Christie and Cuomo term hike exorbitant

BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey intends to raise the toll on its bridges and tunnels by $4 in September, bringing the peak-hour cost to $12 for E-ZPass holders.

An additional $2 increase is set for 2014.

Governors Chris Christie and Andrew Cuomo issued a joint statement that called the planned hike “indiscriminate and exorbitant.”

The agency is placing the blame for the hefty hikes on the recession, security costs and the cost of public works projects.

The increase, which has to be approved at an Aug. 19 meeting of the Port Authority commissioners, would boost the toll for autos using E-ZPass from $6 to $10 round trip for off-peak travel and from $8 to $12 in peak hours. The $2 increase planned for 2014 would affect both peak and off-peak hours.

In addition, the Port Authority plans to hike fares on PATH trains from $1.75 to $2.75. The agency states that with discounts the average fare will be $2. The 30-day unlimited pass will increase to $89 from $54, a $35 a-month increase.

The plan has to be approved at an Aug. 19 board meeting. It is subject to veto by either state’s governor.

In response to the announced toll and fare hikes, Christie and Cuomo stated jointly:

“The Port Authority has informed us of its proposal to dramatically increase tolls on its tunnels and bridges and fares on the PATH.

“While we understand the Port Authority leadership’s concerns about a potential downgrade to its bond rating if toll increases are not instituted, our primary concern with this proposal is its impact on our respective states’ residents and commercial users of the crossings.

“A downgrade of the Port Authority’s bond rating does indeed pose a potentially disastrous result on a transportation network that millions of residents of the states of New Jersey and New York rely on and would be

Article source: http://feeds.stateline.org/~r/StatelineorgRss-Transportation/~3/2deKwkkeTrw/port-authority-set-to-increase-tolls-and-path-fare-next-month