I don't know which is worse - the politicians who come up with this stuff, or the people who let them. Can you say: "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore"?

CAT: I wonder if Ray included this on his toll costs page? Yet another waste of money (waste being defined as "any and all costs that toll-free roads don't need).

E-ZPass overhaul delayed till spring: (Star Ledger, 2/24/03) - After five years of expensive failures and broken promises, NJ is making yet another attempt to fix the electronic toll system.

Parkway's most likely crash site? Study says it's tollbooths (Star Ledger, 2/17/03) - Story citing Ed Heeren's study (see Safety page for more details).

Merging traffic: 'Pike-way' plan would save state millions (Star Ledger, 2/15/03) - Governor McGreevey unveiled plans to merge the agencies that run the Garden State Parkway and NJ Turnpike. 130 Administrative jobs will be shed, saving $10 million per year in operating costs, and $12 million annually in debt payments.

CAT: Duh - that should have been done 50 years ago. This is exactly what we've been saying all along: Fewer toll authorities = save money. But why stop there? Merge both agencies into the DOT, shed hundreds more worthless toll jobs, and save a lot more than $10-20 million per year. What good is saving a few $million when they're still wasting $billions (E-ZPass alone cost over $700 million)? 130 administrative jobs is still a drop in the bucket compared to the several hundred still doing nothing more than collecting tolls and running E-ZPass. Plus what's the use of saving a few $million when all Governor McGreevey wants to do is buy more tolls with it (High-Speed E-ZPass)? Besides, if Governor McGreevey was sincere about reducing administrative overhead, why did he just create another $85,000 position? (See Parkway extravagance (2/4/03) below.)

One-year stints fatten ex-legislators' pensions (Star Ledger, 2/5/03) - Days after completing the minimum time needed to qualify for pension enhancements worth tens of thousands of dollars a year, two former Republican legislators quit the lucrative state posts they were awarded after being voted out of office last year. "If anybody don't like it, that's too bad" said one of the new retirees, former Sen. Lou Kosco.

CAT: Gee, what does plum patronage jobs have to do with tolls? That's the REAL reason tolls exist. And talk about timing - see the "Parkway extravagance" editorial that ran just yesterday (below).

Parkway extravagance (Star Ledger editorial, 2/4/03) - In ordinary times, John O'Hern's appointment to a newly created $85,000 job at the Garden State Parkway would merit little comment. But these are not ordinary times. Why create a high-paid position that smells of patronage now, when the Parkway just finished eagerly encouraging the early retirement of 93 veteran workers to cut its budget?

Those tolls should be history (Star Ledger, Paul Mulshine, 1/30/03) - "Weren't tolls supposed to disappear after the Parkway was paid for?" The NJ Highway Authority says no. So, where did all those people get the idea that tolls would end? "The state legislature in 1952 created the New Jersey Highway Authority and authorized it to complete the artery as a self-liquidating toll road," reads a 1953 article from the New York Times. "Self-liquidating: A term used to describe a low-risk financial transaction or loan which incorporates a procedure for simultaneous termination and clearing indebtedness. A hire-purchase transaction is self-liquidating in that regular payments culminate in a final installment which clears the debt".

CAT: If I understand that correctly, as long as they maintain debt, there is no final installment, and tolls will last forever. And I guess there's no chance of that happening because there's always a new E-ZPass to buy. (Thanks for the research, Mr. Mulshine.)

$402 million sought for E-ZPass deficits (Star Ledger, 1/24/03) - New Jersey files claim against WorldCom.

E-ZPass ends free ride for toll cheaters (Star Ledger, 12/19/02) - State moves up reactivation of violation system at tollbooths.

CAT: Duh. Of course they had to say that after yesterday's headline (...see 12/18/02), otherwise everyone would have simply taken the transponder out of the car and driven for free.

E-ZPass lets most toll cheats drive on (Star Ledger, 12/18/02) - Enforcement system shut due to equipment failure.

Pike hires staff to fix E-ZPass (Star Ledger, 11/26/02) -

CAT: Even more plum jobs.

No-toll group hits bakes, urges short but steep hike (Star Ledger, 11/20/02) - Citizens Against Tolls presents plan to pay down the debt so tolls can be removed.

State officials draw heat for no-bid E-ZPass deal (Star Ledger, 11/20/02) -

E-ZPass becomes tough sell to some motorists (Star Ledger, 11/19/02) -

CAT: Please bring back tokens (aka the poor man's E-ZPass). E-ZPass isn't for everyone, and tokens are actually a better alternative for some people.

E-ZPass help center coming to Newark (Star Ledger, 11/1/02) - ACS plans to base 200 to 300 customer service reps as well as E-ZPass repair crews....

CAT: 200 to 300 CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS! Route 80 doesn't need that. What a waste! Tolls don't pay for roads, they pay for service reps! Come to think of it, Route 80 doesn't need E-ZPass repair crews either.

New high-speed E-ZPass to put motorists in the fast lane (Star Ledger, 10/31/02) - Under a $45 million plan unveiled by Gov. James E. McGreevey, high-speed E-ZPass would be installed over the next three years at seven toll plazas.

CAT: Gee, I wonder how they're going to catch toll cheats, considering they can't even seem to get it done at 5 to 15 mph. It's amazing that NJ doesn't seem to have any money for major projects - except new tolls. Does the waste ever end?

Parkway to end E-ZPass discount (Star Ledger, 10/25/02) - Experiment aimed at easing rush-hour traffic is called a failure.

State gets new firm to direct E-ZPass (Star Ledger, 10/26/02) - Tentative 10-year contract will cost N.J. $450 million. In addition, there are approximately $300 million in capital costs for construction of the system, bringing the total cost of the program to more than $750 million by 2012. There will also be interest costs adding to the final costs.

CAT: $750 million for 10 years? I thought the original $488 million 7-year contract was outrageously high only because of the construction costs. But it looks like slick McGreevey extended the contract at a much higher rate per year than even Whitman's outrageous deal. Simply outrageous.

E-ZPass tags dying out before their time (Star Ledger, 10/14/02) - State to get 209,000 new devices for free.

CAT: Yeah, free, right. Wanna bet they hide it in a new outrageous contract somewhere (...hint - see 10/26/02). 209,000 transponders - what a waste of resources.

E-ZPass grows despite its $1 monthly fee (Star Ledger, 10/3/02) -

CAT: Well yeah. Discontinuing tokens AND keeping a shortage of cash lanes makes it extremely difficult to not have E-ZPass. Like we have a choice?

E-ZPass quietly suspends fines to repair system (Star Ledger, 9/20/02) - Move helps fix bogus violations.

Tickets for toll cheats take a dive in Jersey (Star Ledger, 9/16/02) - Summonses plunge 85%.

Parkway sets stage for end to discount (Star Ledger, 7/26/02) -

Assembly panel seeks E-ZPass investigation (Star Ledger, 7/11/02) -

CAT: Gosh, tolls even give the Assembly something to do! I just hope they're not paid by the hour (...in which case it would only be a waste of time). But I guess they have to do something to earn their paychecks. ...like hire more E-ZPass investigators. Tolls waste SO much money in SO many ways.

E-ZPass users hit up for a monthly fee (Star Ledger, 7/12/02) - McGreevey adds $1 surcharge and ends Parkway discount to close toll system's deficit.

State fires its E-ZPass contractor (Star Ledger, 7/3/02) - Toll system's on-going glitches lead to end of WorldCom deal.

CAT: Hey, that was easy enough. Well, now is our chance to ditch the rest of the tolls too!

E-ZPass glitches produce a perk for drivers (Star Ledger, 6/20/02) - Parkway's new Exit 77 won't cost motorists a dime this summer.

CAT: My exit won't cost me a dime this summer either - Exit 35 on Route 80.

State seeks fix for E-ZPass glitches (Star Ledger, 6/6/02) - Turnpike execs turn to the operator of New York's electronic toll system for answers.

McGreevey's new Turnpike chief supported flawed E-ZPass plan (Star Ledger, 5/29/02) -

Hundreds of E-ZPass defects uncovered (Star Ledger, 5/10/02) -

E-ZPass deficit is ballooning (Star Ledger, 5/2/02) -

CAT: Same story, different day.

State tabs outside engineering firm to sort out E-ZPass mess (Star Ledger, 5/1/02) - Unable to figure out what has gone wrong with New Jersey's E-ZPass equipment, highway officials hired an upstate New York engineering firm....

CAT: Not only is this another needless waste of money brought to you by tolls, it also takes our money out of state.

Turnpike slots ex-McGreevey aid in new post (Star Ledger, 5/1/02) - Gov. James E. McGreevey's former chief of staff in Woodbridge was named yesterday to a newly created $120,000 position at the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

CAT: Plum, plum, plum! Yes, we have a winner (...and it isn't us). It must be nice to have the money to create these kind of jobs. I hope he's worth it (...hint - see 5/29/02).

McGreevey finds $135M for new Driscoll Bridge (Star Ledger, 4/9/02) - Turnpike Authority to fund Parkway span.

CAT: So much for the pretense of a fair user-fee. Turnpike drivers are now paying for THREE roads while driving just one - The Turnpike with their tolls, the Parkway with their tolls, and the toll-free roads like Route 80 with their taxes.

E-ZPass snares drivers in a legal mess (Star Ledger, 4/4/02) - P.A. police incorrectly issued $100 tickets to legitimate tagholders.

Toll hike raises concern about more trucks on Montague roads (Star Ledger, 3/31/02) -

CAT: Actually, tolls act as a deterrent to many people, making them to take alternate routes. And anyone who lives on these alternate routes should thank tolls for increased congestion and pollution on their roads. Isn't it time we remove the incentive to take the longer, more polluting way?

Toll from E-ZPass glitches: 3 million erroneous violations (Star Ledger, 3/19/02) -

CAT: ...And just wait until we get high-speed E-ZPass, when everyone is going 65 mph instead of just 15 mph.

Chasing toll cheats puts E-ZPass in red (Star Ledger, 3/1/02) - State paid enforcement firm $24 million to collect $13.8 million in fines.

CAT: (speechless, with look of utter disgust).

4 Turnpike toll takers charged with embezzlement (Star Ledger, 2/28/02) -

CAT: Route 80 never had that problem.

Assembly joins drive in probe of E-ZPass (Bergen Record, 2/27/02) - The assembly Transportation Committee will begin a probe of the financially troubled E-ZPass system seeking answers to why it may cost $300 million more than originally expected.

Fixing E-ZPass tops new pikes chief's agenda (Bergen Record, 2/27/02) -

CAT: How to fix E-ZPass - Cut your losses and stop payment to MFS as the first step to removing tolls.

Understanding E-ZPass no easy task for motorists (Bergen Record, 2/22/02) - Frequently, motorists just surrender and pay tolls they have paid already - anything to stop the never-ending parade of dunning notices. Deanna Cross of Woodcliffe Lake received 10 notices for the same alleged $3.50 violation. So E-ZPass spent $3.40 on postage to collect $3.50, which was not owed, a fact Cross tried to explain to the system. But she gave up when the bills kept coming. E-ZPass eventually acknowledge that Cross was right after all, a rare admission. Then it made this acknowledgement nine more times, spending another $3.40 in postage.

The E-ZPass story: A governmental fiasco (Bergen Record, 2/20/02) - If Whitman and her bureaucrats had examined the E-ZPass deal carefully, they would have never have gotten into it.

E-ZPass is digging huge hole for N.J. (Bergen Record, 2/18/02) - It's hard to have a $500 million toll-collection system and not make drivers pay for it.

CAT: The whole concept of tolls is a "user fee" for the roads. Yet the toll itself, E-ZPass, is an expensive benefit that someone else pays for. Why is that?

Free ride turns costly (Bergen Record, 2/17/02) - NJ has collected just $13.2 million from toll cheats, a fraction of the $190.7 million they originally expected.

McGreevey alters tax promise (Star Ledger, 1/18/02) - Budget gap complicates plan to end Parkway tolls. May consider high speed E-ZPass.

Flashback 1997:

State plan ends tolls on Parkway in 10 years (Star Ledger, 8/9/01) - The plan includes demolishing a portion of each toll barrier and adding high speed E-ZPass at an estimated cost of $125 million.

CAT: First, all well and good. This is something we never had before - an actual plan to remove the tolls. However, why was the Parkway put in charge of the study to remove tolls? Isn't that like putting the mouse in charge of the cheese shop? Aren't those the same people who couldn't even suspend tolls for a single day? Of course they're going to try to make it look impossible - they're protecting their own jobs. Why not have someone who actually wants to get rid of the tolls do the study?

And let me get this straight - they're going to partially demolish the tollbooths (...with the just installed, expensive low-speed E-ZPass) to install new high speed E-ZPass, ...only to have that torn down too? Is there no limit to how much of our money they can waste? Won't that just add to the debt load (...for an agency with a proven history of not being able to pay off debt), making it even harder to remove the tolls?

Personally, I like Mayor Schundler's plan best - tear them down because it's the right thing to do (...and at a fraction of their estimated cost). Or how about this compromise - remove one toll plaza each year until they're gone. Just don't keep wasting money putting in new tolls.

State toll for free ride is $817,892 (Star Ledger, 7/25/01) - Lost revenue - $418,008, State Police - $77,892, Toll Collectors - $115,660, Signs - $105,000, Wreckers - $7,920, Toll technicians - 29,505, Safety items - $906.

CAT: Can someone tell me why it costs more not collect tolls than it does to collect them? All we're asking is that they let everyone through like they had E-ZPass, and turn off E-ZPass. Gosh, it make you wonder how Rt. 80 does it EVERY day. All this says to me is NEVER let a toll authority control a road - you'll never get rid of them.

Parkway looks to scrap use of tokens (Star Ledger, 7/20/01) - Transportation officials say they may eliminate tokens as part of a plan to give discounts to E-ZPass users.

CAT: Tokens are simply more convenient for some people, especially the occasional user who doesn't want to maintain an E-ZPass account. Besides, why should E-ZPass users get a discount for a service that costs more - token transactions are cheaper. Why would you want to take away a convenience, especially when it's nearly as fast and costs less than an E-ZPass transaction? I wonder if this has anything to do with the 5 mph E-ZPass enforcement - they don't want to give people something almost as good to fall back on if they get their E-ZPass privileges suspended. And what are they going to do, suspend your token privileges if you pay too fast?

E-ZPass speeders better beware (Star Ledger, 7/6/01) - Prompted by an increase in toll plaza crashes, motorists will receive two warnings and face suspensions and eventually revocation for exceeding the posted 5 MPH speed limit.

CAT: My car doesn't even have a 5 mph on the speedometer. Most people can do 5 mph in a token lane. Great solution when their $488 million system causes accidents. What are they going to do if they install high-speed E-ZPass and it causes more accidents - put up 10 mph signs?

A July Fourth free of Parkway tolls quickly fizzles out (Star Ledger, 5/24/01) - Acting Governor DiFrancesco's push to make July Fourth a toll-free holiday ran into too many bureaucratic obstacles, but Parkway officials are still drafting a blueprint to eliminate the tolls.

Parkway studying tolls' end (Star Ledger, 5/19/01) - Acting Governor DiFrancesco is pushing to make July Fourth a toll-free holiday, and has asked the Parkway to prepare a plan to eliminate tolls entirely over 7 or 8 years, and to produce a separate proposal to do away with the Raritan Toll Plaza even sooner.

CAT: Is this the light at the end of the endless toll tunnel? This would be something we never had before - a plan to remove the tolls. This is LONG overdue and we applaud the effort. Our only suggestion to improve it would be "the sooner the better" because every year sooner would save millions of dollars and tons of pollution. So we still recommend Bret Schundler's plan to permanently eliminate GSP tolls within 9 months after assuming the office of Governor.

However, we do understand the timing of 7 to 8 years - the length of the E-ZPass contract, which now also has to be paid off. But in 7 to 8 years, Parkway drivers will shell out another $1.5 billion in tolls - over 5 times as much as the original Parkway bonds ($285 million). If former Governor Whitman had the sense to implement such a plan back in 1997 instead of committing to E-ZPass, we probably could have done it in 5 years - which would have been 2002.

An E-Z way to quadruple your mail (Star Ledger, 4/4/01) - Marianita Bermeo of Belleville sorts through some of the 84 E-ZPass violations she has received in less than 2 months.

CAT: Isn't it amazing that E-ZPass itself can miss people, but E-ZPass cheat-catcher cameras do not? If they know who we are, then why not cross check their E-ZPass accounts before sending out violations? Or why have E-ZPass at all? Just use our licence plates, open an account, and send us the bill?

$7 Million in salary savings chalked up to E-ZPass (Star Ledger, 12/20/00).

CAT: We were told how much E-ZPass would SAVE us compared to the old, wasteful method of collecting tolls. Well, it looks like they spent $488 million to save $7 million per year. Bottom line - E-ZPass INCREASES collection costs, wasting MORE of our money.

Parkway tolls and free lunches (Asbury Park Press, 8/00) - Our view: Parkway commuters get what they pay for.
Authority wants tolls at more interchanges (Asbury Park Press, 9/2/00) - The New Jersey Highway Authority has proposed collecting tolls at 8 planned, new or improved interchanges on the GSP in Ocean and Cape May counties..

CAT: Thanks, Asbury Park Press. Ask and ye shall receive. Support tolls, and now the NJHA wants to add more tollbooths. One correction, however - Parkway drivers only get 1/2 to 2/3 of what they pay for. Click here to read my letter to the editor concerning these 2 articles.

Battle cry of 'No tolls' sound on Parkway (Star Ledger, 8/27/00) - Using bread-and-butter activist tactics like rallies and petition drives, an emerging grass roots movement is mounting the strongest attempt in recent years to eliminate the tolls on the Garden State Parkway. Citizens Against Tolls has gained enough stature that some of the state's most powerful politicians - including the Governor and ranking legislators - are careful not to dismiss the anti-toll movement out of hand.

CAT: Great press - front page of NJ's largest newspaper. Sunday even. Keep up the pressure CATs because they are humoring us with one hand while continuing to install E-ZPass with the other.

A pricier but faster E-ZPass (Star Ledger, 7/10/00) - $100 million update is studied.

CAT: Here we go again. They haven't even installed $488 million slow E-ZPass and they want to spend even more of our money on new toll hardware. THE MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR ROADS. Plus, a system such as this would create the dangerous condition of a high speed lane next to a low speed one where any small driver miscue could be disastrous.

State won't add E-ZPass to all Pike, Parkway toll booths (Star Ledger, 6/2/00) - Savings will balance cost overruns, but officials deny any connection.

CAT: Oh, let's make the tollbooth approach fire drill even more confusing to navigate. But don't worry, I'm sure someone will let you in if you get into the wrong lane. Right.

E-ZPass system: Easy for Some States, Difficult for New Jersey (New York Times, 4/17/00) - After years of delays, state officials announced that the system would not be completed at all Parkway toll plazas by June, as promised.

Uneasy state of E-ZPass: Firm sinking (Star Ledger, 2/16/00) - If debts strangle holding company, Jersey will have to bail out project.

CAT: If MFS can't uphold their end of the contract, may I suggest NOT throwing more bad money after bad and simply do what you should have done in the first place - REMOVE THE TOLLS. Remember, NO TOLLS = REALLY E-ZPASS.

PIKE TOLLS TO RISE 40 PCT. Officials brave storm to vote 'value pricing' (Star Ledger, 1/26/00) - Cash users will pay 20% more beginning in May and an additional 17% in the second increase. But E-ZPass users will pay 8% more this year and 10% more in 2003.

CAT: I guess Christie didn't read my letter. But then, what chance do I have of getting heard when she even ignored repeated Sierra Club warnings about the inspection system debacle.

MAIL PARKWAY TOLL: ADD $25. E-ZPass to eliminate envelopes (Star Ledger, 12/17/99) - No more convenience envelopes. Now, honest motorists arriving at an unstaffed GSP ramp without exact change or E-ZPass are simply labeled toll cheats and mailed a bill for the 25¢ toll, plus the $25 cheat fee.

CAT: What a slap in the face! It's a blatant attempt to squeeze a "cheat fee" from an honest driver who gets stuck without exact change or E-ZPass. They're still going to have exact change booths, why not the envelopes too?

TOLL INCREASE GAINING SUPPORT. Many at first public hearing are in favor of hiking tolls on the turnpike (Courier News, 12/14/99) - Many of the 45 people who attended supported the 37% toll increase.

CAT: Oh come on, do politicians really think the construction lobbyists who support the toll increase reflect what the public wants? (...that's a stupid question, isn't it?)

PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON TOLL HIKES (Star Ledger, 12/12/99) - Turnpike officials to hold 3 public hearings around the state. Written and emailed comments also accepted.

CAT: Thanks for all the advanced warning. Shame on them for holding the hearings right in the middle of the holiday rush. It's almost like they didn't want to give people a fair chance to speak.

E-ZPASS GLITCH SLOWS PARKWAY RAMP TRAFFIC (Star Ledger, 12/7/99) - The problem occurs at ramps where there are only 2 tollbooths, and one of them has been taken away to make it E-ZPass only. Huge jams form since few have E-ZPass yet.

CAT: But then, this is exactly what they have to do to make E-ZPass look good - artificially make non-E-ZPass lanes look worse. The incentive is to always have fewer than needed non-E-ZPass lanes.

STATE BEGINS TO GET A CLUE ON PAYING FOR E-ZPASS (Star Ledger, 12-5-99) - It seems a little far fetched that millions of lemminglike drivers will repeatedly risk the agony of a $25 fine for the thrill of beating the system out of a couple of bucks. Must seem that way to somebody in the Toll Consortium too. Why else would they designate a "Supplemental Capital Fund" as "a security blanket"?

CAT: OK, they created a slush fund if (...when) they can't pay for E-ZPass. So, who's going to be subsidizing E-ZPass this time?

TOLL HIKE COULD BOOST E-ZPASS (Daily Record, 12/3/99) - A proposal to hike the GSP tolls by 15¢ for cash paying motorists to fund construction of a high speed electronic toll was approved.

CAT: I don't believe it - they haven't even finished E-ZPass, and haven't even figured out how to pay for it, when they're planning the next new expensive addition to our roads - ReallyE-ZPass. REMOVE THE TOLLS ALREADY - it's already high speed. Stop the madness of collecting tolls simply to pay for the tolls.

ASK NOT FOR WHOM THE TURNPIKE TOLLS (Star Ledger, 12/2/99) - You ask yourself what's wrong with the people who run New Jersey.

CAT: I've been asking that since the HOV lanes.

E-ZPASS TOLL-CHEAT REVENUE FALLS SHORT (Star Ledger, 11-30-99) - From its opening on July 24 through Nov. 19, the center in Secaucus managed to issue tickets in slightly more than 13% of the 426,171 cases. Fewer than 7,500 of the 57,598 tickets issued were paid within the allowed 30 days. The results are far below projections in NJ's E-ZPass contract.

CAT: On 4/3/97, John McLaughlin wrote "Either you're stupid, or Christie's E-ZPass plan is". I guess we're both stupid - the politicians for pushing the plan, and us for letting them.

LEGISLATORS BACK A PAY HIKE (SHHH) All skip hearing on hot-potato issue (Star Ledger, 11/30/99) - Legislators complain that they are underpaid, and don't hesitate to point out that it has been a decade since their last raise.

CAT: They gotta be kidding. THEN DON'T RUN FOR OFFICE! There doesn't seem to be a shortage wanting to get in. Didn't we just vote this down a year ago? They get in, they give us E-ZPass, then they raise tolls, then they want raises? How dare they? Earn your keep - remove the tolls first, then we'll talk about the raise

TURNPIKE HIKES ARE IN THE WORKS (Star Ledger, 11-19-99) - Planned two-phase toll increase amounts to 40% over four years. The toll hikes are unrelated to E-ZPass.

CAT: Yeah, right. They take in more money than any road in NJ but continually manage to maintain a huge debt, can never seem to ever pay off any of the principal, always need a toll hike to build anything new, yet they can find money for E-ZPass. Government bookkeeping at its finest.

EITHER YOU'RE STUPID OR CHRISTIE'S E-Z PASS PLAN IS (Star Ledger, 4-3-97) - The standard way to raise that kind of money is to float bonds. But Christie doesn't do toll hikes, so she found a way to pay for it at no cost - charge toll cheats. Under the old method, only 1 in 1,000 got caught. Now, high tech cameras will catch you every time. Does Whitman really expect cheaters to keep cheating? Apparently she does, because every licensed driver in NJ will have to get caught 3 times to pay for it.

CAT: Columnist John McLaughlin wrote this in 1997. I guess both of us are stupid - the politicians for giving us E-ZPass, and us for letting them stick it to us.