Andrea Bernstein
Award–winning journalist Andrea Bernstein is the Metro Editor for WNYC News. She has previously served as Political Director, Director of Transportation Nation, and Senior Reporter.
The Port Authority approved toll and fare hikes that will make it more costly to use its Hudson River crossings, which include bridges, tunnels and trains.
Nine of the 12 commissioners were presented and unanimously approved the increases during a vote Friday morning at the Port Authority's headquarters in Manhattan.
It will cost drivers $1.50 more to enter New York from New Jersey beginning next month and will increase 75 cents every year after that.
The $1.75 PATH train fare will increase 25 cents a year for four years.
Governors Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie outlined a plan late Thursday that called for the top rate for motorists paying cash beginning in September to be $12 — not $15 as initially proposed.
The Port Authority said in its initial proposal that it expected EZ pass use to increase 10 percent with the toll hikes.
The governors said the Port Authority's capital plan depends on the hike, and that 167,000 jobs and $9.7 billion in wages are at stake. The increases would be coupled with $5 billion in savings "that can be immediately achieved within the capital plan," according to governors' letter.
Comments [1]
The chrade of this increase was so transparent. When will the public get smart and realize its being bilked. This money should not be going for infrastracture. The PA was created to float bonds for new bridges and other infrastructure. If it's not doing this then it should be abolished.
The overtime question was not addressed by either Governor. Where is the press telling us the bloated salaries at the PA ?
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