UPDATE: On Thursday Governor Murphy issued the following statement…
“After considering the issue, I have decided to veto the @NJTurnpike’s proposed budget passed earlier this week. I am not satisfied with the justification provided for the toll increases reflected in the budget and need more information for why the board is taking this step.”
—– Get ready to dip deeper into your pockets this January if you drive on the New Jersey Turnpike or the Garden State Parkway, as tolls will jump some 3%, unless Governor Phil Murphy intervenes.
According to reports, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority Board of Commissioners is planning to increase tolls on both roadways to pay for 44 new employees in the maintenance and engineering departments, as well as a $100 million increase to their massive budget of $2.62 billion.
The new tolls would go into effect on January 1, 2024. Happy New Year to us all!!! But Governor Murphy could step in and kill the increase.
The toll increase would be the fourth since 2020 if it happens.
NJ.com is reporting that the Commissioners approved the budget hike unanimously. According to the New Jersey Chapter of the National Motorist Association, tolls have gone up 3% for four consecutive years. The organization is calling on Murphy to veto the budget.
New Jersey Senate President Nick Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin have both come out against the proposed toll increase.