regarding traffic con-
ditions between Perth Amboy and Keyport show what is required
for lust this one little section of one important highway. The estl-
mated cost of the improvement here is nearly $2,5O0ooV, yet no
one who has given consideration to the problem will say that 1t Is
not necessary. And this does not include the cost of the new bridge
across the Raritan river.
Traffic enumerations made at the Amboy bridge show that
the capacity of the road at present is from 1000 to 1900 vehicles
an hour in each direction. AS traffic approaches this density, as
It frequently does during the summer months, it slows down un-
til a point is reached where vehicles are moving at about eight
miles an hour. If this is the present situation, what will the con-
dihons be when the vehicular tunnel under the Hudson river is
completed9 The Newark Sunday Call makes some interesting
comment along this line. 1t says:
tsThe report on vehicular tunnel traffic made public last week
by the advisory committee of the State Highway Commission
is Illuminating and informing. The average citizen has given little
thought to the vast increase in vehicular traffic in this section that
will follow the completion of the vehicular tunnel under the Hud-
son river or of the cost of providing street facilities for its accom-
mediation. To properly care for the traffic arising from the Hud-
son tunnel alone would, in the opinion of the committee, cost not
less than ~$29yO00OOO, but it is reassuring oGnow that immediate
needs can be relieved at a considerably less expenditure. 1t Is OBJ
vious, however, that to care for the constantly increasing traffic
millions of dollars must be spent, and this expenditure must be
continued year after year. That day is far in the distant future
when it can be said that the State traffic routes I adequate u
the demands made of them.
'tThe Good Roads Association at its recent convention IN
Atlantic City went on record as opposed to a gasoline tax and as
believing that motor vehicles are already taxed to the limits OF
fairness. However, the members of the association need o Oe
surprised to see a strong sentiment manifested in favor OF putting a
large share of this increased highway cost upon the interests
specially benefited thereby. Whether this will take the shape OF a
movement for taxing gasoline o + a larger tax on motor-dnVen
vehicles or both, is uncertain, but there is reason to believe that
hills nroviding for both will be introduced at the coming session
and that serious effort will be made to enact them into law. The
one thing certain is that the pd4hons already spent for improved
roads is only a beginning"
This demand for millions more for the highways is only for the
Northern part of the state AM. in the metropolitan district, at that
Down in South Jersey where a highway bridge is being built across
the Delaware river between Camden and Philadelphia, similar
plans are under way to take care of the increased traffic there
The highway between Camden and Atlantic City is about as con
cested is the shore routes in this section. The limit has been
reached and something must be done to provide for the growth
within the next few years.
But this is only part o. the story. It is certain that the com
mission having in charge the construction of the vehicular tunnel
under the Hudson river will make a demand before long for four
teen or fifteen million dollars more to complete that project. The
funds available are already about exhausted and the tunnel is moi
vet half done. 1t is likely that more money will be needed to com
plete the Delaware river bridge, too. This does not include the
projected bridge between Perth Amboy and Tottenvlle.
But where are all these millions coming from? NTH long run
they must come from the taxpayers no matter how the payments
may be camouflaged. 1t is reasonable, therefore, to put more of the
burden on those who get the direct benefit from the improved
roads. The automobile, particularly the truck, must pay more as
it lis due to the automobile that such expenditures are made
necessary.
The legislature will have to thresh the matter out during the
hing session. 1t is certain that some means must be found fol
raising .sre money for highway construction and maintenance
This being SO, What could be more reasonable than to make those
who use the rOadA most pay the most.