Feb 18, 2008 7:08 pm US/Eastern
Trade Group Pressuring For Tolls On I-78, I-80
Corzine Feeling Heat; Local Lawmakers Say No Way
TRENTON (CBS) ―
A trade group wants Gov. Jon Corzine to impose tolls on more roads instead of raising them on highways like the New Jersey Turnpike.
As CBS 2 HD has learned some drivers want to put the brakes on the plan while others want to give it the green light.
Placing tolls on Interstates 78 and 80 …
That's what a group representing industrial park developers is asking Corzine to look at in order to avoid whopping toll hikes on other roadways.
Drivers we talked had mixed reaction:
"We have enough with the Turnpike and Parkway," said Lina Gianella of Union. "We have enough tolls for now."
"I think we definitely have enough tolls, but if it's going to fix the roads I'm all for it," Kevin Lewis of Union added.
Corzine has proposed raising tolls by 50 percent every four years on the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway.
The governor's spokesperson told CBS 2 HD Corzine is keeping all of his options open -- not ruling out new tolls.
"I don't think this is the way to go," Rep Bill Pascrell, D-Paterson. "I don't accept adding tolls on roads that don't have tolls right now."
Route 80 runs through Pascrell's district and he would like the governor look at another unpopular idea:
"Small increase in the gasoline tax," he said. "We pay one of the lowest in the entire country. This way everyone is affected equally."
Republicans say just cut spending. But with the state's transportation trust fund running out of money -- and less infrastructure funding from the federal government -- the question is who will end up paying for the roads?
State Sen. Ray Lesniak also opposes the idea of raising tolls on Interstate 78. The Democratic Senator plans on sponsoring a bill implementing the governor's proposals.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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