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Jul 1, 2008 7:14 pm US/Eastern
'Convenience Pricing' On The Way To N.J. Highways?
Landmark Proposal Would Allow Drivers To Pay More To Avoid Congestion On Parts Of Turnpike, Garden State
FORT LEE, N.J. (CBS) ―
How much would you pay to avoid a traffic jam?
It's not congestion pricing; it's convenience pricing. The new proposal is being considered in New Jersey.
It's a fact. New Jersey has some of the worst highway congestion in the nation, but Senate President Richard Codey has a solution.
"My idea is to let a private company come in," Codey said.
That private company, Codey says, would spend $3 billion of its own money to expand the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. The company would then charge tolls on the expansions. Drivers would have a choice: Take the old clogged road or the new free-flowing road.
"There will be signs telling where there's congestion and where there's not and you make a decision and then continue on the old part of the road where there's no toll increase or take that new section for a while where there would be an increase," Codey said.
The initial expansion, Codey says, would be from Exit 8A to Exit 6 on the Turnpike and from Exit 80 South on the Parkway.
Drivers would probably pay double the tolls to avoid congestion. For example, right now it costs $1.70 to go from Exit 8A to Exit 6 on the Turnpike. To avoid congestion the tab would probably rise to $3.40.
That apparently wouldn't scare off many drivers.
"Time is valuable to me and probably it would offset the increased cost of the fare," said Larry Milman of Jericho, N.Y.
William Jones, a trucker from North Carolina, said he'd very much be in favor of the proposal.
"I wouldn't burn as much fuel sitting and waiting," Jones said.
Added El Shetwy of Ridgefield Park, N.J.: "Yes, it depends on where I'm going. If I have to get somewhere and I have to be on time? Yes."
Sources say it will take at least until the fall to hammer out any new highway deal.
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine said Tuesday the idea for convenience pricing is on the table. A spokesman for Sen. Codey says that if the initial project works it could be expanded to other parts of the Turnpike and the Parkway.
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