Did you know toll booths on New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway were never meant to be a permanent fixture, especially as the state’s main route to the Jersey Shore is about to turn 70.
Yes, that’s right, we’re not supposed to have toll booths on the Parkway, but we do.
The Garden State Parkway was officially opened in 1954, envisioned as a controlled-access highway that would serve as a convenient route for motorists traveling through New Jersey. The plan for this 172-mile road was ambitious, with the intention to link Montvale in the north to Cape May in the south. Constructed to alleviate traffic on local roads, the Parkway quickly became a central artery for New Jersey’s transportation network.
The “Temporary” Toll Booths
When the toll booths were first introduced, they were meant to be a temporary measure to repay the bonds that funded the Parkway’s construction. Initially, the toll was set at 25 cents, a nominal fee aimed at speeding up the repayment process. Yet, despite being labeled temporary, these toll booths are still very much a part of New Jersey residents’ daily lives.
Obama’s Infrastructure Upgrades
In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed by then-President Barack Obama, allocated funds for various infrastructure projects, including upgrades to the Garden State Parkway. While these improvements were beneficial, they also led to a rise in operating costs.
As a result, the tolls experienced a gradual increase. Today, a single toll on the Parkway costs $1.50, a stark contrast to the original 25-cent fee.
From Tokens to EZ Pass
Tokens and coins were once the primary method for paying tolls on the Garden State Parkway. These tokens were phased out in the early 2000s, giving way to the more modern and efficient EZ Pass system. With EZ Pass, tolls are electronically collected, streamlining the entire process for both the operators and the commuters.
There was even once a time when the state issued a ‘forever’ token. When you bought the token at around 25 cents each, it would be good no matter how much the price of a toll went up. The last token was sold in January 2001. By 2009, the state had ditched tokens and began pushing people toward EZ Pass.
The Troubles with EZ Pass
However, the transition to EZ Pass has not been without its issues. Drivers have often complained about receiving wrong tickets, or being charged for tolls that they did not pass through. Incorrect license plate readings have led to fines, adding to the woes of many commuters.
The toll booths on the Garden State Parkway, once projected as a temporary necessity, have become a permanent fixture. While upgrades and toll increases have maintained the Parkway’s condition, they’ve also ensured that the toll booths aren’t going anywhere soon. As technology continues to evolve with systems like EZ Pass, it remains to be seen if these booths will ever become a relic of the past or continue to be an enduring part of New Jersey’s transportation landscape.
One day, the Garden State Parkway will be free of actual toll booths, but you will still pay to drive on it.