Yikes, Hikes? Fares And Tolls May Increase For NJ Commuters

Commuters in New Jersey may find themselves reaching a little deeper into their pockets if the Port Authority moves ahead with planned fare and toll hikes across the region.

The Port Authority of NY/NJ is expected to release more information Thursday about a series of possible fee hikes at its bridges, tunnels, subway stations and airports. Most of the increases would take place in 2020, but some could happen as soon as November.

Officials said the hikes are due to inflation and several improvement projects designed to accommodate the growing number of commuters in the region. In total, the toll and fare adjustments are expected to generate $235 million in incremental annual revenue (read more here).

Here are some of the places where commuters might find themselves paying more. More information about the proposed fare/toll hikes can be found in the agenda for the Port Authority board meeting on Thursday, June 27.

BRIDGES, TUNNELS

Drivers could face toll hikes at the George Washington Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge, Outerbridge Crossing and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels.

According to NJ.com:

“Drivers who pay cash tolls will see a $1 increase to $16 on Jan. 5, 2020, if approved. Drivers using E-ZPass will see a reduction in their discounts, with the peak-period discount dropping from $2.50 to $2.25 and off-peak going from $4.50 to $4.25. That means drivers would pay a $11.75 toll during off-peak and $13.75 during peak commuting hours.”

The below charts come via the Port Authority of NY/NJ. (Click on the image to make it larger)

AIRPORTS

There would be some fee hikes for AirTrain riders and taxis/rideshare drivers at the Port Authority’s airports.

According to NorthJersey.com:

• Single-ride AirTrain fares, which are currently available at JFK and Newark airports, would increase to $7.75.
• Drivers of for-hire vehicles, like Uber and Lyft, would have to start paying a $4 pickup fee and $4 drop-off fee at all three airports.
• Taxi drivers would have to start paying a $4 pickup fee but would not have a drop-off fee.

PATH TRAIN

There wouldn’t be an increase to the single-ride PATH fare of $2.75. However, the Port Authority’s proposal calls for hikes to the cost of SmartLink cards and unlimited passes, which would be gradually phased in.

According to NorthJersey.com:

• Ten-trip SmartLink card costs would increase to $25 in November 2019 and $26 in November 2020.
• Twenty-trip SmartLink card costs would increase to $50 in November 2019 and $52 in November 2020.
• Forty-trip SmartLink card costs would increase to $100 in November 2019 and $104 in November 2020.
• Senior SmartLink card costs (eligible for those ages 65 and up) would increase to $1.25 in November 2019.
• Unlimited one-day passes would increase to $10 in November 2019 and $10.50 in November 2020.
• Unlimited seven-day passes would increase to $34.50 in November 2019 and $36 in November 2020.
• Unlimited 30-day passes would increase to $106 in November 2019 and $110.25 in November 2020.

The hikes aren’t set in stone, yet. Written comments on the proposed increases can be submitted via the Port Authority website through the end of the public comment period on Sept. 13.

Port Authority officials will also hold six public hearings to let commuters sound off. Those meetings will take place on the following dates and locations:

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