With just two weeks to go before Election Day, Governor Phil Murphy is coming under pressure from top New Jersey Democrats to a planned 3% toll hike on the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike – the fourth consecutive year with a toll hike.
Toll hikes are made and approved by an independent authority that answers to Governor Murphy, but nobody else.
“Investing in New Jersey’s vital transportation infrastructure is critical to our economic growth. But as New Jersey families have been struggling with the effects of inflation, we have focused tirelessly on easing their burdens and ensuring affordability,” Nick Scutari and Steve Sweeney, the top Democratic legislative leaders, said in a joint statement. “Accordingly, we call on Governor Murphy to veto as much of the minutes as necessary to stop any toll hikes prior to the enactment of the Authority’s 2024 budget.”
The group that approved the toll hikes say the new revenue would go to fund a $2.62 billion budget for state roads.