BC-AP Service Guide

New Jersey gas tax up 23 cents, from US' 49th highest to 6th

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has signed legislation hiking the state's gas tax by 23 cents to help pay for transportation projects, taking the tax from the 49th highest in the nation to the sixth. The Republican signed the legislation Friday a week after the Democrat-led Legislature passed it. The gas tax goes from 14.5 cents per gallon to 37.5 cents per gallon. The hike goes into effect Nov. 1. It's the first time since 1988 that New Jersey's gas tax is being raised. The tax would remain lower than neighboring New York's and Pennsylvania's. The legislation includes cuts to the sales and estate taxes. The gas tax increase will go toward an eight-year, $16 billion transportation funding program. Christie also rescinded an executive order that shut down transportation projects in the state.