There’s a proposed toll hike coming on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, but officials of the authority that runs the highways said it won’t tell drivers how much more they will pay.

The last-minute addition to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s board of commissioner’s agenda, covered exclusively by NJ Advance Media, called for public hearings dates of March 18 and 19 for a “proposed capital program and supporting revenue enhancement.” But officials provided no other details.

“The program is still in development. Today was to approve a public hearing,” said Tom Feeney, a Turnpike Authority spokesman, after the vote. “Between now and then, we’ll have details.”

The closest thing to details was about the need for a new capital plan and funding from John Keller, turnpike authority executive director.

“We completed our (last) 10-year capital plan. This year, the Turnpike Authority awarded all the $500 million in this year’s program,” he said.

The action was a surprise after Turnpike Authority officials boasted in October that the $1.8 billion 2020 budget did not require a toll increase to fund it. It was the eighth year the authority has gone without taking a toll increase in the annual budget.

The last toll increase was a 53 percent hike on January 1, 2012, which was the final part of a multi-phase toll increase package approved in 2008. That toll increase financed the authority’s $7 billion capital plan that paid for widening parts of the Turnpike and Parkway.

However, since that plan expired, questions had been raised about how the Authority would fund the next major construction and rehabilitation plan.

Documents provided to commissioners said, “just $400 million are currently available over the next five years to tackle important projects that enhance roadway safety, relieve congestion and improve access onto and off the Turnpike and Parkway.”

Keller said the authorization would allow the authority to adopt a strategic plan to 2029 for capital projects.

But no information was available about what projects that could include.

“It’s a rolling list of projects,” Feeney said. “We’ll see the program when it comes out.”

Tolls are the Authority’s major revenue source. Last year, the authority earned $1.612 billion, which is 86% of the agency’s $1.861 in revenue.

The process is a stark contrast to how the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey did when its commissioners approved a $1 cash toll increase and reduced E-ZPass discounts for 2020 at its Hudson River and Staten Island crossings in September.

Officials announced the toll increase and the additions to its capital plan the toll and fare and fee hike would fund and public hearings at the same time last July.

If approved, toll hikes would also help finance a proposal by state Senate President Stephen Sweeney to provide dedicated funds for NJ Transit.

That proposal, that Sweeney announced Friday, would constitutionally dedicate $500 million annually for NJ Transit’s operating budget that would include $125 million from the Turnpike Authority and $75 million from a Clean Energy Fund to transit operations. It would also use a 1 percent tax on corporate income in New Jersey from an existing tax. That plan would require voter approval.

The Turnpike Authority action comes on the same day that Gov. Phil Murphy is scheduled to give his 2020 state budget address.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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