Florence, Bordentown officials weigh in
By Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writer
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority will hold public hearings later this month on its plan to more than double tolls on both the Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway by 2023, with rate increases to begin taking effect as early as next year.
The Turnpike Authority made the move Tuesday, after sending a letter Sept. 4 to Gov. Jon Corzine explaining its plans. If approved, tolls on the Turnpike will go up 50 percent in 2009, another 50 percent in 2012, and 10 percent by 2023 via a 1 percent annual increase after 2014.
For an average traveler in a passenger car, the increases would be 60 cents in 2009, 90 more cents in 2012, and an additional 30 cents by 2023. Average numbers for the Turnpike were based on a ride of 23 miles and a total toll of $1.20. The proposed increase would ultimately produce a $3 toll for such customers, or an increase of 250 percent.
The letter from the Turnpike Authority cited a need to “undertake a number of significant projects to enhance safety and relieve congestion,” including a program to repair and replace bridges, the Turnpike widening project between Interchanges 6 and 9, and a similar project on the Garden State Parkway between mileposts 30 and 80. A $1.25 billion investment in the ARC project, a mass transit tunnel to ease congestion between New Jersey and New York, was also named.
Local officials denounced the plan due to the burden it is expected to place on individual drivers and township economies.
“I have some serious concerns about that,” said Assemblyman Joe Malone, R-30th. Towns he represents include Bordentown Township and City, Chesterfield, Fieldsboro, and New and North Hanover.
He said he was disappointed there had not been more discussion before the process moved on to public hearings.
“It’s a double impact on people in this area because of the fact that they’re going to utilize this rate increase to pay for the (Turnpike) expansion, plus people who use it in this area are going to pay higher tolls to use the highway,” he said. “I just think that we’re going to be taking two bites out of the people that live in this area.”
Florence Township Administrator Richard Brook said it was “too early or too difficult to tell what the impact may be on Florence.”
Nonetheless, he noted that the township is home to Interchange 6 on the N.J. Turnpike, which connects it to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
“Obviously it could impact our efforts to attract business that rely on Florence Township as a hub for their transportation,” he said.
Mr. Brook said it was his personal opinion that the increase “seems extreme.”
“I don’t think it’s phased in over a long enough period of time,” he said. “I understand that the state is in dire financial constraints, but part of the financial constraints and issues that they’re facing are self-created. It seems to me that they’re putting a great burden on the public within too short a span of time.”
Bordentown Township Committeeman Bill Morelli expressed frustration with the planned program to widen the Turnpike.
“It is yet another sign that the widening is going ahead whether we like it or not,” Mr. Morelli said.
He said he believes Gov. Corzine is behind the plan “because he wants the widening project. So whatever our efforts are to stop this as a township, we’re really running out of time. And my personal belief is that we can’t stop the widening, so we need to get the best deal out of the Turnpike (Authority) to compensate us.”
Bordentown Township Committeeman Mark Roselli also said he thought the governor was behind the toll increase. “Frankly, I think the governor went about it is criminal,” he said. “The fact is that he’s trying to hide behind the Turnpike Authority, and he’s unwilling to do what he should be doing, what citizens of New Jersey, especially the residents of Bordentown Township, want him to do.”
He said he opposes the proposal to expand the Turnpike. “The majority of the Township Committee have opposed and will continue to oppose the expansion. We’ll continue to fight to do what’s best for the residents, to stop the expansion and get the Turnpike Authority… to listen to what’s in the best interests of the residents of Bordentown Township.”
Public hearings on the toll increases will be held Tuesday, Sept. 23 and Wednesday, Sept. 24 before representatives of the Turnpike Authority, with the nearest of the three meetings taking place from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 23 at Camden County Community College’s Blackwood Campus, 200 College Drive, Blackwood. Written comments will also be accepted until Wednesday, Oct. 1, and may be addressed to Executive Director, New Jersey Turnpike Authority, 581 Main Street, Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095.

