NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Implementation of Express EZ-Pass Toll Collection

RACM Analysis

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. Page 1

Control Measure:

Reduce the delays and idling emissions associated with toll plazas by adding 

Express EZ Pass lanes that allow users to bypass booths and proceed through 

the toll collection area at close to usual highway speeds

Description:

At toll plazas throughout the state, significant emissions are associated with the 

queuing to pay tolls and the excessive delays associated with toll plazas during 

peak periods. To alleviate these delays, Express EZ-Pass higher speed toll 

collection facilities that allow traffic to pass safely at close to mainline speeds 

either have been or are in the process of being installed at a number of major toll 

plazas. Three additional locations along the Garden State Parkway, namely the 

Union, Essex and Barnegat Toll Plazas, are scheduled to have new high speed 

lanes in operation prior to 2009/2010. 

Methodology:

The NJ-AQONE software package contains a methodology for estimating the air 

quality impacts at toll plazas using a deterministic, queuing model approach. 

This approach based largely on estimating the queue lengths generated under 

various operating conditions, along with the average speeds associated with 

each segment as a vehicle travels trough the toll facility. Information specific to 

each plaza, including the current and future configurations of the plazas, percent 

of users with an EZ-Pass at each plaza, and total traffic volume estimates were 

obtained from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. A summary of the data is 

provided below:

Essex Toll Plaza (Essex County)

Current Configuration:

2 Booths accepting no EZ Pass, 4 Accepting all Payment types, 5 EZ Pass only 

booths

Future Configuration:

2 Booths accepting no EZ Pass, 4 Accepting all Payment types, 1 EZ Pass only 

Booth and 3 Express EZ Pass Lanes

Traffic Volume: 65, 267

% Vehicles with EZ-Pass: 59%

% of EZ-Pass Vehicles using High Speed Lanes: 90%
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Implementation of Express EZ-Pass Toll Collection

RACM Analysis

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. Page 2

Barnegat Toll Plaza (Ocean County)

Current Configuration:

3 Booths accepting no EZ Pass, 2 accepting all Payment types, 2 EZ Pass only 

booths

Future Configuration:

2 Booths accepting no EZ Pass, 2 accepting all Payment types, No EZ Pass only 

Booth and 2 Express EZ Pass Lanes

Daily Traffic Volume: 22,484

% Vehicles with EZ-Pass: 67%

% of EZ-Pass Vehicles using High Speed Lanes: 90%

Union Toll Plaza (Union County)

Current Configuration:

3 Booths accepting no EZ Pass, 6 accepting all Payment types, 6 EZ Pass only 

booths

Future Configuration:

3 Booths accepting no EZ Pass, 4 accepting all Payment types, 3 EZ Pass only 

Booth and 3 Express EZ Pass Lanes

Daily Traffic Volume: 79,662

% Vehicles with EZ-Pass: 58%

% of EZ-Pass Vehicles using High Speed Lanes: 60%*

* Due to a ramp configuration, not all traffic will be able to access the High Speed 

lanes and a lower % was assumed accordingly

Note that all the toll plazas analyzed have already had tolls removed in one 

direction to help improve traffic flow. However, since this improvement is already 

in place, only the benefits due to the installation of the Express EZ-Pass lanes 

were considered.

Emission Reductions (Statewide Benefits):

Pollutant

Type

Analysis Year 2009

Tons/Day Tons/Year

VOC 0.024 -

NOx 0.0045 0.88

PM2.5 - 0.00032

SO2 - 0.000033
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Implementation of Express EZ-Pass Toll Collection

RACM Analysis

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. Page 3

Ozone Analysis – Daily Benefits in New Jersey

Benefits 

(Reductions)

Ozone Non-Attainment Area

New York-N. New 

Jersey-Long Island,

NY-NJ-CT

PhiladelphiaWilmington-Atlantic City

PA-NJ-MD-DE

VOC (Tons/Day) 0.024 0.000022

NOx (Tons/Day) 0.0045 Negl.

PM2.5 Analysis – Annual Benefits in New Jersey

Benefits 

(Reductions)

PM2.5 Non-Attainment Area

New York-N. New 

Jersey-Long Island,

NY-NJ-CT

PhiladelphiaWilmington

PA-NJ-DE

NOx (Tons/Year) 0.88 -

PM2.5 (Tons/Year) 0.00032 -

SO2 (Tons/Year) 0.000033 -

Cost/Benefit Analysis

Total costs were estimated using published estimates of average costs of the 

Express EZ-Pass locations in NJ of $8-12 Million per location. The Union and 

Essex location were assumed to be at the upper end of that range, the Barnegat 

Plaza at the lower end. While some operating cost savings may be expected 

due to reduced staffing needs, estimates of this were unavailable and not taken 

into consideration.

Estimated Total Cost: $32 Million

Approximate Annual cost over 15 years: $2,133,333/Annually
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Implementation of Express EZ-Pass Toll Collection

RACM Analysis

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. Page 4

Cost/Benefit Results

Pollutant

Cost/Benefit for Each Pollutant

Ozone* PM 2.5

NY-NJ-CT PA-NJ-DEMD NY-NJ-CT PA-NJ-DE

VOC ($/Ton/Day) $355,556 $387,878,727 - -

NOx ($/Ton/Day) $1,896,296 NA** - -

NOx ($/Ton/Year) - - $1,657,542 -

PM2.5 ($/Ton/Year) - - N/A** -

SO2 ($/Ton/Year) - - N/A** -

*Daily Costs used in calculation of cost/benefit ratio are Annual costs divided by 250

**No significant Air Quality Benefit