How 4 of your Delaware River bridge tolls changed this month

CAMDEN — Tolls have increased for South Jersey motorists crossing four bridges over the Delaware River.

The $1-increase to $6 took effect Sept. 1 for the Betsy Ross, Benjamin Franklin, Walt Whitman and Commodore Barry bridges.

Commissioners of the Delaware River Port Authority, which operates the spans, voted unanimously for the increase at a meeting July 17.

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That followed a decision earlier this month to reduce a proposed increase of $1.50.

The toll hike, the first in 13 years, doesn't affect fares for the DRPA's PATCO Hi-Speedline.

It also has no impact on cash tolls of $4 for the Tacony-Palmyra and Burlington-Bristol bridges, which are run by a Burlington County commission.

And it does not affect the $5 cash toll on the Delaware Memorial Bridge between South Jersey and Delaware, which is operated by a separate bi-state authority.

The DRPA initially considered a higher toll of $6.50, a 30% increase based on the consumer price index for the Philadelphia area.

But the board's finance committee proposed the reduction July 10.

The full board approved that 20% increase at its July 17 meeting.

Why is toll $6?

"We've been fiscally responsible," the DRPA's CEO John Hanson said about raising the toll at a lesser rate than inflation.

In the past 13 years since the last toll increase, Hanson said, the DRPA has invested $1.9 billion into capital improvements and paid off $700 million in debt, aiding in the decision to trim the increase.

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What will toll money be used for?

"We want to make sure that our bridges are safe," DRPA Chairman James Schultz said.

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Money from the toll increase is to be used to bolster the bridge's police department. Schultz said the department has 120 officers when it should have 150.

He also noted the importance of keeping commuters safe in light of the Baltimore bridge collapse that occurred in March.

Kaitlyn McCormick writes about trending issues and community news across South Jersey for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times. If you have a story she should tell, email her at kmccormick@gannett.com. And subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: How 4 of your Delaware River bridge tolls changed this month