NJ toll rates will not rise

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Tolls will not increase in New Jersey, as the New Jersey Turnpike Authority expects increased traffic to bring in more revenue.

The authority approved a $538.9 million operating budget for 2018 on Tuesday. NJ.com reports this is the sixth consecutive year that toll rates have remained stable.

John O'Hern, deputy director for the authority, says there is no need for a toll rate increase because traffic will increase.

Traffic on the Garden State Parkway is forecast to increase by 2.4 percent and by 2 percent on the New Jersey Turnpike. The authority projects it will earn $1.787 billion in revenue from all sources next year.

The last toll increase was in 2012, which financed a $7 billion capital plan that paid to widen parts of the Turnpike and Parkway.