New Republican governor Christie clashes with New Jersey Turnpike - contracts vetoed

The new Republican administration in Trenton is clashing with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority in a sharp change from years of quiet and harmony under Democrats. Governor Chris Christie today made use of a veto power to block five professional services contracts approved by the Turnpike and issued a strong reprimand:

"The New Jersey Turnpike Authority decided to approve contract costs that ignore New Jersey Administrative Code guidelines for negotiating fair and reasonable fees. We simply can no longer tolerate this unreasonable spending and must hold these agencies accountable for their actions."

Christie's veto covers five contracts:

- $2.34 million to Churchill Consulting Engineers for supervision of construction services for  guiderail improvements and pavement restoration contracts

- $980k to Hill International for supervision of construction at the Holmdel Motor Vehicle Maintenance Facility and installation of the PNC Bank Arts Amphitheater improvements

- $476k to KS Engineers for supervision of contracts for sign panel replacements and overhead variable message sign support structures

- $735k to Dresder Robin Environmental Management for operation, maintenance and compliance monitoring of environmental remediation systems at the Montvale and Vauxhall service areas on the Garden State Parkway

- $545k to Hatch Mott MacDonald for operation, maintenance and compliance monitoring of environmental remediation systems at the Brookdale North and Brookdale South service areas on the Garden State Parkway

The governor said in a statement today that the fees ranged from 11.5% to 84% higher than the fees proposed by other highly-ranked firms competing for the same contracts.

Simpson stirs them up

Christie's new transportation commissioner and the new chairman of the Turnpike James Simpson said the governor's vetoes reinforced "the kind of change" he has been working for at the Turnpike.

Simpson stirred up his first monthly meeting of the Turnpike Authority board February 23 with aggressive questioning of chief engineer Rich Raczynski over these contract awards, especially the Hill International one where HAKS Engineering of New York bid $755k v the $980k granted to Hill.

Raczinski said that the firm's experience and the person managing the project were other factors considered apart from price.

Simpson came back saying that Turnpike staff admitted the project was a simple one, adding "They're telling me (Hill) is higher quality but when I peel back the onion you can't tell the difference (in quality). It doesn't give me a good gut feeling that the more expensive (firm) was selected."

Other commissioners attempted to defend Raczinski but Simpson piled on, saying other commissioners were far too uncritical, and asked no hard questions of Turnpike staff.

He hit the Turnpike for tardiness in getting new variable message signs: "Why are we just getting the signs (now)?"

Simpson also said the Turnpike responded far too slowly after damage to the Hackensack River bridge caused major backups at Exit 15E.

Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, executive director says today the Turnpike "understands the governor’s concerns" and that "we will work with his office to correct them to the governor’s satisfaction.”

Gov Christie's statement:

http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/552010/approved/20100318b.html

TOLLROADSnews 2010-03-18