the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, in what the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey calls “Inflation-based increases” and claiming they are required to fund highest levels of investment in its history and operations of Port Authority’s vital transportation assets;
Board adopts plan following robust public engagement period including seven public hearings that generated more than 1,300 comments
Bridges and tunnels toll to increase based on inflation-based schedule mandated by Board in 2008 and affirmed in 2011; triggered by cumulative impact of inflation since 2015 reaching $1.00 threshold
Cash/Toll by Mail rate to increase by $1.00 on January 5, 2020;
E-ZPass peak discount to be reduced from $2.50 to $2.25; off-peak discount to be reduced from $4.50 to $4.25
PATH base fare will remain $2.75; multi-trip discount to be reduced – first change in five years effective November 1, 2019
AirTrain JFK fare has not changed since system launched in 2003;
Last increase to AirTrain Newark fare came in 2005;
Fares for both AirTrains will move to $7.75, effective November 1, 2019
Airport Ground Transportation Access Fee on for-hire vehicles and taxis, modeled off peer airports, reduced following engagement with driver community; new commitments include upgraded anti-hustler effort with zero-tolerance for illegal pickups, multiple improvements for driver facilities and improvements to taxi dispatch system
New York/New Jersey Staten Island Bridges Discount Plan to remain at 3+ monthly trips and 50% off the E-ZPass rate
Amid record-setting use of its facilities and with major redevelopment projects underway across the region, the Port Authority Board of Commissioners today approved the first inflation-based adjustments to the agency’s tolls, fares and fees since 2015 in line with the inflation-adjusted schedule mandated by the Board in 2008 and reaffirmed in 2011. The automatic increases are triggered when the cumulative impact of inflation on existing toll rates reaches $1.00, as measured from the last increase. The cumulative impact of inflation since 2015 will reach this level in 2020, prompting an increase of the cash toll rate at all Port Authority crossings from $15.00 to $16.00, as of January 5, 2020. The adopted proposal also eliminates the E-ZPass discount for out-of-state accounts.
In addition, there will be changes to PATH’s fare structure with the PATH base fare remaining at its current $2.75 for a single trip but reducing the discount for PATH multi-trip fares. Increases to the AirTrain fares at JFK and Newark, which have not changed since 2003 and 2005, will go into effect later this year. An airport ground transportation access fee, to be implemented in late 2020, will be charged to all for-hire vehicles and taxis, consistent with the practice at peer airports. This fee was reduced from the originally proposed amount of $4.00 for for-hire drop-offs and pick-ups and $4.00 for taxi pick-ups to $2.50 for for-hire drop-offs and pick-ups; $1.25 for pooled for-hire drop-offs and pickups and an initial taxi fee of $1.25 per pick-up.
These changes will allow the Port Authority to continue to fund record levels of investment to rebuild its legacy transportation infrastructure into modern, world-class 21st century facilities.
The Board’s action follows a robust public engagement process that included seven public hearings, including two on Staten Island, and a 9-week online comment period that generated approximately 1,300 comments. Two commissioners, one from New York and one from New Jersey, were represented at each hearing and all commissioners received a copy of all written and verbal comments. As a result of the comments received, Port Authority staff recommended changes to its original proposals for the airport ground transportation access fee and the New York/New Jersey Staten Island Bridges Discount Plan. The Board approved the overall proposal with those modifications.
The inflation-based adjustments adopted by the Board will support the Port Authority’s 10-year, 2017-2026 $37 billion Capital Plan. The Board also approved the required biennial reassessment of the 2017-2026 Capital Plan today.
