TRENTON — A former top official at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has been subpoenaed to testify at a hearing next week about the September closing of lanes to the George Washington Bridge.

David Wildstein, who recently resigned as the authority's director of interstate capital projects, must appear before the Assembly transportation committee Jan. 9, according to the subpoena, announced today by Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex).

The Port Authority and Gov. Chris Christie have come under intense state and national scrutiny after two of three local access lanes to the bridge from Fort Lee were closed this fall without warning or notice, causing massive traffic jams.

Wildstein was responsible for ordering the closure, ostensibly to complete a traffic study. But Wisniewski and others believe the closure was retribution for the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee's decision not to endorse Christie for re-election.

"The public deserves answers as to how this decision was made, who was involved and its true purpose," Wisniewski said. "I look forward to Mr. Wildstein providing insight into this decision that put public safety at risk and raised serious questions about this vital yet dysfunctional agency being used for political vengeance."

An attorney for Wildstein, Alan Zegas, said he would be meeting with his client after the holiday to discuss the subpoena.

"Until I meet with him and discuss the subpoena itself, I am not in the position to say what our response will be," Zegas said.

Since the scandal broke, Wildstein and another high-ranking New Jersey official, Bill Baroni, have resigned. Christie has conceded they erred by not following procedure to close the lanes, but dismissed questions of political vengeance as baseless.

Four Port Authority officials have already testified before the committee, and seven, including Wildstein and Baroni, were ordered to turn over hundreds of documents. Wisniewski said he and his staff continue to comb through the records.

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