Lawmaker Delivers Petition For PA E-ZPass Discount

HARRISBURG, PA — A Bucks County lawmaker has delivered a petition with more than 1,100 names calling for Pennsylvania commuters who drive into New Jersey to get a break on the tolls they pay.

State Rep. Wendi Thomas, a Republican from Northampton, delivered petitions from her online campaign Monday to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. The petition called for Pennsylvania drivers to get the same discounts that New Jersey drivers do when driving over the Scudder Falls Bridge and other bridges over the Delaware River.

Currently, New Jersey-based E-ZPass users get an additional commuter discount of 40% when they make at least 16 tolled trips across Scudder Falls or other tolled bridges each month.

"We have people from almost 60 different ZIP codes in Pennsylvania alone," read a letter signed by Thomas, Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, of Bensalem, and Bucks County Commissioner Robert G. Loughery.

"The vast majority of petition signers live in Bucks County. It should be noted that we had people who were concerned enough to sign from as far away as the Poconos and Pittsburgh. We also had 10 New Jersey residents join our cause."

The letter asks for a response from the commission by Aug. 1.

Thomas created the petition July 12 and will continue collecting names through Aug. 1. It can be accessed on her website.

With the new Scudder Falls Bridge's first span completed, the issue of commuter tolls has been a hot one for Bucks County lawmakers.

Democratic state Sen. Steve Santarsiero and state Rep. Perry Warren recently held a press conference near the Scudder Falls Bridge interchange in Lower Makefield. They're pushing their bills in both the House and Senate that would give a tax credit of up to $500 for toll-related expenses.