A Hike is a Hike is a Hike
Posted October 3, 2008

It’s like a bad case of déjà vu. Once again, toll hikes crowded the headlines this week, and once again, New Jerseyans found themselves wondering just how much they’ll have to pay.

In the latest development in this ongoing saga, Governor Corzine instructed the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) to scale back its toll hike plan, which, as the Courier-Post notes, would have hiked Parkway tolls by 143 percent and Turnpike tolls on an average 23-mile trip by 150 percent. It seems the governor’s change in heart was brought about at least in part by the public outcry over the hikes – outcry expressed during three public hearings held to date as well as via more than 1400 written comments. The Atlantic City Press reports, “A notice posted this week on the Web site of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority states that, ‘As a result of the views expressed in the public comments that have been received to date, the authority may consider the potential re-calibration of the initial proposed toll adjustments.’”

Unfortunately, however, the “potential re-calibration” falls short of a complete retraction, and Governor Corzine has yet to take the side of New Jersey taxpayers and oppose any plan to squeeze more money out of them as they travel our state’s roadways. Instead, he went only as far as to stress he wants to keep any hikes to a minimum. “I want to have a minimal increase matched against what is absolutely essential for public safety and congestion, and that maximizes how we can create jobs today,” he stated. “We are going to look at their [NJTA’s] capital plan and try to scale it to the minimum.”

Referring to the Turnpike Authority’s $480 million operating budget, Corzine has ordered Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri to cut this budget as well as freeze hirings and promotions.

Kolluri responded to the governor’s instructions, stating, “Based on our discussion, it is now our obligation as a board to come back to him [Corzine] with an operating budget reduction plan along with a proposal to scale the capital program back to meet our critical congestion and safety needs.”

Calling into question the impact of Corzine’s “scale-back” charge to the NJTA, however, is the fact that it included no specific figures. As the Star Ledger reports, “It was not immediately clear how much the proposed increases will be scaled back. Corzine did not give the Turnpike Authority specific numbers to meet….”

Also not clear are the projects that would be cut to achieve the “minimal” hike goal. The Vineland Daily Journal notes, “The governor didn’t detail what projects would be eliminated from the authority’s capital plan to ease any toll increase….” One thing Corzine indicated is likely to remain, however, is funding for a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River – funding that has drawn ire from both sides of the political aisle. (Under the current proposal, the state would direct $1.25 billion to the tunnel, and state officials argue the necessity of providing this funding to protect against forfeiting billions of dollars in federal matching funds.)

While whatever new plan the NJTA recommends will represent an improvement from Governor Corzine’s original 800 percent toll hike proposal, the fact remains that a hike is a hike is a hike, and as such, New Jerseyans will wind up footing the bill. Burdening New Jersey taxpayers with additional fees when the problem is not a lack of revenue but irresponsible state spending is never justifiable It is particularly inexcusable, though, at a time when New Jerseyans are already taxed to the hilt, hurting from ongoing pain at the pump, and facing serious economic uncertainties as a result of Wall Street’s woes.

Once again, we call on Governor Corzine to reject any toll increases and instead implement true fiscal reform by eliminating waste and mismanagement and cutting state spending across the board.

The NJTA has scheduled a fourth public hearing for Friday, October 10, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the New Jersey Turnpike Authority Headquarters in Woodbridge. (Click here for the official meeting notice.) If you are able to attend, we urge you to do so and to make your voice heard in this important issue.

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