Toll hikes on seven bridges connecting New Jersey and Pennsylvania also go into effect today after the Delaware River Joint Toll Commission approved two toll price raises last month – one going into effect today and another in January 2024.
Officials from the Delaware River Joint Toll Commission justified the increase, which will apply to seven of its eight bridges, saying it is necessary to offset the decrease in revenue caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to fewer motorists crossing the spans.
The tolls for cash-paying travelers will now rise from $1 to $3, and EZ-Pass customers will see an increase from $1 to $1.25. Motorists who regularly cross Commission-controlled bridges between New Jersey and Pennsylvania can see considerable savings by simply being in possession of an EZ-Pass tag.
The affected crossings are: Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1), Delaware Water Gap (I-80), New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202), Portland-Columbia (Routes 611, 46, 94), Milford-Montague (Route 206), and Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 22).
The increased rates on NJ-PA bridges follow hikes on other major crossings in New Jersey, including recently implemented increases on bridges and tunnels controlled by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Turnpike Authority.
An increase in tolls at New York’s MTA-controlled bridges and tunnels also go into effect today.
Experts warn that, while higher toll rates might be necessary to offset the fewer motorists driving on bridges and tunnels, they could further dissuade people from making trips on New Jersey highways, leading to an endless cycle of fewer and fewer motorists and ever-increasing tolls.
Every few months there9 another article of tolls going up, I thought there’s a pandemic and nobody can afford rent and so on.
If the tolls were truly raised only to offset the loss of revenue due to decrease in travel during the pandemic, they will obviously go back to lower prices, once things return to normal, right?
Sure, and the commission has 7 bridges between NJ and Pennsylvania to sell to anyone who believes that.
Sure Marc. They always do that. lol. Not a chance. Instead they find other ways to spend it… and then they cry they have no money for the roads it was supposed to support and raise it yet again.
I guess its pay raise and bonus time at New York’s MTA
You know none of this money will make it to road repair.
More of an incentive to drive less and stay home.
It’s the modern day version of highway robbery and it is just another piece of the redistribution policies of the left. They were doing it before the pandemic and they will keep on doing it after because they can – until we make it an election issue.