PA-NJ-DE Delaware River Crossings

[Interstatefan78]

https://bucksco.today/2023/12/delaware-river-joint-toll-bridges/

Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to Shift to Cashless Tolling

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is planning to transition its network of toll bridges to all-electronic cashless toll collection by early 2025, according to a staff report from Levittown Now.

The commission will start implementing a phased-in "soft conversion" at its seven E-ZPass/cash tolling points to Toll By Plate in January. This new system captures a vehicle's license plate to bill the vehicle owner.

The car toll will remain at $3. Meanwhile, E-ZPass users will pay half that in 2024.

So far, the only bridge that uses a cashless system is the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge in Lower Makefield Township. The seven older bridges currently accept either E-ZPass or cash.

The New Hope-Lambertville Toll Bridge in Solebury Township is the first on the list to offer Toll By Plate as a third payment option. This will become available on January 17.

After the cashless system becomes available at all bridges, a "hard conversion phase" will commence. This phase will include the removal of barrier toll plazas as well as the construction of highway-speed all-electronic tolling gantries.

Read more about the planned changes for the Delaware River toll bridges in Levittown Now (down below).

https://levittownnow.com/2023/12/18/nearby-delaware-river-joint-toll-bridge-commission-to-transition-to-cashless-tolling/

NEARBY: Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission To Transition To Cashless Tolling

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced its plan to shift its network of toll bridges to cashless all-electronic toll collections by January 2025.

The move follows a trend in electronic toll collections usage on the commission's spans, which accounts for 89 percent of the commission's transactions.

Starting next month, the commission will introduce a phased-in "soft conversion" to Toll By Plate at its seven E-ZPass/cash tolling points.

The system captures a vehicle's license plate for billing purposes.

The Toll By Plate car toll will be $3, equal to the current cash rate. In comparison, E-ZPass users will pay $1.50 in 2024.

The only bridge currently employing a cashless system is the Scudder Falls (I-295) Toll Bridge in Lower Makefield Township. The other seven older bridges accept either E-ZPass or cash.

The New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202) Toll Bridge in Solebury Township will be the first to offer Toll By Plate as a third payment option starting January 17.

The Solebury Township bridge that connects to Hunterdon County, New Jersey will serve as a testing site before expanding the option to six other toll bridges on January 24, including the Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1) Toll Bridge.

In June 2024, three of the commission's lowest-volume toll bridges—New Hope-Lambertville, Portland-Columbia, and Milford-Montague—will stop cash collections, exclusively handling E-ZPass and Toll By Plate transactions.

A firm date for this conversion will be announced in spring.

The full switch for the Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge and others is scheduled for January 2025.

The switch will be followed by a "hard conversion phase," which involves removing barrier toll plazas and constructing highway-speed all-electronic tolling gantries.

The first bridge to receive a cashless gantry will be the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge in 2025.

The commission said in a statement they plan to complete this process at all older bridges by 2032.

This transition matches similar actions by other tolling agencies, including the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, to eliminate cash collections.

The commission currently employs 370 staff, down from 400 in 2019, and ceased hiring full-time toll collectors in early 2020.

For setting up an E-ZPass account, customers are directed to visit the New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center at www.ezpassnj.com.

How about the Busy crossings like US-22 Pburg Easton I-78 Exit 75 I-80 Del Water Gap when will these go gantry only? If your E-Z pass tag is not working the System takes a picture of your plate yet charges the E-Z Pass rate. Knew this from the Bayonne Bridge and NJ Turnpike tolls using a 2012 Transponder

[Great Lakes Roads]

How about the Busy crossings like US-22 Pburg Easton I-78 Exit 75 I-80 Del Water Gap when will these go gantry only? If your E-Z pass tag is not working the System takes a picture of your plate yet charges the E-Z Pass rate. Knew this from the Bayonne Bridge and NJ Turnpike tolls using a 2012 Transponder

They don't have a schedule set for when each toll bridge will receive a highway-speed all-electronic tolling gantry, but the first one will be the New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202) Toll Bridge (set to go live in 2025).

From the DRBJC: "After a roughly five-month introduction of system-wide TOLL BY PLATE billing, the Commission's toll-collection conversion process will advance to a second phase called "AET in-place." This is expected to occur in June 2024, when the agency's three lowest-volume toll bridges – New Hope-Lambertville, Portland-Columbia, and Milford-Montague – are to cease cash collections and handle solely all-electronic E-ZPass and TOLL BY PLATE transactions. A firm date for this conversion is to be announced in the spring."

"Cashless AET collections are projected to be implemented in January 2025 at the Commission's four remaining higher-volume toll bridges: Trenton-Morrisville, I-78, Easton-Phillipsburg, and Delaware Water Gap. A firm date for this conversion won't be determined until late 2024."
- https://www.drjtbc.org/2024/01/reminder-toll-by-plate-payment-option-expands-tomorrow-to-drjtbcs-six-remaining-e-zpass-cash-tolling-points/

[74/171FAN]

The CE Expert System has documentation for a future Ben Franklin Bridge Preservation project.

Why the project is needed? --- Project Need(s)
The following needs have been identified for the project:

Pavement Condition: The existing asphalt pavement on the bridge and approach roadways has signs of cracking, rutting and shoving. The base course on the suspension bridge and approach viaducts is nearly 40 years old.

Rotation Panel Function: The rotation panels are the portion of the deck adjacent to the tower finger joints. The rotation panel has a series of pins to allow for the rotation of the stiffening truss at the towers. Since all of the pins are at different elevations, the panel cannot rotate as the design intended, resulting in elongation of the pin holes and bouncing of the deck.

Damaged Finger Plate Expansion Joints: Finger plate expansion joints are on the suspension bridge at the towers and anchorages. The finger plates allow for the movement of the stiffening truss and are installed in segments along the width of the roadway. Some of the finger plate segments are damaged and/or are missing attachment bolts.

Substandard/Worn Signing: Some of the existing signs are worn, damaged and/or not to standards.

Misaligned Expansion Joints: The existing expansion joints are at different elevations on both sides of the joint resulting in a bump on the roadway.

Improper Roadway Drainage: The existing drainage troughs are located within the barriers and discharge the runoff directly onto the bridge steel below.

Worn/Deteriorating 5th Street Pedestrian Tunnel Deck Slab: The roof of the 5th St. pedestrian tunnel is a concrete slab that also serves as the deck slab for the roadway above. The concrete slab is of original construction dating back to 1926 and is nearly 100 years old. The roof/deck slab is leaking water into the tunnel.


 
Description of Activity
The proposed project involves the following:

Replacing the roadway surface on the suspension bridge, approach spans, and at the tollplaza
Rehabilitating finger plate expansion joints and the rotation panels supporting the fingerplate expansion joints on the suspension spans.
Replacing strip seal expansion joints on approach spans
Replacing the concrete bridge deck over the 5th Street Pedestrian Tunnel on the Philadelphia approach and painting of existing support steel members in the tunnel
Replacing substandard and damaged impact attenuators
Replacing drainage troughs and installation of downspouts on the suspension bridge
Replacing pavement markings
Replacing roadway signage
Underdeck access and painting is required for rehabilitating finger plate expansion joints, rehabilitating rotation panels on the suspension bridge, replacing drainage troughs, and installing downspouts on the suspension bridge.

There will be no ground disturbance or jacking from the ground. Construction equipment and staging will use existing DRPA facilities including parking lots with asphalt pavements under approach spans.

The project will not require right-of-way acquisitions nor temporary construction easements.

The project will be funded with a combination of DRPA and Federal funds.

[MASTERNC]

The CE Expert System has documentation for a future Ben Franklin Bridge Preservation project.

Why the project is needed? --- Project Need(s)
The following needs have been identified for the project:

Pavement Condition: The existing asphalt pavement on the bridge and approach roadways has signs of cracking, rutting and shoving. The base course on the suspension bridge and approach viaducts is nearly 40 years old.

Rotation Panel Function: The rotation panels are the portion of the deck adjacent to the tower finger joints. The rotation panel has a series of pins to allow for the rotation of the stiffening truss at the towers. Since all of the pins are at different elevations, the panel cannot rotate as the design intended, resulting in elongation of the pin holes and bouncing of the deck.

Damaged Finger Plate Expansion Joints: Finger plate expansion joints are on the suspension bridge at the towers and anchorages. The finger plates allow for the movement of the stiffening truss and are installed in segments along the width of the roadway. Some of the finger plate segments are damaged and/or are missing attachment bolts.

Substandard/Worn Signing: Some of the existing signs are worn, damaged and/or not to standards.

Misaligned Expansion Joints: The existing expansion joints are at different elevations on both sides of the joint resulting in a bump on the roadway.

Improper Roadway Drainage: The existing drainage troughs are located within the barriers and discharge the runoff directly onto the bridge steel below.

Worn/Deteriorating 5th Street Pedestrian Tunnel Deck Slab: The roof of the 5th St. pedestrian tunnel is a concrete slab that also serves as the deck slab for the roadway above. The concrete slab is of original construction dating back to 1926 and is nearly 100 years old. The roof/deck slab is leaking water into the tunnel.


 
Description of Activity
The proposed project involves the following:

Replacing the roadway surface on the suspension bridge, approach spans, and at the tollplaza
Rehabilitating finger plate expansion joints and the rotation panels supporting the fingerplate expansion joints on the suspension spans.
Replacing strip seal expansion joints on approach spans
Replacing the concrete bridge deck over the 5th Street Pedestrian Tunnel on the Philadelphia approach and painting of existing support steel members in the tunnel
Replacing substandard and damaged impact attenuators
Replacing drainage troughs and installation of downspouts on the suspension bridge
Replacing pavement markings
Replacing roadway signage
Underdeck access and painting is required for rehabilitating finger plate expansion joints, rehabilitating rotation panels on the suspension bridge, replacing drainage troughs, and installing downspouts on the suspension bridge.

There will be no ground disturbance or jacking from the ground. Construction equipment and staging will use existing DRPA facilities including parking lots with asphalt pavements under approach spans.

The project will not require right-of-way acquisitions nor temporary construction easements.

The project will be funded with a combination of DRPA and Federal funds.

One reason why the DRPA tolls may increase to $6 soon

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://www.drjtbc.org/2024/12/toll-bridges-at-trenton-morrisville-i-78-easton-phillipsburg-delaware-water-gap-to-stop-accepting-cash-toll-payments-on-january-13/

Cash collection for the four high-traffic bridge crossings will end on January 12th.

[roadman65]

https://www.drjtbc.org/2024/12/toll-bridges-at-trenton-morrisville-i-78-easton-phillipsburg-delaware-water-gap-to-stop-accepting-cash-toll-payments-on-january-13/

Cash collection for the four high-traffic bridge crossings will end on January 12th.

You beat  me to it.

I saw that today on social media.  January 15 is the last day before they go all electronic.

[ixnay]

https://www.drjtbc.org/2024/12/toll-bridges-at-trenton-morrisville-i-78-easton-phillipsburg-delaware-water-gap-to-stop-accepting-cash-toll-payments-on-january-13/

Cash collection for the four high-traffic bridge crossings will end on January 12th.

You beat  me to it.

I saw that today on social media.  January 15 is the last day before they go all electronic.

I fully understand the convenience of paying your toll while you roll,
but why has there been no pushback against all-AET from

  - tolltakers unions fearing for their members' jobs (unless they were bought off satisfactorily)

  or

  - consumer groups concerned about privacy or ID theft?

[Rothman]

https://www.drjtbc.org/2024/12/toll-bridges-at-trenton-morrisville-i-78-easton-phillipsburg-delaware-water-gap-to-stop-accepting-cash-toll-payments-on-january-13/

Cash collection for the four high-traffic bridge crossings will end on January 12th.

You beat  me to it.

I saw that today on social media.  January 15 is the last day before they go all electronic.

I fully understand the convenience of paying your toll while you roll,
but why has there been no pushback against all-AET from

  - tolltakers unions fearing for their members' jobs (unless they were bought off satisfactorily)

  or

  - consumer groups concerned about privacy or ID theft?

I think I went to sleep and woke up in the 20th Century.

[jeffandnicole]

https://www.drjtbc.org/2024/12/toll-bridges-at-trenton-morrisville-i-78-easton-phillipsburg-delaware-water-gap-to-stop-accepting-cash-toll-payments-on-january-13/

Cash collection for the four high-traffic bridge crossings will end on January 12th.

You beat  me to it.

I saw that today on social media.  January 15 is the last day before they go all electronic.

I fully understand the convenience of paying your toll while you roll,
but why has there been no pushback against all-AET from

  - tolltakers unions fearing for their members' jobs (unless they were bought off satisfactorily)

There has been a great deal of union pushback. That's why the Northeast US - where unions are strong - is generally the last area of the country gong all-AET. Over the years toll collectors have retired and part timers who aren't in the unions have collected tolls. In most cases, any remaining full time toll takers have been offered other positions within the agencies they work for.

or

  - consumer groups concerned about privacy or ID theft?

I don't get this one. ET databases have existed for 25+ years. Some toll agencies accept cards right at the toll plaza. Are you claiming that these databases are somehow unsecured? ID info fron credit cards was stolen from Target. It was stolen from Credit One itself. In fact, well over 100 businesses a year report hackers gained access to financial iinformation. So why would this be a reason all-AET shouldn't exist?

[vdeane]

I fully understand the convenience of paying your toll while you roll,
but why has there been no pushback against all-AET from

  - tolltakers unions fearing for their members' jobs (unless they were bought off satisfactorily)

They might have been preparing for years.  When the Thruway went AET, it was known years in advance, so as the career toll takers retired or went to other positions, they were replaced with part-time temps who had no vested interest in the job (and no illusions about it continuing past the end of 2020).  Although I suspect that the agencies who accelerated their conversions to AET during the pandemic did so to "solve" that problem under the cover of the pandemic layoffs.

or

  - consumer groups concerned about privacy or ID theft?

It seems like nobody cares about such things these days.  In fact, states have begun to say the quiet part out loud - when Cuomo announced that the NYC bridges were going AET, it was in the "national security" part of the state of the state and it was explicitly mentioned that the toll gantries would have facial recognition cameras and that the space vacated by the toll booths would be used by law enforcement.

Not sure what AET has to do with identity theft, however.

That's why the Northeast US - where unions are strong - is generally the last area of the country gong all-AET.

I would add in the Midwest as well.  Aside from Illinois and new toll facilities, toll collection is pretty old school there.  The Ohio Turnpike recently replaced the mainline toll barriers with new ones that have ORT for E-ZPass and booths on the side for cash (they were also the last long-distance toll road in the area to join; for a long time there was a gap between Pennsylvania and Indiana in electronic toll collection).  The Indiana Toll Road still doesn't even have ORT; drivers must slow down to go through the booths.  And aside from the new tolls in Bay City, Michigan isn't an E-ZPass state either.

Meanwhile, much of the Northeast has gone AET.  The PA/NJ/DE crossings were a holdout, as are New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Maine, but it's otherwise largely AET, especially among the "heavy hitters".