GAO Probing Northeastern Toll Increases

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The federal government is probing toll increases in several Northeast states, Bloomberg reported.

The Government Accountability Office sent letters this month to operators of bridges and tunnels in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and Delaware, Bloomberg said.

Last summer, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey set steep toll hikes for Hudson River crossings, including the George Washington Bridge between New York City and New Jersey.

The toll inquiry was triggered by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), who has criticized recent hikes on bridges and tunnels operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Higher tolls for Hudson River crossings between New York and New Jersey and Delaware River crossings between, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have raised questions about whether transportation authorities are remaining accountable to a congressionally approved contract, Bloomberg said, citing a GAO official.

Areas under examination include how tolls were set and how revenue is spent, the official said.

Those increases boosted tolls for a five-axle truck using E-ZPass to $90 during peak hours by 2015, more than double last year’s $40 rate.

The Delaware River Port Authority, which operates four bridges with tolls from $5 to $45, raised rates in 2008 and 2011, saying that revenue would go toward a $1 billion capital-improvement plan, Bloomberg reported.

By Transport Topics

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