TOMS RIVER – Noting the lack of transportation alternatives available to Ocean County residents in addition
to its financial impact, the Board of Chosen Freeholders today called upon Gov. Corzine to reconsider his toll increase
and revisit other cost cutting measures to reduce the state’s debt.
“Ocean County continues to be one of the fastest growing counties in the state and with this growth we need to
move people to and from jobs, medical appointments, recreational activities just to name a few destinations,” said
Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari. “To do this our residents heavily rely on the Garden State Parkway and the New
Jersey Turnpike.”
Vicari said the proposed toll hike would result in a county resident who currently pays $10 a day to commute
to north Jersey to increase that commuting cost to almost $50 a day.
“With almost 40-miles of the Garden State Parkway running through Ocean County, and next to no transportation
alternatives, our residents will be among the hardest hit by these proposed toll increases,” Vicari said.
He added the increase could negatively impact one of Ocean County’s and the state’s leading industries –
tourism.
“Steady and increased competition from other states combined with the proposed toll increases could send our
tourists elsewhere despite our great beaches, and all our recreational venues,” Vicari said.
Vicari joined with his colleagues on the freeholder board today in passing a resolution calling upon the governor to
reconsider the proposed toll increase plan.
The freeholders also called upon the governor to review alternative ways to reduce the state’s fiscal debt
including freezing or reducing state spending; revisit the recommendations made by four special legislative committees
formed in 2007 to study property tax reform and, especially during economic downturns, focus on funding those programs
that are long-standing state responsibilities.
Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr., who is liaison to the county’s finance department, said the Governor’s plan
was not a responsible one because it taps into future revenues.
“Borrowing against future toll receipts will not solve the state’s financial problems,” Bartlett said. “And,
in the meantime, it will place an additional financial burden on our residents who have no choice but to use the Garden
State Parkway.”
Freeholder John P. Kelly, who serves as liaison to the county’s Engineering Department, said the state is not making
needed improvements to Route 9 – Ocean County’s only other north-south artery.
He added that planned improvements for areas of Route 9 like Lacey Township are now being pushed back until at least
2010.
“We do all we can in Ocean County to maintain our roads,” Kelly said. “We have also fully participated with the state
to help in getting improvements to the state roads, including the Parkway, but we can only do so much.”
Kelly said Parkway users will look to travel local roads should these toll increases be implemented.
“Local roads are already over-burdened,” Kelly said. “Adding more traffic would just make worse what is already a
growing problem.”
Freeholder Gerry P. Little said the state should impose a cap or limit on spending just like those imposed on the
county and municipal governments.
“The state is on the edge of fiscal bankruptcy,” Little said. “And yes something needs to be done.”
However, he said, motorists traveling the Parkway should not be responsible for the debt of the entire state.
“The majority of those traveling the toll roads are using them to get to work,” Little said. “This will be an undue
burden on them.”
Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the county’s Road Department and is a staunch supporter and
liaison to the Monmouth Ocean Middlesex Rail Line said the proposed toll hike has resulted in a greater focus on
alternative transportation measures for Ocean County.
“We need this rail line now more than ever,” Lacey said. “We need to move people to and from destinations and it
should not cost them exorbitant amounts of money for them to get to where they are going.”
The board resolution will be sent to the Governor, Legislators in the state’s 9th, 10th and 30th District, and
Ocean County’s 33 municipalities.
Vicari noted that Ocean County motorists already pay millions of dollars in tolls every year.
“It’s apparent these toll hikes will not be shared equally across the state,” Vicari said. “The question becomes how
much more can the people of Ocean County afford to pay in order to live in New Jersey.”
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