Gov. Chris Christie criticized previous New Jersey governors by saying that they failed in their leadership by not maintaining a way to pay for transportation projects around the state.

The governor said that raising the gas tax last year to provide money for the transportation trust fund was difficult but necessary.

“In the end, you’ve got to be ready to be vilified by certain groups out there who don’t really know what they’re talking about on this issue,” Christie said. “And as we watch the gubernatorial election right now, you can see that as well again.”

Christie made the comments while speaking to the group Alliance for Action in Monroe Township Tuesday morning.