A source in Christie's administration said the governors would nix the hikes of 50 percent or more
Cars come down the ramp and pass the tolls to enter the Lincoln Tunnel going toward Manhattan in this file photo.The governors of New York and New Jersey will not accept a Port Authority plan to raise bridge and tunnel tolls by 50 percent or more, a source said today.
"You can count on them rejecting the plan as proposed," said a source within New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s administration. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity, because he was not authorized to talk about the issue.
The hikes — which would drive up fares on Hudson River crossings, including PATH trains — drew outrage when they were announced Friday. Gov. Chris Christie and his counterpart in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, issued a joint public statement declaring they had "obvious and significant concerns."
Today, a source in Christie’s administration said the governors would nix the hikes, which were intended to ward off major financial difficulty for the cash-strapped agency.
Christie’s office had no formal comment today outside of Friday’s joint statement. A spokesman for Cuomo didn’t immediately respond to phone and e-mail messages. Port Authority officials had no comment.
The New York Post, citing unnamed sources in each administration, also reported that the governors will kill the controversial proposal.
The hikes would mean a devastating blow to many commuters, with a first round rolling out as early as next month. A second phase of increases was called for in 2014 under the proposal outlined by the Port Authority on Friday. The increases would apply to all of the agency’s crossings, which include the George Washington Bridge, the Lincoln and Holland tunnels, and the Bayonne and Goethals bridges and the Outerbridge Crossing.
PATH fares would increase $1, to $2.75.
The plan includes bridge and tunnel toll increases for cars using E-ZPass of $4, pushing off-peak rates from $6 to $10 and peak rates from $8 to $12. An additional $2 increase was planned for 2014. Drivers paying cash would face an additional $3 surcharge. That would mean a $19 toll by 2014 for some cars. Trucks would face an additional toll increase as well.
Previous coverage:
• Port Authority plans $4 toll hike next month on bridges and tunnels
• Proposal to hike Port Authority fares, tolls gets mostly chilly reception
• Port Authority proposes steep fare hikes for toll crossings, PATH trains
• Audit finds Port Authority could have saved $22M yearly, service contracts lack oversight
• Port Authority agrees to participate in overhaul of Pulaski Skyway, other road projects