BERKELEY – The Township Council passed a resolution opposing the New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s 3 percent toll increase in January.
“More people in Ocean County travel north in the morning than in any county in the state. We get the brunt of it,” Mayor John Bacchione said.
The 2025 tolls are $1.15 for Toms River and $2.30 for all other tolls that are on the actual Garden State Parkway. Tolls on the ramps vary from 85 cents to $2.30. This is just the cash rate for cars, motorcycles and taxis.
If you’re using E-ZPass, Toms River is $1.09 and every other toll is $2.17. Tolls on the ramps range from 76 cents to $2.17.
Drivers are hit by tolls getting on the Parkway at Bayville, then again a few miles north in Toms River and again if they get off at Lakewood or Brick. This would be $2.85 one-way (cash) or $2.61 (E-ZPass) for about 15 miles of road.
After this trip, you still get caught in traffic in Brick and immediately north of that exit, Councilman Keith Buscio noted.
The new Veterans Administration clinic opened in Toms River at the end of 2024. However, the old one was in Brick, which meant it was costly for veterans having to go there, Councilman James Byrnes said.
The Township Council also asked the Turnpike Authority to remove Bayville’s toll plaza.
Local officials have often petitioned the state for lower tolls and for an Ocean County representative to be on the Board of Commissioners for the Turnpike Authority, which oversees both the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway.
In other news, Councilman Angelo Guadagno, who is the liaison to the Recreation Department, said that there was a slide during the worst years of COVID-19 when there weren’t as many people coming out to recreation events. But now, attendance at township programs are getting back to the old numbers. Based on that, he’s hopeful to see more recreation programs for children and for adults in the future.
Guadagno was chosen to be the council president at the re-organization meeting in the beginning of the year. This meeting is when the governing body makes appointments for the new year.
The outgoing president, Councilman Buscio, thanked the governing body and the town’s employees for a great year as council president. The last time he was council president was during the pandemic.
Leadership from another town was in attendance at the re-organization. A few Barnegat Committee members and that town’s business administrator were in the audience. During the portion of the meeting where the public speaks, they said they are looking forward to shared services with Berkeley this year.
Also on the calendar this year is the town’s 150th anniversary and there will be a number of activities planned.
