Star Ledger: Parkway, Turnpike commuters brace for 50 percent increases

 

Please see the Star Ledger article regarding the upcoming NJ Turmpike and GSP toll increases. As the article says, this will hit Middlesex commuters the hardest according to information from the NJ Turnpike Authority on the usage of these roads.

 

Commuter Parking Advisory Committee

 

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Each morning at 8, Russ Shupak leaves his home in Toms River and starts a commuter’s version of the game Chutes and Ladders.

Playing against thousands of opponents on two of America’s busiest toll roads, he drives north on the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike to reach the finish line at his workplace in Newark.

article link

Star Ledger: Port Authority announces new construction projects for Newark airport

You have to love this comment in the article from Assemblyman Wisniewski:

Dow’s transfer to the agency by Gov. Chris Christie was criticized by Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), chairman of the State Democratic Party. With customary sarcasm, Wisniewski ridiculed Dow’s placement, or "parking," at the Port Authority, which is forced to send NJ Transit buses back across the Hudson River empty after each morning rush hour because there is no room to park them in Manhattan during the layover before the evening rush.  

"Apparently, the P.A. does not have sufficient parking space at he Port Authority Bus Terminal for buses from New Jersey," Wisnieski said. "But they do have sufficient parking space for former New Jersey cabinet officers."

A big round of applause for him. At least someone cares about us bus commuters!

Commuter Parking Advisory Committee

link to Star Ledger article

Another 50% toll hike coming 1/1/12 to NJT and GS Parkway

Gov. Christie lashes out at Port Authority exec, cites inconsistent toll hike figures

In his first public comments on the controversy surrounding the Port Authority’s recent toll hike, Gov. Chris Christie is once again criticizing the agency’s former executive director, Christopher Ward.

The issue involves differences between the Port Authority’s public statements justifying the September toll increase, and what its lawyers are now saying in defending the agency against a lawsuit seeking to overturn the increase.

Christie toll hike article link

Moody's: Negative outlook on NJ Turnpike Authority

State using the NJ Turnpike & GS Parkway as a piggy bank to fund other projects having nothing to do with two roads, sticking it to Middlesex commuters that are dependent on these roads.

Moody's keeps negative credit outlook on Turnpike Authority

Friday November 18, 2011, 6:03 PM

BY JOHN REITMEYER

STATE HOUSE BUREAU

State House Bureau

A Wall Street ratings agency is maintaining the New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s negative credit outlook, citing Governor Christie’s decision to divert money from the authority to prop up state transportation spending as a factor.

 

Moody’s Investors Service did not lower the authority's overall credit rating, but kept a negative credit outlook for the authority’s $8.4 billion in debt in place, saying in a report issued this week that high unemployment and a poor economy in general mean less forecasted traffic and revenue

 
http://www.northjersey.com/news/state/111811_Moodys_keeps_negative_credit_outlook_on_Turnpike_Authority.html?page=all

Why toll roads are a bad idea

It's an essay by James Baxter of the National Motorists Association titled "Why Toll Roads Are a Bad Idea." An excerpt:

Toll roads are an inefficient, backwards approach to providing public highways. Worse, they foster corruption, political patronage, and discourage needed improvements on the rest of the highway system.
Don't be fooled by the references to "free-market principles," "proper pricing," "supply and demand," and "economic incentives" from those selling the for-profit roadways. The truth is, any resemblance to free-market principles is more illusion than fact.

http://blog.nj.com/njv_paul_mulshine/2011/11/in_honor_of_chris_christies_up.html

Forbes on why Congress should renew QTE for 2012

Transit Riders To Congress: Keep Our Tax Savings Rolling In 2012

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Do you commute to work? The pre-tax benefit for transit commuters is set to drop nearly in half on Jan. 1, costing transit riders $500 and up a year in lost tax savings. On behalf of the more than 2.7 million families who take advantage of the transit portion of commuter benefits, a consortium of players including benefit providers like TransitCenter and WageWorks are rallying to preserve the higher limits. Their handiwork is at the Web site, Commuter Benefits Work For Us, where transit riders can click through to tell Congress they want transit benefits to continue to equal parking benefits after the New Year.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleaebeling/2011/11/23/transit-riders-to-congress-keep-our-tax-savings-rolling/

QTE benefit boost expiring 12/31/11

Americans who ride public transportation will face increased commuting costs if Congress does not act to extend the transit commuter benefit by the end of the year, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). This will in effect create a disparity in the federal tax code in favor of the car driver.

In addition, this increased commuting cost will hit the very workers who may need it the most, according the the association. APTA says that 70% of those who rely on public transit have household incomes from $15,000 to $99,000 a year, according to its latest demographic survey of riders.

“Unless Congress acts, there will be a financial bias in the federal tax code against public transit use,” said APTA President Michael P. Melaniphy. “We are seeking to maintain parity with the parking benefit to ensure that there isn’t a disincentive to take public transportation.”

Legislation to temporarily establish parity between parking and transit/vanpool benefits at $230 per month per commuter was extended under the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act through 2011. However, the transit/vanpool portion of the benefit will revert to $125 per month when the provision expires at the end of the year while the parking benefit increases to $240.

Time to let your representatives know that public transit commuters deserve a break too.

Commuter Parking Advisory Committee

http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2011/12/APTA-failure-to-extend-transit-commuter-benefits-favors-drivers.aspx?ref=Express-Tuesday-20111206&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Enewsletter

Clever Commute gets NY Times mention

Clever Coommute gets a mention in a NY Times commuting article.

Many commuters have found this service helpful with our real time commuter posts regarding traffic and other conditions.

We encourage all commuter to sign up if you are interested.

You can find full details on how to sign up here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EBCommuter/message/7616

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/03/nyregion/after-toll-increases-less-traffic-and-more-train-riders.html?_r=1

Commuter Parking Advisory Committee

Another revenue producing opportunity for our local governments

Jersey City's newest set of traffic light cameras help generate more than 3,000 tickets

Tickets on right turns too it seems.

You can never be too careful out there while the meter is running.

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2011/12/jersey_citys_newest_set_of_tra.html