TRENTON — A Senate panel has approved a bill to direct the Turnpike Authority to roll back future toll increases meant to pay for a now-canceled rail tunnel under the Hudson. Citing potential cost overruns of several billion dollars, Gov. Chris Christie canceled the tunnel in October. But he instead directed $1.25 billion from the toll increases, which were...
TRENTON — A Senate panel has approved a bill to direct the Turnpike Authority to roll back future toll increases meant to pay for a now-canceled rail tunnel under the Hudson.
Citing potential cost overruns of several billion dollars, Gov. Chris Christie canceled the tunnel in October. But he instead directed $1.25 billion from the toll increases, which were approved to pay for the tunnel, called Access to the Region’s Core.
“Once we say money is going somewhere, that’s where it should go,” said Senate Transportation Chairman Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson), the bill’s sponsor. “It’s a case of letting people have dialogues. if not, every time we do something in the state and we earmark it, people will have no faith in what we’re going to do.”
The bill was approved 3-2 along party lines.
In 2008, tolls on the Turnpike increased by an average of 50 cents, while the one-way Parkway toll increased to 50 cents. In 2012, the Turnpike toll is scheduled to increase an average of 90 cents, to a total of $2.60, while the Parkway toll will go up another 25 cents.
Republicans complained Democrats did not come up with alternatives for that part of the funding for the state’s nearly broke Transportation Trust Fund, which Christie earlier this month said he plans to keep afloat partly with borrowing, Port Authority money and diverting money that had been dedicated to the tunnel.
“The rhetoric that we hear today is let’s study it,” said state Sen. Andrew Ciesla (R-Ocean). “Maybe after 20 years I’m a little jaded, but study is code word for delay because I don’t have an alternative.”
Ciesla said the authority had already bonded against the revenue.
“This ship has sailed. This cow is out of the barn already. This money is spent. The bonds have been issued,” he said.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Democrats to ask for planned toll hikes on N.J. Turnpike, Garden State Parkway to be canceled
• Paul Mulshine: Highway fight could take a toll on Christie
• Senate Democrats propose measure to roll back toll increases intended to fund trans-Hudson tunnel
• Editorial: Idea to cut tolls is pure politics
• Port Authority budget leaves tolls untouched, offers no plan for canceled ARC tunnel funds