Credit: NewHopeFreePress.com
Drivers crossing the Delaware River via the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission’s spans could see higher tolls starting in 2026, as the commission announced Monday a proposed system-wide toll adjustment.
The commission’s Pennsylvania and New Jersey Commissioners unanimously authorized staff on Monday to initiate a public hearing process this fall that will follow the formal advertisement of proposed toll schedule changes on the commission’s website.
Under the proposed adjustments, the E-ZPass rate for Class 1 passenger vehicles (two axles and under eight feet high) would increase by 50 cents to $2. The corresponding Toll-By-Plate rate for the same vehicle without E-ZPass would rise by $2 to $5.
For vehicles eight feet or above in height, the per-axle E-ZPass rate would increase by $2 to $6.50. The corresponding Toll-By-Plate rate for these vehicles would jump by $3 to $8 per axle.
The commission operates eight toll bridges, including the Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1), Scudder Falls (I-295), and New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202) bridges in Bucks County, as well as the I-78, Easton-Phillipsburg, Portland-Columbia, Delaware Water Gap, and Milford-Montague bridges outside the county.
Tolls are collected by the commission on in the Pennsylvania-bound direction.
Officials noted that E-ZPass remains the most frequently used payment method, and higher rates are charged for Toll-By-Plate customers due to the increased costs associated with identifying vehicle owners and mailing billings.
The commission phased out cash collection at its high-traffic toll bridges in January and at its low-traffic bridges in June 2024.
Officials said the toll hikes are designed to offset rising construction costs, fund new improvements, and maintain a strong credit rating.
Executive Director Joseph J. Resta explained that the proposed toll changes are a response to 2026 financial projections indicating potential shortfalls in the commission’s General Fund Reserve Balance and Debt Service Coverage Ratio.
Resta cited significant increases in construction material costs, including a 28% rise in hot-mix asphalt, 46% in concrete, 66% in structural steel, and 44% in fuel over the past five years. He also noted ongoing supply chain issues impacting project costs and delays.
“Aging bridge infrastructure requires diligent oversight and constant care, year in and year out, and does not wait for a favorable economic climate to require funding for rehabilitation,” Resta said, noting that some bridge substructures date back to the early 19th century and superstructures to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The commission is funded entirely by tolls and is unique among regional toll agencies as it is legally obligated to use a portion of its tolls to operate and maintain 10 older low-capacity non-highway vehicular bridges and two pedestrian-only crossings, referred to as “toll-supported bridges.”
In addition to bridges, the agency also manages 73 lane miles of road surface, 34 short-distance approach bridges, and various maintenance facilities.
Under the commission’s toll-setting policy, a public comment period with three virtual hearings must be scheduled for any proposed toll schedule changes. Comments will also be accepted online, via U.S. Mail, and through a recorded phone line.
All eligible comments will be compiled into a report with responses from staff and presented to commissioners before a final decision is made on the potential toll adjustments.
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