DRIVERS will soon be paying more for certain tolls as prices increase for a second time this year.
The changes are scheduled to take effect on July 6 and will apply to all vehicle classes.
Drivers will soon see an increase in tolls[/caption]
E-ZPass users can avoid another fine if their pass is properly displayed[/caption]
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will be charging drivers more at certain crossings, marking the second price increase since January.
The new mid-tier toll rate applies to Toll by Mail for vehicle classes 1, 7, and 11.
The new rates apply to the Lincoln and Holland tunnels, the George Washington, Bayonne, and Goethals bridges, and the Outerbridge Crossing.
The tolls will only apply to those entering New York, not to those entering New Jersey.
All tolls will be cashless, and drivers who receive their Tolls by Mail will be able to pay their tolls online, by mail, by phone, or at select retailers.
The Port Authority encourages drivers to sign up for an E-ZPass, which automatically applies a 20% discount to all tolls.
E-ZPass users who don’t have their tags mounted correctly on their windshield will also be charged an increased fee.
To avoid being charged the extra fee, E-ZPass owners should ensure that everything is correctly positioned for proper reading.
The rise in toll prices is the second of the year, as the Port Authority increased prices by 25 cents back in January.
Those with E-ZPasses saw an increase from $15.38 to $16.06 for peak hour charges and an off-peak toll increase from $13.38 to $14.06.
Tolls by Mail increased by 3.9%, according to NJ.com.
CONGESTION CONTROVERSY
The price hikes come just months after New York City implemented its congestion pricing program.
Congestion pricing aims to discourage excessive demand by charging those using scarce road space.
Implementing congestion pricing is meant to help optimize traffic conditions and promote public transportation, according to the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
NEW YORK CONGESTION TOLL
NEW York has become the first major US city to introduce a form of congestion pricing:
- Starting January 5, 2025, most vehicles will have to pay a $9 congestion toll in parts of New York City.
- The affected area is everything south up to and including 60th Street in Manhattan, where Central Park starts.
- Only the FDR Drive, on the east side of the island, the West Side Highway, on the west side, and the Hugh L Carey Tunnel which connects them at the southern tip, will be excluded from congestion tolls, provided you don’t exit them into Manhattan at or below 60th Street.
- The idea is to reduce congestion in Manhattan, improve air quality, and fund the MTA.
- The toll affects the majority of cars, SUVs, small vans, and pickup trucks.
- Vehicles eligible for the toll must have an E-ZPass, which will charge them $9 once per day.
- That toll will go down to $2.25 during overnight hours.
- Peak traffic hours are between 5 am and 9 pm on weekdays, and between 9 am and 0 pm on weekends.
- Drivers without an E-ZPass will be mailed their bills and will have to pay more – $13.50 for peak hours and $3.30 overnight.
- Motorcyclists will pay half what cars pay – $4.50 – during peak.
- Buses and trucks, depending on their size, will pay more.
- Exceptions include certain emergency vehicles, school buses, the disabled who are unable to take public transport, and those who transport them.
- Low-income drivers who pay the toll 10 times a month can apply for a 50% discount on trips they take for the rest of the month.
- Passengers in taxis and for-hire vehicles will have a per-trip surcharge added to their fares, working out at 75 cents for people taking taxis, green cabs, and black cars, and $1.50 for Uber or Lyft passengers.
As of January 5, 2025, vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street during peak hours are charged a $9 toll.
The toll is set to increase to $12 by 2028.
In the first week of the new pricing, traffic fell by 7.5%, according to Forbes.
Travel times have been cut by over a third, which allows for faster bus and public transportation times.
Within one month, the city generated $48.66 million in revenue.
The increased revenue is on target to meet the MTA’s revenue goal of $500 million.
Other cities that have implemented congestion pricing, such as London and Stockholm, have not only seen a decrease in traffic but also experienced increased health benefits and positive environmental impacts.
One study found that London’s low-emission zones and congestion charging zones have “a statistically significant effect on long-term public health.”
