TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Turnpike Authority voted Wednesday (May 27) to increase tolls on two of the state’s major highways and approve a $24 billion construction plan that the hike will fund.
The board’s 7-0 vote came despite pleas from many people to delay the vote, saying. They said the agency should not have gone ahead with the hearing process while residents are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
The construction plan includes $16 billion to widen sections of the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, permanently implement cashless toll payment and replace a bridge between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, a Democrat from Bergen County, specifically asked the board to “hit the pause button” on the highway- widening plans, saying officials should wait to see what happens with travel patterns once the pandemic eases.
Tolls will increase Sept. 13 on the two main toll roads.
The authority said tolls will rise by 36% on the New Jersey Turnpike, meaning the average trip that now costs $3.50 will rise to $4.80. Tolls on the Garden State Parkway will rise by 27%, meaning the average trip that now costs $1.11 will increase by 30 cents.
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They are morons. Guess they are not aware that there is a slight unemployment problem. A few people don’t have jobs. Guess they also figure that you won’t have to raise your prices to cover your increased costs
OO will not want to ho to Jersey.
Oh well.