In a meeting on Thursday, the New Jersey Port Authority’s board of commissioners voted for a proposal of raising cash toll for the authority’s bridges and tunnels. The increase in toll will be by $1, taking it from $15 to $16. The voting takes place in Jersey City and if passed, it will be functional from 2020.
The proposal adds pick-up and drop off fees at airports. It is applicable to both taxis and for-hire vehicles. And it will be functional in three major airports including Newark Airport.
But the $4 taxi fees to pick up at the authority’s airports is now low. The authorities reached this decision after discussing the dire conditions of the taxi industry. Only the Taxi passengers who have hired a taxi to Newark Airport or similar other airports, could pay a $1.25 “ground transportation access fee”. And this might start on Oct. 3, 2020, if the proposal is approved.
There would also be an increase to $1.75 from Oct. 1, 2022. But if the users take help of Uber or Lyft app then they would pay a higher $2.50 pick-up and drop-off fee, under the proposal.
All these proposals about raising the tolls on cars caused an agitation among the users. And there were many public hearings and writings yet the officials stuck to the proposal to raise the tolls. The tolls may be higher but the officers give a valid reason for it. They promised that the increased toll money helps with the upgrade or replacement of worn out, older facilities.
More tolls means there will be $4.8 billion within the Government’s reach. And they can invest it in projects. This would immensely benefit replacing the aging Newark Airport AirTrain monorail and many other improvements.
