New January 5 rule will hike toll fee to over $22 in third increase since 2023 – but there’s a way to save
A NEW rule set to come into force on January 5 will see a toll hiked for the third time since 2023, putting it over $22.
The new charges will affect four majorbridges, as well as twotunnels, which serve hundreds of millions of drivers a year.
The New Jersey Port Authority has announced yet another price rise for drivers traveling between the state andManhattan.
The increases come as part of a $9.4 billion package to “address the negative impacts of theCOVID-19 pandemic”.
This funding is set to drive greater investment in the crossings as well as mitigate hits to “revenues and operating costs”.
One aim of the measures is to reduce the use of pay-by-mail for the tolls and move customers onto theE-ZPass system.
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The pass can be picked up for a small fee and allows drivers to pre-load money onto it and pay with the swipe of abarcodeat the toll gate.
This reduces the cost of administering payments, but roughly 15% of drivers still use the trickier pay-by-mail system.
As a result, the toll for the later will be increased by almost $5 from next year, rising from $17.63 to $22.38 for cars.
In contrast, the E-ZPass fee will only go up by 25c, from $15.38 to $15.63.
And each trip on the PATH network will reach $3, up by 25c from this year.
Yet, the proposals also outline 25% increases every year from 2026 to 2028.
I was fined $850 for unknowingly violating a toll lane law 8 times I wasn t notified for months & the fines doubled
That is on top of theinflation-linked hikes approved last year, which worked out to a 46c bump next year.
However, there is a way for some drivers to save thanks to a relief scheme.
PATH riders who havedisabilitieswill be able to access a discount of up to 50% under the plans.
This would kick in from the summer of 2025, according to the Port Authority’s chief financial officer, Libby McCarthy.
The changes will affect all Port Authority-operated sites, including the
Fighting incorrect toll violations
A legal expert says a toll violation notice can be disputed with a few simple steps.
- Double-check the name and license plate number. Violations are finalized by a technician before they’re mailed, and sometimes a simple mistake can be made. If the matter is as simple as someone misreading the plate due to a grainy photo, the matter can be resolved by calling the toll agency.
- If the license plate is correct but the car is no longer registered to you, you can dispute it by contacting your state’s transportation agency (ie. DMV) to provide proof the vehicle is no longer yours.
- If the violation claims it was issued due to a missing account and you indeed have an active account, the violation can usually be disputed on the toll agency’s website. If not, calling is an option.
- Dispute the notice promptly. Many toll agencies will impose a short time limit that drivers can dispute a notice, so it’s important to do so quickly to avoid late fees.
- Be clear when submitting a dispute online. The more details included, the easier it is to have the matter resolved.
- If necessary, drivers can submit a hearing to dispute the charge.
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George Washington Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge, the Lincoln and Holland tunnels and the Outerbridge Crossing.
Public hearings to discuss the proposals will run start on December 3 at 7pm at the Hasbrouck Heights Meadowlands Hilton.
There will then be a second consultation at 9am on December 5 at 2 Montgomery St in Jersey City.
Plus, the online public consultation will stay open for submissions until December 9.
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State governor Phil Murphy has previously criticised similar plans as a “way to take money from the pockets of New Jersey residents”, according to theNew Jersey Monitor.
However, a spokesperson for Gov. Murphy declined to comment on the latest proposals.
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