Proposal to hike NJ tolls 50% in 2008 and 2013 and toll I-78 and I-80

A leading New Jersey legislator Senator Ray Lesniak says he's pushing a plan to boost toll revenues in the state to support what he calls "absolutely necessary" transport improvements. The plan involves two 50% hikes in tolls, one immediately and the other in five years time.

Tolls would also be placed on the two major interstates close to the New Jersey border. These are I-78 and I-80.

The plan would probably raise toll revenues from their present level of about $815m a year to about $1200m immediately, and to perhaps $1260m with I-78/I-80 tolls in 2009 or 2010.

With the second 50% hike in 2013 this would rise to around $1,850m/year.

New role for DRJTBC?

Tolling of I-78 and I-80 within New Jersey would require federal approval because they are currently free interstates.

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission owned by the states of NJ and PA tolls both interstates at the Delaware River crossings already, so perhaps Lesniak's purpose could be served by an agreement with Pennsylvania to hike the existing tolls at the border, and share them between the states.

Usually reliable sources in Harrisburg say that Pennsylvania too is looking for extra toll revenues.

An advantage of levying I-78 and I-80 tolls at the Delaware River is that arrangements are already in place for tolling.

Work is underway at I-78 to implement open road tolling - highway speed toll collection.

Tolls at the I-78 and I-80 Delaware River bridges face no federal restrictions. The proceeds can be used for whatever is deemed appropriate by the DRJTBC.

Diversion of traffic to presently free bridges could however be a hot issue, especially near I-78 in the Easton-Philipsburg metro area where there are three free bridges nearby.

I-80 is more rural in the vicinity of the Delaware River border crossing.

Both crossings carry heavy volumes of truck traffic.

US restrictions

Legislative authority at present for tolling free interstate highways is limited to:

- tolls to pay for new construction

- tolls dedicated to reconstruction and rehabilitation

- tolls varied by time of day to manage congestion

Authority to levy tolls on a free interstate for purposes of generating surpluses to support transportation generally is not permitted under present law.

Special legislation

The New Jersey delegation might be able to get special enabling legislation passed. They did exactly this several years ago when the state wanted to get rid of HOV restrictions on I-80 and I-287. Under the federal law as it existed this could only be done by repaying the money the Feds had contributed to construct the lanes.

The New Jersey delegation successfully passed special legislation in the form of a one line amendment to another bill which forbade the FHWA from requesting repayment, and the state was free to abandon HOV on the two interstates at no cost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOLLROADSnews 2008-04-30