N.J. Officials Propose Smaller Toll Hikes

New Jersey officials have scaled back proposals to drastically increase tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, offering a new plan that includes discounts for trucks, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Under the new plan, tolls on the turnpike would increase 116% by 2012, while parkway tolls would rise 114% in the same period, the paper reported.

It removes proposed increases after 2012, and offers off-peak discounts to trucks, E-ZPass customers, senior citizens and drivers with fuel-efficient cars, the Inquirer said.

Gov. Jon Corzine (D) had threatened to veto the previous plan, prompting the chairman of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, who oversees both roads, to revamp the plan, the paper said.

The new measures will take effect if the authority’s board approves the increases and Corzine does not veto them.

The turnpike authority last month had asked Corzine to approve toll increases to pay for infrastructure improvements.