The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) is proposing a system-wide toll increase for 2026, with passenger vehicle rates rising to $2 for E-ZPass users and $5 for those billed by mail.
The adjustment, announced this week, is aimed at offsetting rising construction costs, maintaining the agency’s bond rating, and continuing infrastructure investment along its network of bridges connecting New Jersey and Pennsylvania—including the Trenton-Morrisville and Scudder Falls crossings used regularly by residents across the region.
Under the proposal:
- Class 1 passenger vehicles (under 8 feet high) with E-ZPass would see tolls rise 50 cents to $2.
- The TOLL BY PLATE rate for the same vehicles would rise by $2, to $5.
- For larger vehicles (8 feet or higher), E-ZPass rates would increase by $2 per axle to $6.50, while TOLL BY PLATE rates would increase by $3 per axle to $8.
The Commission noted that TOLL BY PLATE customers are charged higher fees due to the added cost of billing and license plate recognition.
DRJTBC officials say the changes are necessary to address increased costs and prevent bond rating downgrades that would make borrowing more expensive. Construction inflation has sharply risen over the past five years: hot-mix asphalt is up 28 percent, concrete 46 percent, structural steel 66 percent, and fuel 44 percent.
“We still have supply chain issues delaying projects and increasing project costs despite the end of the pandemic,” said Executive Director Joseph J. Resta. “Aging bridge infrastructure requires diligent oversight and constant care, year in and year out, and does not wait for a favorable economic climate to require funding for rehabilitation.”
The Commission operates eight toll bridges and 12 non-revenue-generating “toll-supported” bridges, including several with substructures dating back to the 19th century like bridge at Washington Crossing. DRJTBC receives no state or federal funding; all maintenance and capital projects are financed entirely through tolls collected in the Pennsylvania-bound direction.
The agency’s toll bridges—stretching from Trenton to the New York border—include:
- Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1)
- Scudder Falls (I-295)
- New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202)
- I-78
- Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 22)
- Portland-Columbia (Routes 611, 46, 94)
- Delaware Water Gap (I-80)
- Milford-Montague (Route 206)
The DRJTBC plans to formally advertise the proposed toll schedule in the fall and will initiate a public comment periodthat includes three virtual hearings and the opportunity to submit comments online, by mail, or through a recorded phone line. All comments will be reviewed and compiled into a report for consideration at a future Commission meeting.
Unlike some regional toll agencies, the DRJTBC does not implement automatic rate increases based on inflation or traffic metrics. Any adjustment requires a formal proposal and public input.
According to the DRJTBC, more than 133 million vehicles crossed DRJTBC bridges in 2024.
For updates and to review the proposed toll changes when published, visit www.drjtbc.org.
