NEW JERSEY GARDEN STATE PARKWAY TOKENS

The Garden State Parkway fare token was introduced back in the early 1980's. Much like EZ-Pass today, it was designed to make travel on the GSP more convenient.

Instead of looking around for nickels, dimes, and quarters (and yes, sometimes pennies), all you needed was a single token to get you through the toll plaza.

You would purchase tokens by the roll, much like bankers rolls for coins. They're practically the same size as quarters, so it was often a good idea to keep them separated from the rest of your change.

The GSP fare tokens were also cheaper in the long run. Much like how EZ-Pass has discounts for tag holders, fare tokens also saved you a little bit. And also like EZ-Pass, made the commute a little more convenient.

For a good portion of history, the token/exact change lanes were a favorite among commuters. Sometimes, the car wouldn't even stop.... just a slow roll to throw the token or coins into the basket. Think of it like the EZ-Pass of the past.

When EZ-Pass was first introduced on the GSP in 1995, it has since taken over as the primary choice to pay tolls. And although the fare token was still used, people slowly stopped using them in favor of the new, more convenient toll option. The final year of the GSP token was in 2008. As of January 1, 2009, the fare token was no longer valid and had become part of New Jersey history.

To read the complete article, see:
A look back at the NJ Garden State Parkway token (https://nj1015.com/a-look-back-at-the-nj-garden-state-parkway-token/)

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