Managing our built infrastructure is one of the most important jobs as governor, because infrastructure is the foundation for all that we do in the Garden State. It’s how we get to work and school, it’s how we shower and bathe and flush, it’s how we stay warm, keep the lights on, and charge our phone. And as one of the original 13 colonies, one of the first industrialized states, and the most densely populated state in the nation, we have a lot of it that is crumbling, out-of-date, and in serious need of upgrades.

New Jersey will elect a new governor in 2025. They will need to address the state of the state’s infrastructure, balancing competing interests and budgets. Here are five questions that could spark some meaningful discussions with gubernatorial candidates about New Jersey’s infrastructure, transportation, water, and energy:

1. Infrastructure 

The American Society of Civil Engineers say that 57% of New Jersey roads are in poor or fair condition, costing motorists $715 each year in car repairs. Much of the state’s infrastructure was built over 50 years ago and is not up to modern safety and traffic volume standards, with narrow lanes, minimal shoulders, and a worsening safety record for pedestrians and cyclists. Not only that, but there is a chronic problem with funding infrastructure projects, compounded by delays in the permit process that stretches out timelines for getting approved projects completed – sometimes by decades. New Jerseyans just want to get around safely and efficiently and with as little fuss as possible – how are you going to help them?

2. Transportation

NJ Transit is the largest statewide public transit system in the country, handling over 200 million trips a year. faces a nearly $1 billion deficit by 2026. Recent customer surveys show that rider satisfaction is dropping, with riders complaining of delays, poor service, and increased fares. How do you plan to secure sustainable funding for public transportation without burdening commuters with fare hikes?

3. Water

The last American Society of Civil Engineers Infrastructure Report Card for New Jersey noted that the state needs $12.3 billion dollars to bring its drinking water systems up to date. Water main breaks are a weekly occurrence throughout the state and PFAS “forever chemicals” have made their way into our water supply. How do you plan to make and manage the necessary investments in New Jersey’s drinking water infrastructure?

Additionally, the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission in Newark treats the wastewater of 1.5 million people in 48 communities in North Jersey. It is one of the largest water treatment plants in the country and the largest in the state. In 2012, Superstorm Sandy knocked out power, leading to nearly a billion gallons of untreated sewage to flow into Newark Bay. While changes have been made to the facility since then, the facility still does not have backup power to withstand another catastrophic event. What will you do to make sure that the facility has reliable and affordable backup power?

4. Energy

New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan (last updated in 2019, scheduled to be updated in 2024 but still not released), aims to transition New Jersey’s energy infrastructure to 100% renewables by 2035. Many public advocates, like New Jersey’s Rate Counsel, have repeatedly asked how much this energy transition will cost. The NJ Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), who is managing the Energy Master Plan, has not provided these costs.

According to the United Way, 36% of New Jerseyans either live below the poverty line or are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE). That’s over 1.2 million households for whom energy poverty – having to choose between food and heat and/or air-conditioning and medical care – is a real risk.

As New Jersey aims for 100% clean energy by 2035, what steps will you take as governor to ensure that New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents won’t be pushed (further) into energy poverty as the state continues with this transition?

5. Climate Resilience

We saw firsthand how Superstorm Sandy devastated communities, pummeled our energy grid, and exposed the fragility of our infrastructure. As governor, how will you enhance the resilience of New Jersey’s infrastructure to withstand these challenges and protect communities? Roads, bridges, and tunnels will need to be upgraded, sea walls and flood mitigation projects will have to be funded, and energy and water systems hardened.