by KYW's John McDevitt

To no one's surprise, the Delaware River Port Authority has voted to implement a series of bridge toll hikes and fare increases on the Patco high-speed line over the next several years.

Last week the DRPA's finance committee voted to approve the increases (related story).  On Wednesday, the full board approved the plan, with a couple of adjustments. 

Bridge tolls on the Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, Walt Whitman, and Commodore Barry bridges will go up by a dollar -- from $3.00 to $4.00 per round-trip crossing -- on September 14th, and by another dollar (to $5.00) in September of 2010.

Bridge tolls are only collected in one direction on the bridges.

Patco fares will increase by about 10 percent in September of this year, and by another 10 percent in two years.

After 2010, the DRPA says bridge tolls and Patco fares will increase by the cost of living every two years.

DRPA chief executive officer John  Matheussen (right) reiterated an earlier promise that the money from the increases will go to the safety and upkeep of the bridges and rail sysytem:

"To make certain that we invest in the four bridges, that we invest in Patco, the money raised will be used (for that) exclusively. It will not be used for economic development."
  
The DRPA had come under severe criticism recently because it had been underwriting regional economic development projects not directly related to transportation.

Senior citizens using E-Z Pass will pay $1.75 per round-trip, but they will have to re-register for the senior citizen discount program.

Senior citizens who don't have an E-Z Pass transponder would pay $2.00 per round-trip using a senior citizien coupon. But that's only for a limited time: coupons won't be sold after this year, and won't be honored after September 2010. 

In 2010 the senior citizen bridge toll rate will rise to $2.50. After that, the DRPA says, the rate will be one-half the regular toll.
 
The DRPA board decided NOT to implement two restrictions that were being considered for senior citizen discounts: one trip per day, and not valid during peak hours. 
   
The Port Authority made some other changes to the bridge toll menu:

• The current commercial discount is being eliminated.
• The E-Z Pass commuter discount is being phased out over the next two years.
• For two years, those who drive certain high-efficiency, low-emission vehicles will be entitled to a $1 per trip discount.
   

Patco fares for senior citizens are also going up -- from 57 cents to 62 cents this year, then to 70 cents in 2010.

New Jersey governor Jon Corzine has 10 business days from the time he receives the minutes to veto the votes taken by the DRPA commissoners appointed from his state.  Such a veto is not expected. Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell does not have veto authority.