Public hearings are being held today and tomorrow on the proposed toll hike on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Two sets of hearings will be held today at the Turnpike Authority's East Brunswick headquarters, from 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. On Wednesday, the final hearing will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Marriott Glen Pointe Hotel on Frank W. Burr Blvd. in Teaneck, NJ.
The authority will also accept written statements, and, for the first time, e-mail comments. Send e-mail comments to info@turnpike.state.nj.us. All written comments, including e-mail, must include the sender's name and address.
The proposal would raise truck tolls 13% in both 2001 and 2003. Truckers using the E-ZPass automatic toll system would only see their tolls jump 8% each year. Cars paying cash would get a 20% increase in 2001 and another 17% in 2003. E-ZPass users would see an 8% rate hike in 2001 and another 10% in 2003. Motorists with E-ZPass using the turnpike during off-peak hours would get a discount, but there would be no such discount for trucks.