Island Heights officials approve a resolution this week calling on the Governor and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to roll back the most recent toll increase for Ocean County residents.

John Bendel
John Bendel (Facebook)
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Island Heights Councilman John Bendel, who's also running as a 10th District Democratic state Senate candidate, says the impact of Superstorm Sandy makes this request even more timely because he anticipates that Ocean County residents will have to foot the bill for millions of dollars in lost revenue from the storm.
"I'm saying, because Ocean County has been hit so hard and that increase was particularly onerous to us, we should roll it back now for us."

Bendel also adds that Ocean County commuters really have no choice but to take the Garden State Parkway because we lacks mass transit or viable alternatives to the Parkway.

Bendel says the Turnpike Authority has the technology through E-ZPass and already gives discounts to residents in Florence and Roebling in Burlington County by using their zip codes.

"When someone through either of those towns goes through exit 6, they pay a different rate than everybody else. I'm not saying that it's unfair. I'm saying that it's technologically possible."

He says the resolution has been sent to the Ocean County Board of Freeholders and every municipality. Bendel says three towns are already considering introducing a similar resolution.

Bendel, a Democrat, is opposing incumbent Republican Jim Holzapfel in the 10th Legislative District that includes Bay Head, Brick, Island Heights, Lakehurst, Lavallette, Manchester, Mantoloking, Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights, and Toms River.

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