Tolls on New Jersey's three major toll highways are increasing on September 13, per Governor Phil Murphy's approval.
Murphy approved the toll hikes and the multi-billion dollar construction plans they fund. According to NJ.com, the meeting minutes were approved on May 27 and letters were sent to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority.
Governors can approve, veto or not sign authority board minutes.
Murphy's approval came after lengthy public hearings on the toll hikes and after various groups and individual drivers urged him to veto the minutes and object to plans to widen 16 sections of the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, as well as one part of the Atlantic City Expressway
Environmentalists argued the road widenings would be especially damaging to towns in North Jersey and that post-coronavirus traffic could make them superfluous.
Construction and labor groups argued for approval, suggesting the road work would provide an important and welcome economic stimulus.
The average toll by the Turnpike Authority will increase by $1.30 for passenger vehicles.
Cash tolls at a Garden State Parkway mainline toll plaza will increase from $1.50 to $1.90.
Expressway toll will increase an average of 57 cents for passenger vehicles.
Also, per a vote by the NJ Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority, beginning in 2022, the agencies may increase tolls by up to 3 percent annually, based on certain economic indicators.
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