Groups that prefer light rail transit over tolls fight with N.J. officials
Written by RT&S Staff
NJ Transit
Instead of paying tolls, certain groups in New Jersey want to pay fares. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority did not have on its April 28 meeting agenda a toll plan to spend $16 billion on parts of the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike. That might be a small victory for environmental and transportation groups who have other ways of spending the money.
Six groups submitted a report on April 27 outlining a transit-heavy plan to help solve congestion issues and to better serve the community. The plan calls for spending $10 billion on road and bridge work and $26 billion on transit projects, including commuter rail lines from Bridgewater to Ewing, Middlesex County to Lakehurst, and High Bridge to Phillipsburg in New Jersey. There also is a call for several new light rail lines canvassing the state.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has put together a $24 billion capital plan, which includes expansion work on the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike.
Janna Chernetz, deputy director of Tri-State Transportation Campaign, says the capital plan shows the poor vision of some transportation officials.
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