What to Know
- In the midst of the deadly coronavirus outbreak in New Jersey, the turnpike authority held two public hearing about toll hikes.
- The authority is proposing raising tolls up to 36% on the New Jersey Turnpike and up to 27% on the Garden State Parkway.
- Under the proposed rates, a passenger car traveling the length of the turnpike from South Jersey to New York City would pay $18.85, up from $13.85.
Public hearings on sweeping toll hikes at two of New Jersey's major highways went ahead Wednesday despite cancellations of other public events due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority held a hearing at 1 p.m. at its headquarters in Woodbridge and a had a second hearing scheduled for Camden County College at 6 p.m. Both hearings were to be livestreamed.
Earlier this week, Gov. Phil Murphy barred groups of more than 50 people from gathering, in an attempt to slow down the virus's spread. An official at the 1 p.m. hearing said about 40 people were present.
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The authority is proposing raising tolls up to 36% on the New Jersey Turnpike and up to 27% on the Garden State Parkway. The additional revenue will help fund a long-term capital plan that includes several road-widening and bridge repair projects expected to cost between $1.3 billion and $3.5 billion.
Under the proposed rates, a passenger car traveling the length of the turnpike from southern New Jersey to New York City would pay $18.85, up from $13.85. Garden State Parkway tolls would rise from 50 cents to 65 cents in some places and $1.50 to $1.90 in others.
