Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to hold online hearings on proposed 2026 toll increases
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) will hold three online public hearings in October on proposed toll increases scheduled for 2026, the agency announced Monday.
The toll adjustments, first unveiled in late July, are intended to help the Commission keep pace with rising construction costs, preserve strong credit ratings, and fund new infrastructure improvements. A 30-day public comment period began last week and is set to end at 4 p.m. Oct. 17.
The virtual hearings — accessible through Zoom and by teleconference — are scheduled for Oct. 7 at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. Individuals must pre-register to speak at a hearing, with sign-ups closing at 4 p.m. Oct. 6. Registration details will be posted on the Commission’s website by Oct. 1.
The Commission has proposed raising the base E-ZPass toll for passenger vehicles from $1.50 to $2, while TOLL BY PLATE rates for those vehicles would rise from $3 to $5. Larger vehicles would also see increases, with per-axle E-ZPass tolls for trucks, buses, and other multi-axle vehicles climbing from $4.50 to $6.50, and TOLL BY PLATE per-axle rates rising from $5 to $8.
The changes would apply to all eight DRJTBC toll bridges, including the Scudder Falls (I-295), I-78, Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1), New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202), Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 22), Portland-Columbia (Routes 611, 46, 94), Delaware Water Gap (I-80), and Milford-Montague (Route 206) spans.
The agency emphasized that it relies solely on toll revenue and receives no state or federal subsidies. It also supports 12 additional toll-free bridges across the river, many of which date back to the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Comments can be submitted online at drjtbc.org/proposednewtolls, by email at tollcomments@drjtbc.org, or by mail to the Commission’s headquarters in Yardley, Pa. All comments must include a name, municipality, and state of residence to be part of the official record.
Commissioners are expected to vote on the proposal at their Nov. 24 meeting, where members of the public will have one final opportunity to speak.
