Murphy downplays knowledge of toll increase, but his staff briefed unions on plan

Gov. Phil Murphy said he didn’t know the details of proposed toll increases at the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway before reading about it following his budget address, but senior administration officials and the state transportation commissioner briefed several outside stakeholders about the plan on Monday, the New Jersey Globe has learned.

Murphy was in his office just a few feet away when chief of staff George Helmy and commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti met with building trade union leaders and the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association to discus a plan could lead to a toll increase.

“I’ve read the same stories you have about the Turnpike (Authority) holding hearings,” Murphy said at a press availability after announcing a plan to fund two years of in-state college tuition. “I know about as much, probably, as you do in terms of what I’ve read here.”

Administration sources told the Globe that Murphy was referring to the lack of any specific numbers at this point, not that he was unaware of the authority calling for public hearings that might lead to a toll hike.

Read more: https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/murphy-downplays-knowledge-of-toll-increase-but-his-staff-briefed-unions-on-plan/