In The News

More states consider tolls on freeways amid budget deficits

Lawmakers here are weighing tolls for Interstates 78 and 80, two busy highways that slice across the state from Pennsylvania to New York City. The idea was raised as an alternative to Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s widely panned proposal to increase tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway.

“It’s not the silver bullet that solves all our problems, but it’s one way to bring some money into a system that needs it,” said Democratic Assemblyman John Wisniewski, chairman of the transportation committee.

A growing number of states are looking to freeways as potential revenue sources to help offset budget deficits and pay for highway repair and maintenance.

Pennsylvania is weighing tolls on I-80. Virginia is considering putting them on Interstate 81. Missouri is eying toll truck lanes on Interstate 70.

“The interest is growing and growing considerably,” said James Ray, acting administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.

While no formal plan has been introduced in New Jersey, some legislators are pushing the idea, which Corzine deemed a “legitimate alternative that needs to be studied.”

Some citizens are already objecting.

“How many millions of dollars will it cost and how long will it take to build toll booths?” Gene Szura asked the Democratic governor in an e-mail.

Steve Shriver told Corzine he wouldn’t mind if the toll booths were positioned so that they would target out-of-state drivers entering New Jersey.

“I don’t mind Pennsylvania residents that work in New York paying extra,” he wrote in an e-mail.

Ray acknowledged the debate is difficult. But he questioned whether the nation could continue relying on gasoline and other taxes to finance transportation improvements, as do most states and the federal government.

“The financing system has delivered a tremendous good to us and it still serves us well in many respects, but I think the threshold of change is upon us,” Ray said. “It is time now to have a dialogue about how we’re going to finance our roads and infrastructure needs in the future.”

He said continued reliance on gasoline taxes conflict with efforts toward energy independence and fuel-efficient cars.

“Ultimately, we will shift to an alternative financing mechanism, and I think we will do that sooner than a lot of people think,” he said. “And, certainly, tolls is one of the ways that that can manifest itself, so we are supportive of direct-user pricing as long as it’s done in a responsible way.”

In New Jersey, the idea of tolling the interstates was proposed by the state’s National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, a 550-member group representing industrial, warehouse and distribution centers along the New Jersey Turnpike.

Association officials worry the toll increases previously proposed by Corzine would devastate businesses facing competition from Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley.

“The buzz of the toll hikes has made it into the marketplace already,” said Alex Klatskin of Forsgate Industrial Partners, a private real estate developer and investor that has 10 million square feet of industrial space off the turnpike in central New Jersey.

U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett, whose district is crossed by both freeways, has vowed to fight the tolls.

“The talk of putting tolls on I-78 and I-80 is absurd, and if the idea progresses, you can rest assured that Congressman Garrett will also strongly fight to oppose it,” spokeswoman Mary Vought said.

In Pennsylvania, the prospect of new tolls has also generated opposition, particularly among those along the interstate corridor.

“We realize Pennsylvania needs more money to maintain and protect its transportation infrastructure, but tolling Interstate 80 is not the right solution,” said Maria Culp, the Central Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce president.