Ridgewood NJ, every year, a multitude of studies are conducted that make use of quantifiable metrics to rank driving skills. They often focus on easily measurable statistics, such as the number of drunk drivers, instances of drowsy driving, or unlicensed drivers on the roads. While these data-driven methods provide valuable insights, they leave out a critical component: the firsthand experiences of those who spend the most time on the roads.
Ridgewood NJ, With traffic congestion costing U.S. drivers an average of 36 hours and $564 during 2021, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s Best & Worst States to Drive in, New Jersey surprisingly did not do as poorly as expected . We all noticed the increasing congestion and massive traffic backup’s on Route 4 and Route 17 . New Jersey placed 38 overall with a score of 53.75 . We ranked 36th in cost of ownership, 48th Traffic & Infrastructure and amazingly ,ranked 4th in safety.
Trenton NJ, Thebridges and tunnels into New Yorkadvanced legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney and Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick that protects New Jersey’s E-Z Pass customers from being overcharged when using bridges and tunnels into New York.
The legislation is in response to an AAA study that found drivers who purchased E-Z Pass tags from out of state agencies are being charged the cash rate instead of the discount rate at New York bridges and tunnels operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority. Between 2012 and 2016, of the 92 million out-of-towners who didn’t receive the discount rate, 70 million were New Jersey drivers.
Wyckoff NJ, Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney moves to stem excessive fees on E-ZPass users.
Rooney commented on Facebook , “Recently, the news has highlighted the excessive and outrageous administrative fees the Turnpike Authority is charging drivers for missing an E-ZPass toll. If the system malfunctions, then drivers shouldn’t be penalized. One of the primary reasons E-ZPass was created was to offer discounted rates. Charging these fees completely contradicts this purpose.
Last year I introduced three pieces of legislation – A1002, AR34, and AR35 – to address a different “discount deception” that New Jersey E-ZPass users suffer. If you use your toll transponder out of state, you’ll often be charged the cash rate instead of the discounted E-ZPass rate. My legislation moves to fix that. Drivers need to be treated fairly no matter what the circumstances. New Jersey is already the most expensive state in the country to live in; we cannot become the most expensive state to drive in too.”
In an email Rooney went on, “If you use your NJ-issued toll transponder out of state, you’ll may be charged the cash rate instead of the discounted E-ZPass rate. Especially in New York. For example, NJ drivers using the Queens-Midtown Tunnel are charged $8.50 instead of the discounted rate of $5.76. My legislation moves to fix that.
Commuters and New Jersey drivers do not deserve the outrageous fees being charged against them. Drivers need to be treated fairly no matter what the circumstances. New Jersey is already the most expensive state in the country to live in; we cannot become the most expensive state to drive in too.”
Ridgewood NJ, according to the Tax Foundation Gas taxes are typically used to fund infrastructure maintenance and new projects, but the share of state and local road spending that is covered by tolls, user fees, and taxes varies drastically. It ranges from only 12 percent in Alaska to 76.3 percent in Hawaii.
New Jersey drivers pay the fifth-highest share of the cost to fund roads and bridges, with motorists kicking in 67 percent of the price tag through taxes and tolls, according to the Tax Foundation Study .
New Jersey only ranks behind Hawaii, Delaware, New York and Florida of states where local revenues pay a majority of road costs.
While the study did conclude that , “States should attempt to fund infrastructure through user taxes and fees as much as possible, internalizing the costs associated with using the state’s transportation systems” . Its once again disappointing yet expected that New Jersey continues to lead the nation in all the wrong things .
