Assemblyman John S. Wisnewski

WISNIEWSKI: APPLY THE BRAKES TO ANY PLAN TO TURN FREE HIGHWAYS INTO TOLL ROADS

(TRENTON) - Responding to reports today of an exploratory effort by the Departments of Treasury and Transportation to examine the feasibility of converting free state highways into private toll roads, Assembly Deputy Speaker John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), chairman of the Assembly Transportation and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement:ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS
NEWS RELEASE

FOR RELEASE:
November 15, 2006

CONTACT:
Assemblyman Wisniewski
(732) 316-1885
James Sverapa IV
(609) 292-7065

WISNIEWSKI: APPLY THE BRAKES TO ANY PLAN TO TURN FREE HIGHWAYS INTO TOLL ROADS

(TRENTON) - Responding to reports today of an exploratory effort by the Departments of Treasury and Transportation to examine the feasibility of converting free state highways into private toll roads, Assembly Deputy Speaker John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), chairman of the Assembly Transportation and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement:

"The idea of leasing our current toll roads or instituting tolls on currently free highways is a bad idea that is ill-advised and poorly considered. It's a wrong turn for the driving public.

"To suddenly hear top administration officials floating the idea of creating more tolls after we so recently successfully reduced the number of toll plazas on the Parkway - to the benefit of the hundreds of thousands of New Jersey motorists who commute up and down that highway every day - is disturbing in the extreme.

"We need to slam the brakes on this plan. Any potential benefits would be completely eclipsed by miles of traffic, confusion, and anger."

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