New E-ZPass schedule for NJ

The NJ Turnpike as the lead agency for Consortium for ETC implementation in the state said June 18 that it had negotiated a new schedule with MFS. E-ZPass is now supposed to become operational on the Garden State Parkway beginning with the Hillsdale Plaza in Bergen Dec 99. Installations will move south with 169 of 344 lanes live by 6/19/00. Following the MTA B&T format all ET lanes on the GSP will be dedicated ET-only lanes. The GSP will not mix transponder equipped vehicles with cash paying customers in any mixed lanes.

Under the new agreement the NJ Turnpike will be fully operational with ET at157 of its 339 toll lanes at all 28 toll plazas by 5/22/00. Similarly the NJ Turnpike will not operate mixed lanes. Because it operates a trip toll system the NJ Turnpike needs ET at all plazas before it can become operational. With point or spot tolling the GSP can open ET progressively, though patrons may find it somewhat disconcerting to pay a toll with a transponder at one barrier plaza, then have to fumble for cash at the next, because ET is not yet up.