The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) is a bistate, public agency that maintains and operates river crossings connecting the U.S. states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The agency's jurisdiction stretches roughly along the Delaware River, from the Philadelphia/Bucks County, PA. boundary northward to the New Jersey/New York state line. The DRJTBC currently operates eight toll bridges and 12 toll-supported (free) bridges (two of which are pedestrian-only crossings), as well as 34 approach structures throughout its jurisdiction. Revenues from the eight toll bridges subsidize the other bridges. Since 1987, the commission has not received any state or federal tax revenues and relies solely on toll collections for its financing. In 2019, more than 138 million cars and trucks used the DRJTBC's network of Delaware River bridge crossings.
History
The DRJTBC was established under legislation enacted in the two states on December 18, 1934. The federal compact for what was then called the "Pennsylvania-New Jersey Joint Bridge Commission" was first approved by Congress in 1935. The compact has been modified several times (on July 8, 1947, July 17, 1951, July 16, 1953, and March 19, 1986). In 1984 and 1985, the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey entered into the current version of the interstate compact, known as the "1984 agreement." This change was substantial as it meant that the DRJTBC no longer would receive tax dollars to maintain the commissions toll-supported bridges, known as tax-supported bridges until the 1984 agreement. This meant that the commission assumed full financial responsibility for their toll-free bridges. Later revisions also made it so that the DRJTBC could build the Interstate 78 Bridge over the Delaware River and operate it as a tolled crossing.
Board Of Commissioners
A board of 10 unpaid commissioners govern the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, with five coming from each state. In New Jersey, members are nominated by the New Jersey Governor and confirmed by the State Senate for three-year terms, while in Pennsylvania, five members are appointed by the Pennsylvania Governor and serve at his pleasure. They meet monthly to review reports, provide oversight and set policies carried out by the executive director and professional staff.
Tolling
The Commission charges a $3.00 cash auto toll ($1.25 for E-ZPass users, with discounts available for frequent commuters) on its eight toll bridges, as of April 11, 2021. The cash toll for cars had been $1 prior to the 2021 toll increase. Truck tolls range from $9 to $35, depending on axle type, time of travel and whether E-ZPass is used. Tolls are collected only from traffic crossing into Pennsylvania. As of June 2021, an all-electronic toll is charged on some of the bridges. The commission is a member of the Interagency Group, a regional collaborative of toll-collection agencies that offer E-ZPass electronic toll collection services. In November 2013, The Commission voted to merge E-ZPass operations with the New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center as a cost-cutting measure. Previously, the commission had been the last agency in the Delaware Valley to implement a monthly service fee.