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Released: 12/8/2021 

No Toll Increases on DRPA Bridges in 2022

Commissioners vote to keep tolls the same for the 11th-straight year; approve $306.8M operating budget

Motorists who cross Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) bridges will not have to pay more next year.

Today, the DRPA Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to postpone a scheduled toll increase on the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry, and Betsy Ross Bridges until at least 2023. The action marks the 11th year the DRPA will go without a toll hike on its four bridges across the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The current toll schedule, implemented in July 2011, included automatic biennial increases in tolls based upon increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Philadelphia region. Today’s action marks the sixth time the Board postponed these planned toll increases.

In addition to voting on holding tolls at current levels, the Board approved a 2022 operating budget of $306.8 million, a slight increase of 0.53% from 2021. In 2022, the DRPA expects to collect approximately $356.1 million in revenue generated primarily from bridge tolls. The projection is based on expectations that the coronavirus pandemic will continue to impact travel between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 2022 Capital Budget expenditures will be $143.2 million.

DRPA CEO and PATCO President John Hanson stated “I am incredibly proud of this organization’s ability to maintain our high standards of stewardship and service in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising costs beyond our control. The 2022 budget process was a collaborative effort across DRPA and PATCO to prioritize projects and expenses of utmost importance.”

“The Board and DRPA leadership team have worked together over the past several years to ensure that the organization runs efficiently and effectively,” said DRPA Chairwoman Cherelle L. Parker. “This hard work is acknowledged by a budget that freezes tolls for our customers and ensures we have the necessary resources to maintain and enhance the public transportation assets entrusted to the DRPA.”

In 2022, the DRPA will continue with an ambitious five-year $738.9M Capital Program. Major projects include the $216.9M Ben Franklin Bridge Suspension Span Rehabilitation, the $84.4M De-Leading and Repainting the Commodore Barry Bridge, the $35.1M Walt Whitman Bridge Cable Investigation & Dehumidification, the $74.0M Walt Whitman Bridge Corridor Rehabilitation, and the $29.3M PATCO Franklin Square Station Reopening.

“The DRPA continues to maintain its strong focus on fiscal stewardship,” said DRPA Vice Chairman Jeffrey L. Nash. “The fact that we are able to fund the operating budget, invest in our public assets and infrastructure and do so without a toll increase, is a testimonial to the work of DRPA’s Board and leadership.”

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