DRPA's New Proposals: Bridges +$1, PATCO +10% in 2008 and 2010 - PhillyBlog

sincewednesday · #1 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 04:09 PM

From their website:

Quote:

BRIDGE TOLLS
1. A $1.00 increase September 2008, another $1.00 increase September 2010 and cost of living increases every two years after that. There will be proportional increases for all other toll classes.
2. A phase out of the commuter discount. The credit for 18 crossings a month on the same transponder will be reduced to $12 September 2008, reduced to $6.00 in September 2009 and the discount would end September 2010.
3. The Senior Citizen discount would remain with a few changes. The Senior discount will now be directly linked to an E-ZPass account and will only be accepted during off-peak hours. The peak hours when the discount will be invalid are from 6-9am and 4-7pm Monday thru Friday. The Senior Discount will be 50% of the normal toll and is limited to one crossing a day. THE DELAWARE RIVER PORT AUTHORITY REMAINS THE ONLY TOLL AGENCY IN THE COUNTRY WITH A SENIOR DISCOUNT.
4.The current commercial discount will be eliminated.
5.CREATION OF A NEW GREEN PASS DISCOUNT. This new $1.00 discount will be offered to E-ZPass customers driving low emission vehicles that get at least 45 miles to the gallon. The vehicles must meet the California Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle or pre-model year 2005 hybrid vehicle certified to the California Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Standard. This discount is scheduled to sunset after two years.
PATCO FARES
1. A 10% increase September 2008, another 10% increase September 2010 with cost of living increases every two years after that.
2. The federally mandated reduced fare program for seniors and disabled which is now 57 cents would increase to 62 cents September 2008 and then 70 cents September 2010.
3. PATCO fares vary depending on the length of the trip however looking at the person who travels from Lindenwold, Ashland or Woodcrest, to Center City Philadelphia the cost of a one-way ticket would increase 25 cents from $2.45 to $2.70 September 2008. In September 2010, the cost would increase 30 cents from $2.70 to $3.00.

Coverage in the Inky:

Quote:

Matheussen acknowledged that "we have heard the discontent" of commuters angry at having their tolls used for such projects as Lincoln Financial Field, the Kimmel Center, the National Constitution Center, and the New Jersey State Aquarium.
Most recently, the agency approved $10 million to help build a soccer stadium complex on the Chester waterfront and $5 million for the National Museum of American Jewish History near Independence Hall.
"Going forward, I want to assure you that new monies raised from these proposed toll increases will not . . . be used for economic development projects," Matheussen said. "Our efforts and the toll monies will be dedicated to our assets, our bridges and PATCO."

shorelover2007 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 04:45 PM

Matheussen acknowledged that "we have heard the discontent" of commuters angry at having their tolls used for such projects as Lincoln Financial Field, the Kimmel Center, the National Constitution Center, and the New Jersey State Aquarium.
Most recently, the agency approved $10 million to help build a soccer stadium complex on the Chester waterfront and $5 million for the National Museum of American Jewish History near Independence Hall.
"Going forward, I want to assure you that new monies raised from these proposed toll increases will not . . . be used for economic development projects," Matheussen said. "Our efforts and the toll monies will be dedicated to our assets, our bridges and PATCO."

I was one of the "discontented" folks -- hope they really "get it" this time. Of course, it appears that only the increases won't be used inappropriately -- does this mean that they're free to keep spending the current amounts collected on their pet projects?

raider.adam · #3 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 05:41 PM

Are you joking me? They are also planning to rise every two years?

AND they got rid of the commuter discount?

Bullcrap all around.

And what is with the green discount? It isn't DRPA's job to subsidize that.

So they misspend all their money and the commuters get completely screwed.

timothytuxedo · #4 (**permalink**) 07-10-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

1. A $1.00 increase September 2008, another $1.00 increase September 2010 and cost of living increases every two years after that. There will be proportional increases for all other toll classes.

How would these cost of living increases be calculated? I presume tolls would no longer cost an even dollar amount. This could lead to significantly longer lines at the tolls due to the time extra time required to make change.

sincewednesday · #5 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timothytuxedo

How would these cost of living increases be calculated? I presume tolls would no longer cost an even dollar amount. This could lead to significantly longer lines at the tolls due to the time extra time required to make change.

Yeah, it's a pretty ill-conceived plan. My guess is they round up to the nearest quarter. Notice that even in their selected example, the PATCO fare goes from $2.70 to $3.00, which is an 11.1% increase, not 10%. A few "round ups" lets them slowly increase rates while blaming inflation.

JugglerDave · #6 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 12:58 PM

The inquirer article had an interesting chart showing the rise in tolls from 50 cents in 1926 to $4 in september 2008. What's interesting is the "2008 dollar" equivalent taking inflation out of the picture. The tolls have been fairly constant by this measure for the past 30 years.

thunda · #7 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JugglerDave

The inquirer article had an interesting chart showing the rise in tolls from 50 cents in 1926 to $4 in september 2008. What's interesting is the "2008 dollar" equivalent taking inflation out of the picture. The tolls have been fairly constant by this measure for the past 30 years.

I posted this in the other bridge toll thread, but here it is again:

raider.adam · #8 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunda

I posted this in the other bridge toll thread, but here it is again:

The point is, all studies say they wouldn't have had to go up this much if the DRPA wasn't mismanaged with bad projects.

I know "inflationary comparisons" are interesting to see, but it ultimately comes down to real world dollars.

All I know is that come September, it will cost me over $20 more a month just to get to work, not counting gas prices.

If it was the cost to take care of the bridge, fine ... problem is, it is not.

eldondre · #9 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raider.adam

The point is, all studies say they wouldn't have had to go up this much if the DRPA wasn't mismanaged with bad projects.

I know "inflationary comparisons" are interesting to see, but it ultimately comes down to real world dollars.

All I know is that come September, it will cost me over $20 more a month just to get to work, not counting gas prices.

If it was the cost to take care of the bridge, fine ... problem is, it is not.

or they coudl have reinvested it in improving PATCO that also benefits transportation. realigning stations to fit into broad st, a new rittenhouse station, etc, etc....while I'm at it, how about better night time frequencies. I recently took PATCO to the Tweeter Ctr and it only runs every 40 min at night. ouch.

raider.adam · #10 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eldondre

or they coudl have reinvested it in improving PATCO that also benefits transportation. realigning stations to fit into broad st, a new rittenhouse station, etc, etc....while I'm at it, how about better night time frequencies. I recently took PATCO to the Tweeter Ctr and it only runs every 40 min at night. ouch.

Yes, I should have said "bridges and PATCO".