Berkeley, NJ Township Council Vice-President calls parkway toll increases “unacceptable”

🔵 Berkeley Township Council makes strong push against toll increases

🔵 Council Vice-President makes bold statement on three straight years of such hikes

🔵 Action to be taken by the Berkeley Township Council on the matter

There are lots and lots of drivers who commute to and from work on a daily basis and use the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike and they're all hoping to pay less, not more to use those roads.

Many local leaders in Ocean County alone have spoken out on and against the continued rise in toll hikes by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority over the last couple of years.

It was recently announced that toll hikes will happen again to begin the 2024 calendar year leaving many drivers wondering how they'll afford it.

In Berkeley Township, the council unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the latest round of toll hikes set to take effect next year.

At the meeting, Council Vice-President Keith Buscio pointed to how many residents in Berkeley alone use these major roadways and that it will significantly impact them and others from around Ocean County.

"Many of our Township's 43,000 plus residents use the Garden State Parkway and NJ Turnpike to commute to their jobs," Buscio said in a statement provided to Townsquare Media News. "There are nearly 186,000 Ocean County residents that use EZPASS, with more than 20,000 EZPASS users residing in Berkeley Township. These figures don't include residents who pay cash on the two toll roads."

The state of the economy in New Jersey right now is another reason Buscio and the council are pushing for a change.

"With all of us feeling the sting of inflation through higher interest rates, gas prices, food and energy prices, residents are once again being asked pay more for tolls - this is unacceptable and is why I proposed a resolution of the Berkeley Township Council opposing this latest toll increase, which is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2024."

Berkeley Township Mayor Carmen Amato issued a statement of his own following the council's adoption of the resolution.

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“I want to thank Council Vice President Keith BUSCIO for his leadership in bringing this important matter forward. I stand united with the Council in opposition to this increase," Amato said in a statement provided to Townsquare Media News.