NJ.com reports, “Tolls will not go up on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway next year, but the [turnpike authority] is hiring 15 more State Troopers” — at a cost of $1.1 million — “to dole out tickets. The [agency’s $1.74 billion 2017 budget] also forecasts a 1 percent decrease in traffic on the Turnpike and a 1 percent increase on the Parkway in 2017, due to reopening of the Pulaski Skyway in both directions next fall.” The report adds, “A new contractor to run the E-Z Pass system will save $5 million and [nine new maintenance jobs] are being offset by five retirements, said Donna Manuelli, chief financial officer. The authority also plans to sell surplus real estate, expected to generate $1.1 million.”
