Toll Increases for Tacony-Palmyra, Burlington-Bristol Bridges Approved

Tolls are going up on both the Tacony-Palmyra and Burlington-Bristol bridges following a vote of the Burlington County Bridge Commission Wednesday night, the Burlington County Times reports.

Drivers of cars, motorcycles and light trucks who pay with cash will now pay $4 to cross the bridges, as opposed to $2. E-Z Pass customers will see an increase from $1 to $3. Bus drivers will see an increase of $1.50, and RV drivers will see an increase of $9.

The increases are expected to generate $12 million in additional revenue each year to help pay for safety improvements.

Those improvements include a deck on the Burlington-Bristol Bridge; repainting both bridges to protect the steel; and $9.25 million for equipment used for bridge openings on both spans, as well as the free Delanco-Riverside bridge over the Rancocas Creek.

Those who opposed to the increases argued it is too much, and that large commercial trucks should be banned from using the Burlington-Bristol Bridge.

Those who were in support of the increases argued that safety trumps cost.

The increases will take effect in September and will be the first in 15 years.

AAA Clubs of New Jersey have called for the increases to be phased in over time. Prior to Wednesday night’s vote, AAA urged the commission to postpone the vote to consider public comments with greater weight, according to the report.

Read more at burlingtoncountytimes.com.