Whitman and Haley praise State
Legislature for action on electronic toll legislation

"Drivers’ days of struggling in search of change for the toll are over," said Governor Whitman. "With today’s legislative action, Garden State motorists will soon be reaping the benefits of advanced technology which will greatly improve the movement goods, reduce toll lines and provide a level of convenience and efficiency drivers demand and deserve."

"In addition to complementing our Clean Air strategy, this important legislation supports efforts to ease the commute for thousands of New Jerseyans and strengthens the state’s position as a vibrant center for commerce," said Haley.

The legislation provides the enforcement mechanism to The benefits of an electronic toll collection system include:

-- enhances customer service, convenience and time-savings by reducing toll plaza congestion and eliminating the need to fumble for change or take a ticket;

-- advances state toward goal of a seamless, regional electronic toll system which will unify the Northeast under one inter-operable, integrated system that allows motorists to use multiple toll facilities without opening multiple accounts;

-- allows for cash-less payment of tolls which will facilitate goods movement and improve commercial/financial accountability;

-- complements Clean Air strategies by reducing congestion which also helps reduce automobile emissions;

-- enhances viability and access to major seaport complexes (i.e., Newark and Elizabeth) through the more efficient movement of goods through the Northeast;

-- and, has potential to relieve truck traffic on the local infrastructure by making travel on turnpike more attractive and convenient to truckers with the implementation of non-stop toll collection.

"The members of the consortium of toll authorities are committed to offering convenience and other benefits associated with electronic tolls to the motorists who use our toll facilities," said Haley. " We pledge to our customers that an aggressive implementation plan will be put in place to ensure that this system will become operational as quickly as possible."

The Consortium of toll authorities is comprised of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the New Jersey Highway Authority (operator of Garden State Parkway), the South Jersey Transportation Authority (operator of Atlantic City Expressway), the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Delaware Department of Transportation. The Northeast portion of the United States comprises more than 50 million residents, 13 major airports, two dozen major railroad stations, 11 major seaports, with close to 250 billion miles logged each year on 30,000 miles of interstate and primary highways.