DRJTBC Awards Contract for I-78 Open Road Tolling

[PAHighways]

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission approved a contract today for Open Road Tolling (ORT) at the I-78 Toll Bridge.  This project and similar work at the I-80/Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge would make these the first Delaware River crossings equipped with high-speed E-ZPass capabilities.

http://www.drjtbc.org/default.aspx?pageid=1558

[Chris]

Why are those bridges even tolled? Aren't they payed off by now?

Lots of connections to get out of the state are tolled, almost if they are meant to keep people "in". There are like 13 toll bridges across the Delaware river. Only I-95 in Trenton doesn't seem to be tolled, plus probably some minor bridges further upstream.

[froggie]

They're tolled in part because the rules against tolling Interstates don't apply to major bridges or tunnels, and in part because the tolls provide funding for maintenance of both the tolled bridges and nearby local free bridges (such as the one downstream in Milford).

And yes, you are correct in your observation that "connections to get out of the state are tolled".  You'll find that on both sides of New Jersey...notice the bridges/tunnels across the Hudson are also tolled going eastbound (i.e. out of Jersey).

[mightyace]

And yes, you are correct in your observation that "connections to get out of the state are tolled".  You'll find that on both sides of New Jersey...notice the bridges/tunnels across the Hudson are also tolled going eastbound (i.e. out of Jersey).

My brother and I noticed that years ago and laugh at it!

It hasn't always been this way.  I remember back in the early 1980s that the Delaware Water Gap Bridge was tolled in both directions.  I can say the same thing of the Walt Whitman Bridge (I-76) in Philly and the Delaware Memorial Bridges (I-295) near Wilmington.

I think they are all tolled one way now.

[Roadgeek Adam]

This streak (on the Hudson) actually continues up northward

The Tappan Zee is tolled eastbound
The Bear Mtn is tolled eastbound
The Newburgh-Beacon is tolled EB.
The Mid-Hudson is tolled eastbound
The Kingston-Rhinecliff is tolled EB.
The Rip Van Winkle is tolled eastbound

Weirdo process

[froggie]

Not weird...consistency.  Simply put, as you pointed out, all of the tolled crossings of the Hudson collect the tolls going eastbound.

[Sykotyk]

Well, it makes sense for New Jersey. Once you're there, you'll gladly pay to leave 

Seriously, you have to toll it in one way consistently. Otherwise, the ingenious traveler will cross where it's free eastbound, and then cross where it's free westbound.

Sykotyk

[mightyace]

Well, it makes sense for New Jersey. Once you're there, you'll gladly pay to leave 

Seriously, you have to toll it in one way consistently. Otherwise, the ingenious traveler will cross where it's free eastbound, and then cross where it's free westbound.

Sykotyk

Even so, there are still options to reduce it.  On a trip in 2000, I crossed from NJ to PA on the US 202 bridge near New Hope, PA.  The toll was either 25 or 50 cents at the time.  I crossed back on the Delaware Water Gap bridge which was somewhere between $1 and $3 westbound but I was going eastbound. (I don't recall exactly what it was since I didn't have to pay it!)

That's not the same as avoiding the toll, but nice nonetheless.

[Alps]

I-95 free
Old Alt 1 and Calhoun St. bridges free
Washington's Crossing free
etc.

[hbelkins]

Not weird...consistency.  Simply put, as you pointed out, all of the tolled crossings of the Hudson collect the tolls going eastbound.

Wonder why that is? Aren't they missing out on a lot of revenue by not tolling in both directions?

[agentsteel53]

Wonder why that is? Aren't they missing out on a lot of revenue by not tolling in both directions?

I am thinking their rationale is: people will go in the morning, and then come back in the evening, so they will get everyone sufficiently by charging twice what they normally would, but only in one direction.

[Chris]

^^ Didn't that happen on the Verrazano Narrow Bridge? First it was tolled in both direction, but I believe they canceled the tolls eastbound, and now charge the double amount westbound. 90% of the traffic drives back and forth anyway. Better be in the queue one time than two times...

[PAHighways]

^^ Didn't that happen on the Verrazano Narrow Bridge? First it was tolled in both direction, but I believe they canceled the tolls eastbound, and now charge the double amount westbound. 90% of the traffic drives back and forth anyway. Better be in the queue one time than two times...

There are no tolls going westbound into Staten Island.

[Truvelo]

What about the Northampton St Bridge near Phillipsburg? The free bridge is about 1/4 mile from the tolled US-22 bridge. Anyone on US-22 could easily use the free bridge and not lose much time.

[froggie]

I disagree with that.  There's several traffic signals, a 25 MPH speed limit, and it's almost all single lane (i.e. no way to pass).

[Lyle]

There are no tolls going westbound into Staten Island.

Yes, there are. And they're pretty high, too.

[NJRoadfan]

^^ Didn't that happen on the Verrazano Narrow Bridge? First it was tolled in both direction, but I believe they canceled the tolls eastbound, and now charge the double amount westbound. 90% of the traffic drives back and forth anyway. Better be in the queue one time than two times...

Can't say I've ever paid that ridiculous toll to cross the Gangplank. I've driven it quite a few times eastbound for free though.

[PAHighways]

Yes, there are. And they're pretty high, too.

I didn't remember going through a toll plaza at the western approach the last time I took 278 leaving NYC.

[froggie]

It's there...

[PAHighways]

It's there...

Yeah, I had checked Google Earth.