Savings on NJ Turnpike

New Jersey Turnpike Authority is trying to slim its costs a little - in line with lower traffic. Traffic in the first ten months of the year is down 4.2% on the Turnpike and down 3.0% on the Parkway. The declines are attributed to the weak economy plus unusually wet weather in the summer - seen to depress trips to the NJ coast.  

Toll rates being up 25% could be another factor, although tolls on most of the system are probably still below the value of time and fuel saved as compared with the alternatives - providing little incentive to divert.

Operating expenses of the Turnpike Authority are down 1.4% in the first ten months compared to the same ten months last year..

Bergen Record quotes spokesman Joe Orlando as saying staff numbers were down 50 to 2,285 by year's end in line with plans. Positions were eliminated by "attrition" - retirements and departures.

Overtime budgets were also cut by around 10%.

Also more Turnpike vehicles were junked or sold off than new ones bought reducing the Turnpike fleet by 36.

COMMENT: That NTPJ sign upper left must be the most inept and ugly piece of institutional/corporate signage that exists in America.

Guess most of us really don't expect better, estheticswise, out of 'Joisie.'

But if they had any self-respect there, they'd run a competition for a decent new Turnpike sign. Even if it costs a few grand.  Stimulus money for the arts that we think would get the support of motorists.

TOLLROADSnews 2010-01-11