The Star Ledger is reporting that EZ pass data confirms the obvious; tolls are paid mostly by people who live near the toll roads.
Middlesex and Monmouth County residents pay the most tolls in the state, followed by Bergen, Ocean and Hudson. Residents of these counties comprise 40% of the state's population, but pay 61% of the tolls, according to this Star Ledger chart.
If you travel the Parkway daily within Monmouth County, between Wall (exit 98) and Holmdel (exit 114) you are currently paying $120 per year. Under Corzine's plan, you will be paying $985 per year, plus inflation adjustments, by the time the increases are fully implemented in 14 years. Do you think there might be more traffic on routes 34 and 35? You bet there will be.
The Star Ledger has a toll calculator that enables you to see the impact Corzine's plan will have on your travel costs.
Corzine and the proponents of his plan argue that much of the tolls are paid by out of state residents and commercial enterprises. They will adjust and revenue will not meet expectations, yet traffic will increase on free roads. Port Elizabeth will suffer, which will be a big blow to the NJ economy, but the ports in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston will do better.
New Jersey would be better off with a 15% spending cut. But a stem cell scientist will clone a pig with wings before Corzine will see that less government spending is the way out of our mess and the best for the New Jersey economy.
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2 comments:
great post...just linked you.
Elvis Presley heard about the Guvnor's tax plan and rolled over in his grave before grabbing his geetar and singing this:
Legal Tender,
Oh so sweet,
Pay me just to go.
You know our coffers are incomplete,
That’s why I tax you so.
Give me tender,
Til you’re blue,
Our greed is not fulfilled.
For my darlin, I’ll spend that too
And I always will.
Give me tender,
Our taxing’s strong,
Though maybe not our heart.
For the Good Ol’ boys where I belong,
You and your cash will part.
I own the roads,
on which you steer,
Your money, well, it’s mine.
It’ll be mine through all the years,
Till the end of time.
When at last my schemes come true
Driver this I know
Higher taxes will follow you
Everywhere you go.
Legal Tender,
Oh so sweet,
Pay me just to go.
You know our coffers are incomplete,
That’s why I tax you so.
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