Your gas taxes at work

[donnie_baseball]

Before the gas tax even hits the street, NJ is borrowing $1B against it to subsidize Bergen County light rail. Aside from Newark (City Subway), the light rail system has been a complete joke. I'm sure Muggsy will be in favor, since she "happily" pays extra taxes, and the riff raff need trains to stay out of the tonier parts of Bergen County.

With that gratuitous shot out of the way, vote "NO" to question #2 when exercising your right to do so. This will at least keep the $0.23/gallon OUT of the transportation trust fund, which has been a cookie jar to our elected officials. Better yet, get on board with Kip Bateman's petition to repeal the gas tax.

 

[SPK145]

This gas tax increase is puzzling to say the least. Definitely need funds to upgrade the infrastructure but this enormous increase also greatly increases the Transportation Fund debt as well. Would be better to phase in the increase, take on no new debt, and make it legal to pump your own gas so as to mitigate the tax increase.

I haven't even talked about the other aspects of this bill as bills should be about one topic only 9ie, stand on their own accord), that's unfortunately how we get the horse-trading and pork crap we saw in this and other bills.

 

[Seton75]

Who is behind us being the only state that doesn't let us pump our own gas?

 

[SnakeTom]

Who is behind us being the only state that doesn't let us pump our own gas?

Oregon is the other state and quite honestly I'm glad that we do have full service only gas stations. When I'm going to work or court I don't want to smell like gasoline or have to get out to pump in bad weather. Also if you have a mechanical problem in other state the stations are primarily gas only with no mechanic available. despite the gas only nature of their stations, NJ prices are still cheaper. Anyway that's my thought on it so now I'll put my soap box away for a minute.

TK

 

[SPK145]

Oregon is the other state and quite honestly I'm glad that we do have full service only gas stations. When I'm going to work or court I don't want to smell like gasoline or have to get out to pump in bad weather.

Most every gas station in pump your own states also have full service choices as well.

 

[Save Continental]

I should have realized the state would do something like extend a light rail to a few towns. I guess some real estate developers will be happy. A last second, .23 cent gas tax jammed down our throat...for light rail. I should have figured.

I should have put an over/under on the Skyway repairs being completed. They said 2016, already pushed back to mid 2017. I am sure we will be at 2018 in no time, but hey, we'll have the same eyesore with a couple dangerous high-speed yields and no shoulder.

I will say, from my own personal experience, I happened to be fond of the light rail when I lived in Hudson co. and used it fairly regularly. I think the extension that goes into Bayonne is used heavily. Can't speak to the need or financial viability of an extension further up Bergen co. though.

 

[Merge]

Before the gas tax even hits the street, NJ is borrowing $1B against it to subsidize Bergen County light rail. Aside from Newark (City Subway), the light rail system has been a complete joke. I'm sure Muggsy will be in favor, since she "happily" pays extra taxes, and the riff raff need trains to stay out of the tonier parts of Bergen County.

I don't have any knowledge of the light rail system. Why is it a complete joke?

 

[SnakeTom]

Most every gas station in pump your own states also have full service choices as well.

I just drove back from No Carolina (Wilmington) two weeks ago & quite honestly do not recall full service lanes. but I was there when Hurricane Matthew hit and was most concerned with just getting back home rather than what was available in the service areas.

TK

 

[shu09]

Would be better to phase in the increase, take on no new debt, and make it legal to pump your own gas so as to mitigate the tax increase..

I doubt that will have any effect on the price of gas.

 

[shu09]

Oregon is the other state and quite honestly I'm glad that we do have full service only gas stations. When I'm going to work or court I don't want to smell like gasoline or have to get out to pump in bad weather. Also if you have a mechanical problem in other state the stations are primarily gas only with no mechanic available. despite the gas only nature of their stations, NJ prices are still cheaper. Anyway that's my thought on it so now I'll put my soap box away for a minute.

TK

+1. I have no desire to pump my own gas.

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

I have not seen any full service pumps in PA for a while, or at least don't remember seeing any. Most of the gas stations have just one employee who is always perched behind the cash register to assist customers buying stuff or paying for their gas with cash to save a few $s.

What is the reason for having only full-service options? I think someone told me once but I can't remember offhand.

 

[HALL85]

Live in NJ, work in PA. I can't think of a PA station I frequent that offers full service. I don't mind pumping and all the self-service stations have disposable gloves if your a pumping pussy like Snake..lol. Actually there have been dozens of credit card scams at stations here in western NJ that I now pay in cash when filling up here.

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

Live in NJ, work in PA. I can't think of a PA station I frequent that offers full service. I don't mind pumping and all the self-service stations have disposable gloves if your a pumping pussy like Snake..lol. Actually there have been dozens of credit card scams at stations here in western NJ that I now pay in cash when filling up here.

Lol. I was going to tell Tom to stop procrastinating and fill his tank at night on his way home instead of in the morning, but I have a bad habit of doing the same.

Re: the credit card skimming at gas pumps, whereas all other merchants were required to be chip card enabled by now, gas stations don't yet have to due to the exorbitant cost, so they still aren't liable for fraud losses.

 

[SPK145]

My frame of reference is predominantly Florida, perhaps because of the demograpohics in Florida there are more full service lines at gas stations?

 

[SPK145]

I doubt that will have any effect on the price of gas.

Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline-C-Store-Automotive Association, said his group until now had long opposed bringing self-serve to New Jersey.

But retailers have changed their position in part because “it’s getting harder and harder to hire employees willing to pump gas,’’ said Risalvato, who predicted average self-serve discounts of a dime or more per gallon if the law is changed.

 

[rcodey]

I purchased a second home in Naples, Florida 6 years ago and have never noticed a full service line at a gas station .

 

[SHUSource]

But retailers have changed their position in part because “it’s getting harder and harder to hire employees willing to pump gas,’’ said Risalvato...

Especially ones who do it correctly.

I lived in New Jersey for 40 years before jumping the river. I still work in Jersey, but I rarely, if ever, get gas there, even with the lower prices. It's just so much better to pull up, take care of business (and actually get a full tank, not four or five gallons short), and get out, rather than pull up, wait there forever until someone shuffled up and asks what you want, and then you see him again ten minutes later when he comes for your payment. Who needs it? Now, with the new gas tax, I won't even have to feel guilty about paying more, because I won't be. I always justified the higher Pa. prices as a convenience tax.

 

[SHUSource]

Before the gas tax even hits the street, NJ is borrowing $1B against it to subsidize Bergen County light rail. Aside from Newark (City Subway), the light rail system has been a complete joke. I'm sure Muggsy will be in favor, since she "happily" pays extra taxes, and the riff raff need trains to stay out of the tonier parts of Bergen County.

With that gratuitous shot out of the way, vote "NO" to question #2 when exercising your right to do so. This will at least keep the $0.23/gallon OUT of the transportation trust fund, which has been a cookie jar to our elected officials. Better yet, get on board with Kip Bateman's petition to repeal the gas tax.

I'll break this out into two parts. I haven't followed this whole thing too closely because really, it isn't my problem anymore, but ...

As I understand it, the Question No. 2 on the ballot would authorize revenue raised from the gas tax to fund other projects like the extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. I could be wrong about this; I try to take as little information as I can from the knuckle-draggers at NJ 101.5. But this is my understanding. This is wrong. The roads and bridges are falling apart and they said this money would go to fix that. And that's perfectly plausible, to me. But this sounds like a bait-and-switch.

The other part requires me to differ with the esteemed donnie about the light rails in New Jersey. He's a particularly intelligent guy, so I don't do it lightly, but these systems have been a smashing success, right from the word "go." Early in its run, I used to ride the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail just about every day (when it was really just "Hudson;" it hadn't been extended north of the Hoboken train station yet), and it was standing-room only.

Down south, the RiverLINE, from Trenton to Camden was decried as a pork project and an unnecessary boondoggle when it was announced, but it surprised everyone and became a huge success as well. Not as heavily ridden as the Hudson-Bergen, but full during commuting times. My wife rides it every day, and it's a life-saver. Much more successful than even the South Jersey Dems who lobbied for it ever predicted.

If there is an issue - and it's not insignificant - it is the poor method of toll collection. It's only $2 to ride, and you have to stamp your ticket to validate it on the platform. Then you have like 90 minutes to ride, which is fair. But because the cars are often so crowded, it's somewhat rare for conductors to check while the train is moving. Sometimes they will, and sometimes they'll look when you disembark. But many people are content to roll the dice and ride for free. They are often rewarded for it. If they could figure out a way to enforce payment better, they would be raking in money on it.

 

[Save Continental]

I was always disappointed when no one checked my ticket, because I knew a good chunk of riders didn't bother. Ticket checking was rare in the years I rode the system. If they could have restricted access where you need a ticket to just enter the platform (PATH), it might have been more economical. But I agree, very useful in navigating JC/Hoboken.

 

[donnie_baseball]

As I understand it, the Question No. 2 on the ballot would authorize revenue raised from the gas tax to fund other projects like the extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. I could be wrong about this; I try to take as little information as I can from the knuckle-draggers at NJ 101.5. But this is my understanding. This is wrong. The roads and bridges are falling apart and they said this money would go to fix that. And that's perfectly plausible, to me. But this sounds like a bait-and-switch.

That's how I'm seeing it. Typical mis-worded, deceitful ballot question.

Down south, the RiverLINE, from Trenton to Camden was decried as a pork project and an unnecessary boondoggle when it was announced, but it surprised everyone and became a huge success as well. Not as heavily ridden as the Hudson-Bergen, but full during commuting times. My wife rides it every day, and it's a life-saver. Much more successful than even the South Jersey Dems who lobbied for it ever predicted.

If there is an issue - and it's not insignificant - it is the poor method of toll collection. It's only $2 to ride, and you have to stamp your ticket to validate it on the platform. Then you have like 90 minutes to ride, which is fair. But because the cars are often so crowded, it's somewhat rare for conductors to check while the train is moving. Sometimes they will, and sometimes they'll look when you disembark. But many people are content to roll the dice and ride for free. They are often rewarded for it. If they could figure out a way to enforce payment better, they would be raking in money on it.

This is the one I was referring to, but I will defer to your superior knowledge of the region. What I had come to understand was that practically NO ONE pays the fares on the RiverLINE (and the one -- and only one -- time that I took it from near the Transit Center to Cass Street/Riverfront Stadium, it seemed as if there was no way of enforcing the fares). As an aside, beware exiting the RiverLINE at Cass Street.

 

[SHUSource]

I'm sure a lot of people are not paying the fare, which is the same issue they have on the Hudson-Bergen line. Both are very popular, but the way they check tickets, it seems the more crowded the train is,the less able they are to enforce ticket validation - a typical Jersey Charlie Foxtrot.

 

[donnie_baseball]

I'm sure a lot of people are not paying the fare, which is the same issue they have on the Hudson-Bergen line. Both are very popular, but the way they check tickets, it seems the more crowded the train is,the less able they are to enforce ticket validation - a typical Jersey Charlie Foxtrot.

I should have been more careful with my wording (again); maybe it doesn't rise to the level of a "joke," but if the above is true, is it a money loser?

 

[SHUSource]

I should have been more careful with my wording (again); maybe it doesn't rise to the level of a "joke," but if the above is true, is it a money loser?

I don't know - I actually have no idea. But leave it to New Jersey to conceive and create something that's actually a good idea and have no idea how to monetize it. But that seems fixable. if it loses money, it shouldn't, and if it makes money, it should be making more.

 

[Section112]

I'm voting NO on ballot question # 2. Pretty funny that Kim Gaudagno is going against Christie on this one too. Kim says vote No and Christie is pissed about it because that would mess up his backroom deal with the power players in the NJ legislature.

 

[donnie_baseball]

Interesting piece from an economist:

http://www.app.com/story/opinion/co...eys-gas-tax-hike-leaves-debt-burden/91684956/