WCBS 880 Tri-State Top 11 Of 2011: No. 5 – Tolls
Commuting by car got a bit less attractive in 2011.
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Commuting by car got a bit less attractive in 2011.
Are Port Authority toll hikes being used to rebuild the World Trade Center? That's what the agency claimed when it argued for the increases. But court documents filed by the Port Authority conflict with that statement.
Cash tolls on the George Washington Bridge, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, Goethals Bridge, Bayonne Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing went up from $8 to $12 on Sunday.
Commuters are paying as much as 50 percent more to cross bridges and tunnels as the Port Authority's controversial toll and fare hikes took effect.
The Port Authority passed hefty toll and fare hikes on Friday. But instead of raising them all at once, commuters will be hit with five yearly increments.
Governors Chris Christie and Andrew Cuomo are riding to the rescue of people who use the PATH trains and the river crossings, including the Holland and Lincoln tunnels and the George Washington Bridge.
The Port Authority board is slated to vote on a massive proposed toll and fare hike. After that, it heads to the governors of New Jersey and New York.
The agency says it needs the additional revenue the hikes will generate to pay for a new 10-year capital investment plan, maintain security, and complete the over-budget World Trade Center.
The Port Authority said the additional revenue is necessary to pay for new bus projects and much-needed fixes for bridges, roads and airports.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is putting in his two cents when it comes to the proposed massive toll and fare hike from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
"These increases will raise costs on families, hinder economic development, and raise the costs of doing businesses in a region which is expensive enough," New York State Senator Charles Fuschillo, Jr. said.
If they don't win approval, completion of the World Trade Center and key upgrades at area bridges and airports might not happen. A $1 increase in PATH train fares is also being sought as part of a revenue raising plan the agency says it needs for an "infrastructure overhaul."
Schumer wants the four toll agencies that operate E-ZPass in New York State to implement a text-message warning system to alert drivers when their balances run low and about any impending charges they may face.
An Easter backup approaching the Outerbridge Crossing has lead to a new policy from the Port Authority.
Lawmakers from Staten Island were still outraged at the decision to have just one cash lane open at two toll bridges to New Jersey, which created massive traffic backups on Easter.
Oddo called the decision to keep only one cash lane open at the bridge on busy Easter Sunday "galactically stupid."
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey approved a $7.2 billion budget that holds the line on tolls and will eliminate 200 jobs through attrition next year.
Part of the Outerbridge Crossing will be closed for repaving over the weekend.
