New Jersey Port Authority E-ZPass Would Lose Discount Under Turnpike Authority Plan
WOODBRIDGE, NJ (WCBS 880) - A plan to raise more money for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority by ending a discount for out-of-staters will actually hurt some New Jerseyans.
WCBS 880's Levon Putney With The Bummer For Some New Jerseyans
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Currently, all E-ZPass customers get discounts when going through toll plazas during off-peak hours on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.
The Turnpike Authority wants to end discount for those who get their E-ZPass tags from non New Jersey agencies.
Well, under the current plan, many New Jerseyans would be hurt because the E-Pass tags from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey would not be exempt, even though the Garden State is half of that agency.
"[It's] a bit troublesome considering that the Port Authority does provide significant transportation and infrastructure benefits to the state of New Jersey," says the Tri-State Transportation Campaign's Janna Chernetz.
The Turnpike Authority thinks ending off-peak discounts would bring in an additional $16 million a year.
"The toll proceeds from the elimination of the off-peak discounts are just going to further fund wasteful and ineffective projects," says Chernetz.
She says extra revenue will go to road widening projects on the Parkway and Turnpike.
Customers of the Delaware River Bay Authority, Delaware River Port Authority, Burlington County Bridge Commission, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority would still get the discount.
