TRENTON — New Jersey plans to take bids in December for private operators to take over highway-toll collection, state Transportation Commissioner James Simpson said. The proposal would replace about 700 unionized toll collectors on the 148-mile New Jersey Turnpike. Simpson, who also is chairman of the state Turnpike Authority, said soliciting bids will help the state cut costs by...
A New Jersey Turnpike toll plaza. New Jersey plans to take bids in December for private operators to take over highway-toll collectionTRENTON — New Jersey plans to take bids in December for private operators to take over highway-toll collection, state Transportation Commissioner James Simpson said.
The proposal would replace about 700 unionized toll collectors on the 148-mile New Jersey Turnpike. Simpson, who also is chairman of the state Turnpike Authority, said soliciting bids will help the state cut costs by winning reductions in union work rules for collectors.
“With the toll collection and ancillary services, it’s become a monopoly,” Simpson told reporters after the regular monthly meeting of the authority in Woodbridge today. “We just want the means to get real with work rules.”
Gov. Chris Christie created a task force in March to study whether the state would save money if public jobs or agencies were operated by private companies. A report released by the panel in July said the state may save as much as $43 million a year by allowing a private company to collect tolls.
Simpson said other tasks such as guard-rail repair and highway maintenance are being considered for privatization.
Fran Ehret, president of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers Local 194, opposed the plan. The union represents about 1,500 Turnpike workers including the toll collectors.
“We’re hoping they don’t do that,” she said in an interview after the meeting. “We have middle-class families’ lives at stake.”
Related coverage:
• Star-Ledger editorial: Make change? Why not? Privatize New Jersey toll booths
• N.J. Turnpike Authority employees cash in $7.2M in unused sick, vacation time
• N.J. Turnpike, Parkway toll collectors object to suggestion to privatize jobs
• Star-Ledger editorial: Privately run lanes on the Turnpike: A good idea?