Toll Increases Expected With Additional E-ZPass Booths On Ocean Drive Bridges, Including Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Fees for E-ZPass toll booths will be increased to pay for the installation of more collection booths are in Cape May County, including Ocean City, the Cape May County Bridge Commission announced on Monday.

However, E-ZPass will allow the Bridge Commission to more easily establish seasonal tolling fees to coincide with the county’s high tourism season usage, so that year-round residents do not carry the burden of the increase.

The Cape May County Bridge Commission will meet to vote on the toll increase on April 27, at which time there will be a public hearing on the matter.

The seasonal increase would be $1 from the Monday before Memorial Day to the Tuesday after Columbus Day. There would also be an increase of 50 cents in the off-season.

The commission says the increase will also provide for a balanced operating budget, the establishment of a proactive maintenance plan, and funding for much needed long-term capital improvements.

Booths will be installed on all Ocean Drive bridges, beginning with the Ocean City-Longport Bridge, before the start of the summer, the Cape May County Bridge Commission announced on Monday.

Other booths will be placed at the Middle Thorofare Bridge, Grassy Sound Bridge, Townsend’s Inlet Bridge and Corsons Inlet Bridge.

All booths are expected to be in place by June 1, and there is not expected to be a reduction in full-time staff for tolls. However, there may be nominal reductions in part-time, seasonal staff based on the performance of the system and experience gained in 2017 on its capacity to improve traffic flow.

The installation—which is designed to increase efficiency and alleviate traffic back-ups on these bridges—is being made possible as part of an inter-local service agreement in place between the Cape May County Bridge Commission and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA).

“Once the E-ZPass system is installed, more vehicles will be able to pass over the bridges, faster and more efficiently when traveling from Ocean City to Cape May,” Cape May County Bridge Commission Chairman Patrick Rosenello said. “Our goal in bringing E-ZPass to our Ocean Drive bridges is to ensure that all residents and visitors experience higher levels of efficiency, convenience, and safety while traveling.”

“The Ocean Drive bridges play a significant role in the economy of Cape May County,” Cape May County Freeholder Will Morey, liaison to the Ocean Drive Bridge Commission, said. “The Commission appreciates everyone’s support as we move forward with updating our bridge system to better serve residents and visitors to Cape May County.”

For more than 18 months, the Bridge Commission and Cape May County government have been working with the SJTA in determining the feasibility and benefits of installing E-ZPass on the Ocean Drive Bridge System, recognizing the important transportation link that the bridges provide in connecting Cape May County’s barrier islands, according to the commission.

“Our bridges are getting this makeover because the current systems are 10 years old and in need of an upgrade,” Cape May County Bridge Commission Executive Director Karen Coughlin said. “With the price of electronics down, these new additions create a win-win situation. We anticipate an increase in people using the bridges and paying tolls—adding to the revenue which will support our efforts to improve the overall condition of the bridges.”

Patch file photo