GOP attacks latest toll hike plan

Beck calls for public meeting in Monmouth County

BY LAYLI WHYTE Correspondent

TINTON FALLS — Republicans legislators representing six local state districts held a press conference last week to announce their opposition to a plan to increase tolls on the Garden State Parkway and other toll roads.

Among the assembled group were state Sen. Jennifer Beck (12th District), AssemblywomanAmy Handlin (13th District), Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (12th District), Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (12th District), Assemblyman Samuel Thompson (13th District), Assemblyman David Rible (11th District) and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini (11th District).

The press conference took place outside Tinton Falls Borough Hall, and the group was introduced by Borough Council President Gary Baldwin.

“This is an important issue for us in Tinton Falls,” said Baldwin. “We are delighted to hear voices raised about the toll increase issue.”

Baldwin said that with four Parkway exits, Tinton Falls has a significant interest in the cost to commuters to travel the toll road.

Beck, a member of the Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee, spoke directly to Gov. Jon Corzine, criticizing his lack of opposition to the plan of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to increase tolls by 43 percent next year and 115 percent over the next four years.

“Governor Corzine,” she said, “your silence is deafening.”

Robert Corrales, a spokesman for the Office of the Governor, said in an interview last week that the Turnpike Authority will hold its board meeting and submit the final toll hike plan for review to Corzine, who will make the decision on whether to approve or veto it.

In 2009, according to information from the Turnpike Authority’s official Web site, under the proposal, a driver on the parkway can expect to pay 50 cents per toll or $1 per one-way toll. In 2012, a regular toll will increase by another 25 cents, and by 2023, a regular toll will cost 85 cents with one-way tolls costing $1.70.

Beck said, according to a press release from her office, that the Turnpike Authority should have made it a priority to hold a public meeting in Monmouth County, where many commuters live.

The authority did hold three public meetings over two days last week on the issue; however, the Republican legislators were dissatisfied with the location and timing of the meetings.

“If you’re going to try to slam people with a 43 percent toll hike next year and a 115 percent hike over four years, the least you can do is make the meeting close to their homes so they don’t have to pay extra tolls to get to the meeting,” said O’Scanlon, according to the press release.

The meetings took place in Camden, Paramus and Woodbridge, and two of the meetings were held during the workday, which was another concern of Beck and her colleagues.

Beck, O’Scanlon and Casagrande all signed a letter dated Sept. 10 to Kris Kolluri, chairman of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

In the letter, the legislators state that they are opposed to any toll increase at this time, and ask that more public meetings about the increase be held at more accessible times and locations so more residents may be involved in the discussion.

“At the very least,” the letter states, “the public deserves ample opportunity to explain how these tolls hikes will affect their lives, and they shouldn’t have to take a day off from work or drive over an hour to do so.”

According to Beck, the reason for the toll increase is to fund the ARC Tunnel, which would be another rail tunnel connecting New York and New Jersey under the Hudson River. Beck believes that it is not within the purview of the Turnpike Authority to use tolls for this purpose.

“The Turnpike Authority is not lawfully entitled to fund a project that is separate from those toll roads for which it is responsible,” she said at the press conference.

According to Beck, the ARC Tunnel is projected to cost $7.6 billion, with $3 billion coming from the federal government, $3 billion from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and $1.7 billion coming from the state of New Jersey.

New York State authorities have not agreed to pay any additional funds outside of the money coming through the Port Authority, according to Beck.

Beck said that Monmouth County would be among the most impacted if the toll increase is approved.

“Eight counties will be paying 75 percent of the toll increase,” she said, “and Monmouth County is one of them.”

Casagrande said that by looking only at EZ-Pass user numbers, District 12 has seven of the 20 most traveled exits on the parkway, and eight out of 20 are in Monmouth County. She said “people are using Ocean and Monmouth counties as an ATM.”

“The citizens of Monmouth County are fed up,” said Angelini. “They are faced with difficult decisions, like do I fill up my car today or go to the grocery store? Monmouth County is one of the most traveled pieces of the parkway. There are construction projects that need to be taken care of, but not on the backs of the hardworking people of our state.”

O’Scanlon said that the Republicans have their own plan that would pay for the new tunnel without increasing tolls but by cutting other areas of the state budget,

including capping annual budget increases for Abbott school districts to 2 percent and decreasing aid to distressed cities.

“If we tighten our belts,” he said, “there is no need for an increase.”

Thompson said that he wanted to make it clear that he and his colleagues do not oppose the new tunnel, but they disagree with the Turnpike Authority on how it should be funded.

“Many debate whether there is ever a good time for a toll increase or a tax increase,” said Thompson, “but in the worst of times, it is inappropriate and unfair.”

He said that the state is trying to use parkway travelers as “cash cows” and reiterated Beck’s belief that the authority lacks the power to use toll money in such a way.

The current national economic climate provided the impetus for the legislators to push against an increase of any kind, with Rible, who represents a district heavily dependent on tourism revenues, saying that the proposed toll increase could push some visitors over the edge.

“With gas prices rising,” he said, “I’m concerned about how many people will be able to come down and visit the shore. By increasing the tolls, some businesses may have to shut down, especially in shore communities.”