Connors, Rumpf & Gove

November 23, 2010   

Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
District 9

9th District Delegation Strongly Conveys Its Opposition to Any Consideration of Exit Toll

9th District Legislators Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove met with Executive Director Veronique Hakim and other officials of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to discuss the prospect of building a park-n-ride off of Garden State Parkway Exit 58 for commuters as well as plans for infrastructure improvements at the Exit to address existing traffic problems.

Ocean County Freeholder Jack Kelly and Little Egg Harbor Mayor Ray Gormley also attended the meeting which was held at the 9th District Legislators’ Office.  Senator Connors, Assemblyman Rumpf and Assemblywoman Gove issued the following statement regarding their meeting with the Turnpike.

“Our Delegation continues to work with the Turnpike Authority to have a park-n-ride constructed at Exit 58 in order to provide an appropriate, convenient and safe site at which commuters can leave their vehicles.  In the absence of any other alternative, commuters have over the years been forced to leave their vehicles in a poorly lit dirt lot riddled with pot holes located off of Route 539.

“Ocean County’s population growth in just the past decade alone necessitates infrastructure upgrades in order to accommodate the influx of commuters and help alleviate the increased traffic volume on various local roadways.  The area around Exit 58 is a sensible location for the placement of a park-n-ride, especially to service residents and commuters in the southern part of the County.

“During the meeting, it was conveyed in no uncertain terms that Ocean County would be adamantly opposed to the placement of a new toll in exchange for the proposed park-n-ride or for the upgrades planned for the Exit.  We were given assurances by the Authority that no new tolls were being considered in connection with either project.

“Ocean County residents have been hit disproportionately hard as compared to residents living in other parts of the state by the toll increases which went into effect under the Corzine Administration.  The increase in toll collections should be used to benefit Ocean County residents as funding for projects such as the proposed park-n-ride.”

9th District Delegation Strongly Conveys Its Opposition to Any Consideration of Exit Toll 9th District Legislators Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove met with Executive Director Veronique Hakim and other officials of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to [...]