9th District Legislators Criticize Toll Increases

NEW JERSEY — Lawmakers that represent southern Ocean County are calling on Trenton to end automatic toll hikes, arguing that commuters and businesses can no longer afford them.

The remarks from Senator Christopher Connors and Assembly members Brian Rumpf and DiAnne Gove come days after the state announced it will raise tolls by 3 percent on the Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway and the New Jersey Turnpike starting Jan. 1.

Officials say the increase is necessary to provide stable funding for capital needs. Tolls last increased Sept. 13, 2020 — by 37 percent on the Atlantic City Expressway, 36 percent on the Turnpike and 27 percent on the Parkway. The state instituted the 2020 hikes to fund a 10-year, $24 billion capital plan on the Parkway and Turnpike and a $500 million plan for the Expressway.

In May of 2020, Connors, Rumpf and Gove called on Governor Phil Murphy to veto the minutes of any meetings held by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) which approve toll increases on the Garden State Parkway, the New Jersey Turnpike and the Atlantic City Expressway.

Connors, Rumpf and Gove have issued a joint statement criticizing the announced increases:

“Commuters cannot afford to pay higher tolls at a time when prices are increasing for consumer goods across the board. Businesses in the state which are trying to remain competitive with other tax-friendly states will have yet another cost increase imposed by Trenton to contend with, making it that much harder to be profitable."

The lawmakers added, “During the holidays, many of our constituents are now forced to ask how they are going to afford yet another cost increase. Most residents of urban areas with access to mass transit will not only largely escape the financial hit from the toll hikes, but will likely benefit from the revenue generated, which will undoubtedly be siphoned off for mass transit projects.”

Another trio of Ocean County legislators are sponsoring bills in the Senate and Assembly that would overturn an automatic toll hike instituted by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and cut current tolls by 50 cents. Read more: Legislators Seek 50-Cent Toll Cut After Turnpike Panel OKs Hikes

Keep up to date with what's happening in your community by subscribing to your local Patch newsletter here.