What to Know
- The DRPA and DRJTBC are going to entirely electronic tolling on 11 bridges crossing the Delaware River in an attempt to reduce exposure to the novel coronavirus.
- Drivers who normally use cash will be photographed and later sent a bill in the mail.
- There are two notable exceptions to the cashless tolls: the Burlington-Bristol and Tacony-Palmyra bridges.
The no-cash movement in response to the coronavirus pandemic now includes your trip over the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Starting Thursday morning, the Delaware River Port Authority is instituting all-electronic tolling on the Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross, Commodore Barry and Walt Whitman bridges, connecting South Jersey with Philadelphia and Delaware County.
All drivers crossing from New Jersey into Pennsylvania will need to drive through the designated lanes starting at 6 a.m. on March 26 and until further notice, the DRPA announced Wednesday.
E-ZPass users won’t notice any change at tollbooths. Normal cash users will be directed into a single lane at the far-right side of each plaza, the DRPA said. Overhead cameras will snap a photo of the driver’s license plate and then send them a bill in the mail later.
“While these lanes will have overhead signs reading ‘Cash,’ the respective toll booth will be closed with an accompanying placard stating, ‘Cashless tolling in effect. Keep moving,’” the DRPA said.
Transportation and Transit
“The new, emergency toll-collection process will eliminate exchanges of currency and change that could spread coronavirus among customers and Commission personnel,” the DRPA said.
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is taking similar measures for its seven Delaware River crossings – Delaware Water Gap (I-80), Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 22), I-78, Milford-Montague (Route 206, New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202), Portland-Columbia (Routes 611, 46 & 94) and Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1) bridges.
The DRJTBC’s policy, which went into effect at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, is similar to that of the DRPA. Motorists without E-ZPass will be mailed a bill.
The DRJTBC has more details about billing on its website.
About 75% of the DRPA’s and DRJTBC’s current toll collections are E-ZPass, the agencies said.
While drivers on the Ben, Betsy, Barry, Walt and the DRJTBC bridges aren’t allowed to use cash, drivers crossing on the Burlington County Bridge Commission’s Burlington-Bristol and Tacony-Palmyra bridges continue to take cash. Pedestrians cannot cross those bridges from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until further notice.
