Tolls going up to $6 for bridges in our area

Remember, most commuters that use the DRPA bridges are going across both ways each day, so basically it's $3 each direction. Not too bad considering how much bridges in other states cost. It's been 13 years since the last increase. I'd imagine people who took jobs in neighboring states had to figure travel costs when deciding to take the job or not.

It appears more and more folks are being required to show up these days. The City of Philadelphia now requires everyone that had been working from home to be there in person now.

Quoting from the content:

“The group announced on Wednesday that its board voted unanimously to approve a new toll schedule that will see tolls on four bridges -- the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry and Betsy Ross Bridges -- increased by one dollar beginning on Sept. 1, 2024.”

The last increase is also reported as being 13 years ago.

Pretty much what I said above, so in your way of looking at it using my way, it's 50 cents more in each direction, providing that you cross into and out of the two states. Plus I did mention the 13 years.

…referring to your comment, but the initial comment by johnnatash4 that failed to mention that it was only a $1 increase. That may however been in the content of the link. Although I sympathize with the people mentioned in the initial statement, I would venture they are making considerably more today than 13 years ago.

NJ-NYC toll bridges/tunnels, Off-peak $11.75, peak $13.75, $16 if you don't have EZ-Pass.

Can't catch a break when it comes to tolls.

Tolls on the PA Turnpike, already the most expensive toll road per mile in the US, will increase 5% per year through 2053!

Luckily, there are non toll alternatives in many places. Unfortunately, this isn't the case for bridge users.

'ing your statement. You need a NY issued E-ZPass. Any other, such as NJ, PA, etc., is charged the full cash rate.

I try to avoid the PA turnpike, I use it to reach relatives in northern NJ but lately have been going through the city instead. My wife takes our kid and friends' kids to a theme park without even realizing it's $15 to get there and back when it's only like 53 miles away (total not Turnpike miles).

Way back to a tune from the 80's, it said, "I've got mine and you've got yours."

I find that many people like to play devils advocate, probably without even knowing, all the time.

There was a statement that people make a lot more today, than before. To me, it was first apparent with college tuition, that it was accelerating at a rate that was quite fascinating. Today, it's many things. How much is the average car, $48k? What % would an average person need to spend, when $59,384 is the average income in the USA. So an "average" person would need to spend 80% of their gross annual salary to buy an "average" new car.

What about vehicles who have no or ghost plates? NYC has been cracking down, but not Phila.

$1 is reasonable since the last increase was 2011, but, it's still yet another $200+ pay cut that I have to endure with one coworker, when 5/7 don't care they don't come to work they work at home lol

your point the Verrazzano is tolling both directions today, at 1/2. We used to go into Brooklyn via the bridges then leave via Manhattan--reason being my wife wanted to hit a store in Manhattan and then Jersey City--so effectively we bypassed the toll altogether.

People that are pro tolls, I don't want to get that into it but imagine pulling the charter and taking a look, pretty sure there will be a lot of waste and rubber not meeting the road.

I heard there is a senior discount for these bridges by license plate--I'm not there yet lol

One last DRPA trick, they offer a discount but it has to be the same tag. Why? Staten Island discount is 3 trips per account. Who cares if it's the same tag. Many families do in fact have more than one car. 18 trips is 18 trips imho. Last month, a 6/27 crossing mysteriously didn't post until mid July, and I didn't get a discount. The tolls post within 12 hours normally. I get it, you can afford $18, stop whining lol

$3 each way on a bridge? That's super cheap! Try New York City or even suburban Virginia where a few miles on I-66 can be $7-$45.

This illustrates your example. It is a serious time saver, depending, when we go from CT to PA, using the GW Bridge.

Henry Hudson Bridge: $3.18, $5.04, $8.25

$3.18 for a NY E-ZPass, $5.04 if you don't have your NY tag and the plate is read, and everybody else, no E-ZPass or out of state E-ZPass, $8.25.

It's 846', maybe 1/7 the length of the Ben Franklin, which I use daily.

Why can't NJ or PA do the same thing? Charge out of staters some exorbitant rate, and keep them low for residents lol

Delaware River Port Authority bridges ARE interstate bridges, operated by an interstate compact setup by Congress.
A better comparison would be the interstate NY/NJ Port Authority bridges/tunnels, e.g. George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Outerbridge Bridge err Crossing: Cars with E-ZPass are $13.38 (off peak) or $15.58 (peak), charged one way. Prices without E-ZPass are higher, and trucks/trailers can be substantially more: $125.10 with E-ZPass for six axle trucks, each additional axle is $20.85.

In advance, but at this point, I'm not even sure what you're talking about.

My point was that yes, $6 in the grand scheme is not a lot, so sorry, really. It's really hard to express it through a post.

The other point is that the Henry Hudson is very expensive, because most cars are paying the cash rate. If you don't have a NY E-ZPass, which I do, then you're not even getting any discount at all.

Btw yes, I do realize the DRPA bridges join PA and NJ, I thought everyone knew that. But it would stand to reason that I do know, since I use it. And yes, the Henry Hudson is in New York, on both sides. Why it can't be used in comparison, is what I'm referring to when I say I have no idea what you're talking about.

Since we're discussing bridge tolls, back in 2021, PENNDOT proposed tolling 9 interstate bridges across PA to pay for their replacement.

PA already has the highest gasoline tax in the country and a portion of the PA turnpike toll revenue goes toward general highway maintenance. What gives? Luckily, the proposal was shelved due to public outcry.

The argument is, those who use the bridges should pay for their upkeep. If this is the "fair" way to fund bridge replacement, why isn't the same principle used to fund public schools instead of putting the burden on property owners?

Just last several weeks, I can feel your pain in the ass when I did cross the same PA Turnpike.

Luckily or not I don't think so, your miles of stone will be limited one day

Since 2 years I left "the machine" on my own despite of nobody cares about their doings, then no matter of time, you will accept the fate of evil doings.

Remember the time when I left, they still working on many projects, not only one project to put human down on the road.
Freedom or not, it's your choice next move, especially in PA, lot of people still be crazy to believe in current system.
Sitting in many hotels I can feel many channels showed only election and it's only supporting the current system, what's the heck then.
Look who did your life in hell last pandemic, still working on next project non-stop and nobody bring them to the justice then you will see more what's next coming.
Look,I can have a lot of salary until old age as Dr.F but I decided to leave my job to work for them rooted to NIH, CDC, then one day people will inspire what I tried to help this human kind since 2017, not 2020. One person or one group cannot help this world out of shit, you are the people.
If you enter many AI systems, enter the name of Dr.F related to NIH then his name as the hero. I did laugh a lot. Until whole system going to prison due to their last experiments on human kind, then that day people can rest in peace. Until then, I'm broke and no job already 2 years now. Sometime I hold my breath to guess why I did do that, conscience or just human kind is already forget what they did to have their freedom as today!

Hope one day people can open the eyes!!!

Best wishes.

To put it another way, DRPA bridges are not operated by either state or state agencies. Like PANYNJ bridges, they are operated by interstate compact organization, which is setup by Congress. So there are no "in-state" users, in contrast to say, PA Turnpike Commission or NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Henry Hudson users with E-ZPass out number cash nearly 6:1 and two thirds of E-ZPass users are NY E-ZPass (MTA, Thruway, etc.) that qualify for the discounted rate.

I'm not sure of the other states, but if the commuter uses a NJ EZ-Pass there may be a discount. Quoting from the website:

"Commuters with NJ E-ZPass who make 18 or more round-trip bridge crossings during a calendar month will receive an $18.00 monthly account credit."

The program is not automatic; the specific tag must be enrolled.

Again, for holders of a NJ EZ_Pass, I believe there is also a senior program that is 1/2 price on bridge tolls.

so 0.50 cents each direction increase - even though you only pay total in 1 direction, not to bad. Could be worse.

T
100% what the reasoning is, but it's "tag specific." There have been times I switched cars and forgot to switch tags. Not me, but some cars have license plate tags so they can't really be switched. And scary, I asked a coworker who has worked in NJ since 1998, you get the commuter discount, right? He was overcome with a sick look: "What commuter discount?" That's gotta be $5k right there, missed savings.

Take the Staten Island discount for example--3 crossings and the toll is 50%. Isn't this more reasonable, and more attainable, than 18? News flash DRPA--on 30 day months, my "RTO" at work is 17 crossings.

The most wonderful discount that went away? PA NY/NJ--up until 2018 if not 2019 or so--we paid $6 to go from NJ to NYC--"car pool" discount, when there are 3+ people in the vehicle. I believe that was < 50% of the E-ZPass price.

imho DRPA leaves a lot to be desired, but I've never looked into them. I can remember scandals where they gave tags to friends and family, for example.

Again, I understand 20% over 13 years doesn't keep up with inflation. But it's still an annoyance for someone who uses the bridge daily. Who knows, maybe it's the wfh that's the underlying cause of my annoyance lol