Removing tolls for toll roads

Removing tolls from toll roads is something quite small in the grand scheme of things, but I believe it could make an impact, especially in the pockets of the citizens whose states who do have them.

As someone who lives in New Jersey, I have always had a problem with parkway and turnpike fees (toll roads). I am aware that not every state has these, but they are unnecessarily expensive and I believe it’s time to get rid of them.

Also, I think it’s unfair that some towns in NJ have to pay to get on and off of the parkway and sometimes you pay for the turnpike and not that much later you drive onto the parkway just to get another toll. The fact that we have to pay several times on these roads is ridiculous because it all adds up little by little. I visited my sister yesterday in upstate NJ, and the amount I spent on tolls alone could’ve bought me a speciality drink at Starbucks.

I have been told several times that back when my parents were children, and the state was putting the parkway in (I’m not positive about the turnpike), they (I’m assuming state govt.) stated that it was only a temporary fee. Come to 2024 and I have to pay .80¢ or more just to travel efficiently without having to stop at lights or slow down because someone is turning. I love driving on these toll roads because they make it easy, but I don’t love the amount of money I have to spend to take an easy route.

I personally don’t believe citizens should have to pay to use roads like these. I pay enough in taxes in NJ that the state should have enough money to maintenance the roads from time to time without having its residents pay .80¢ or more to drive on, enter and/or exit the toll roads. If they don’t have enough money from Jersey residents, the state needs to be checked in on to see what the discrepancy is.

Those EZ pass systems are a total mess too, especially if you change cars. There is no such thing as temporary in NJ. I think these tolls are huge sources of revenue to the state due to so many popular shore points used by residents of many different states.