There they go again. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is going to roll out its third toll increase in as many years in 2023. Starting January 1st, tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway are increasing another 3%.
Why? Because somebody has to pay all of the salaries at the authority because fewer people are taking discretionary trips and vacations. Fewer people are traveling the roads, so the NJTPA has to make the same amount of money next year as they did last year to maintain staffing.
For the first time in history, the Garden State Parkway will charge over $2 per toll. $2.02 to be exact.
The increase was approved in a unanimous vote on Tuesday. There was no public comment session. There was no discussion when Turnpike Authority commissioners met.
They NJTPA, however, blames inflation and supply chain issues which have deteriorated under President Joe Biden.
The NJTPA needs cash, but in its 2023 budget there is no reduction in force. The authority instead plans on a 2% salary increase and says ‘some’ new positions won’t be filled.
In 2012, tolls on the Garden State Parkway increased 50%. In 2020 they increased another 27%. Now, authority officials are saying New Jersey drivers should be happy that the 2022 and 2023 increases are just 3%.
Here’s what’s happening:
- Parkway tolls would increase from $1.96 for E-ZPass customers to $2.02 and from $2 to $2.10 for those paying cash.
- Toll plazas in Toms River will increase from 97 cents to $1.01 for E-ZPass customers and from $1 to $1.05 for those paying cash.
- The average Turnpike toll for passenger cars would increase from $4.95 to $5.10. Peak period E-ZPass tolls would go up from $5.62 to $5.79, and off-peak E-ZPass rates would increase from $4.22 to $4.35.