Ciattarelli Rips Plan To Increase Tolls On Parkway, Turnpike

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Gubernatorial candidate and Hillsborough resident Jack Ciattarelli expressed his opposition to the proposed toll hikes on the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike by Governor Phil Murphy.

"This smacks of backroom deal-making. It will end when I am Governor," said Ciattarelli, 58, a Republican. "If Governor Murphy wants to raise tolls on the most over-taxed people in the nation, then he should make the case in an open, honest, and transparent way. Burying news of the toll hike while giving a budget address that calls for higher taxes is political choreography at its worst and a new low for an administration adverse to transparency."

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority made the possible toll hike plan public on Tuesday, saying it was authorizing public hearings on "revenue enhancement" for the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. (See Related: Possible Toll Hikes On Garden State Parkway, NJ Turnpike Coming)

The NJTA's board voted to authorize three public hearings on March 18 and 19.

"This is exactly the kind of typical Jersey government that people can't stand, making it only harder to accomplish the greater good,"Ciattarelli said. "I don't support toll hikes, not ones agreed on behind closed doors and especially not ones along corridors that carry significant local traffic, as the Parkway does. If the Governor want tolls hikes, deliver on some real reforms and tax decreases first."

Ciattarelli a former State Assemblyman announced his run for governor of New Jersey for 2022 this past January. (See Related: Hillsborough Local Jack Ciattarelli Announces Run For NJ Governor)

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.