Increasing tolls only during peak hours will minimize the increase's impact on the public and help reduce congestion for rush hour motorists by encouraging some drivers to travel at off-peak times. By restricting this toll hike to peak hours only, it encourages traffic to spread out during the day. This will have far-reaching consequences in cutting congestion. When we use the phone at night, take a plan on the weekend, or have an early-bird dinner special, we enjoy the benefits of variable pricing. The Turnpike's toll plan does the same thing for driving.
Studies show that even a small decrease in peak-hour traffic can yield big benefits to traffic flow.
Roadways across teh U.S. are developing toll systems that permit drivers to pay tolls while proceeding at normal highway speeds. Many believe that putting a premium on scarce road space is the most effective way to break up the congestion that now chokes metropolitan regions around the country. This bold move could ripple through the New York region and across the U.S., encouraging other transportation agencies to follow. But none of these projects equal the NJ Turnpike Authority proposal in either size or scope. Instead, under the NJ Turnpike plan, all non-commercial traffic will automatically pay more in the peak period, creating a real incentive for drivers with flexible schedules to rethink when and if they hit the road.