Port Authority Considers Phantom Tollbooths

Remember how the Port Authority wanted to put Geico ads on various toll booths at the George Washington Bridge? Maybe it's a good thing that plan was scotched, because now the Port Authority is considering elmination of tollbooths at all Hudson River crossings. From the NY Sun:

The plan, which is expected to reduce traffic bottlenecks on the highways leading into the city, would complement Mayor Bloomberg's proposal to charge drivers a fee to use the city's most crowded streets, Port officials said. The Port Authority would use the same camera technology to charge drivers that the city is planning to use if it implements congestion pricing.

Instead, drivers would use EZ Pass technology or have bills mailed to their homes. PA Executive Director Anthony Shorris said, "An all-electronic toll system would be a tremendous boon to our road-transportation system, helping to smooth the choke points at bridges and tunnels, reduce traveler delays and potentially prove a benefit to regional air quality.... Couple cashless tolling with real-time traffic management systems and we’ll no longer rely on 1010 WINS to tell people delay times and the best routes.” Don't worry, 1010 WINS, there will still be enough traffic elsewhere for you!

But first, the PA will conduct a feasibility study to see how the booths would be taken out and much time actually will be saved. According to a transportation consultant who spoke to the NY Times, "a toll collector can take cash from up to 400 vehicles an hour, while an E-ZPass lane with drivers traveling under 25 miles an hour can handle about 1,400."

The PA is also considering "dynamic pricing," aka charging different Manhattan entrance tolls based on congestion.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on May 16, 2007 12:40 PM

Comments [rss]

technicalities

When the Lincoln Tunnel was built a toll was collected with the understanding that when the cost of constructing the tunnel was recouped the tolls would be abolished. The tunnel has been paid for many times over by now so it should be free.

Just about every toll road, bridge, and tunnel in the country started off under this premise. It's time to stop complaining about it. The reality is that roads are expensive to maintain. It isn't like the government is diverting the toll money to the general budget. Tolls are a use tax.

As for your use of the word "understanding" things aren't done on a handshake. I remember being told that in Massachusetts the Mass Turnpike was built with borrowed money and that the tolls would end when the bonds were paid off. The state just simply rolled over the bonds so there are never technically paid off.

rogerbix

I'm sure the terrorists will LOVE this idea.

Alli(oop)

It sounds like people are concerned about access and having to buy a pass in advance. I think it should be a pain in the ass to buy tickets, at least then people may just put down the keys and pick up a bus pass.

We make it too easy for everyone in this city. We have a real traffic/pollution problem here and it takes drastic measures to get some results. Drivers will gripe about it for a while, then deal, and finally accept it as the norm.

P.S. Pugsley - thanks for that tip about the lincoln tunnel, I never knew that.

penny

What a great idea. Back home in Australia we have a similar system - but regular users can buy a device they stick under their rear vision mirror which you top up with credit online (or by phone). Non-regular users can go online or call the toll company 1 week before or after their trip and buy single passes. If you drive through without paying they send you a fine.

a

most traffic here is caused by double parked trucks. do something about that.

pugsley

Bloomberg has gone crazy with the tolls and congestion pricing. When the Lincoln Tunnel was built a toll was collected with the understanding that when the cost of constructing the tunnel was recouped the tolls would be abolished. The tunnel has been paid for many times over by now so it should be free.

imissdriving

It will be interesting to see how they pull this off. What about people who don't have ezpass? How will that system of billing them at home seriously work? Based on license plates? What about rental cars? They should start selling expasses in local bodegas to give people better access.

Bob

But what will the somewhat slow nephews of City Councilmen do for a living?

EZ

yeah but when 6 - 10 lanes are being squeezed down to two, does it really matter?

If the booths are removed, then it will only be the normal amount of lanes from the highway being merged to two. The "diverge - pay toll - merge" will be gone, and so will a lot of the congestion that results from the merge after the booths.

Best idea I've heard in a long time.

Reality Czech

According to a transportation consultant who spoke to the NY Times, "a toll collector can take cash from up to 400 vehicles an hour, while an E-ZPass lane with drivers traveling under 25 miles an hour can handle about 1,400."

yeah but when 6 - 10 lanes are being squeezed down to two, does it really matter?