US Port Authority Set to Enact Toll Hikes on Staten Island Bridges This Weekend

Starting this Sunday, travelers using bridges and tunnels under the management of the Port Authority, including the Goethals and Bayonne bridges, and the Outerbridge Crossing, will face increased toll rates. The rate hike is part of a scheduled adjustment and will vary by payment method.

E-ZPass users are set to experience a 4.4% increase in tolls this month. Meanwhile, those opting for Tolls by Mail for personal vehicles will encounter an approximately 3.9% rise in their toll charges. The updated rates mean that during off-peak hours, most drivers will now pay $14.06 to enter New York, with the cost rising to $16.06 during peak traffic hours.

Peak hours are designated by the Port Authority as between 6 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Any other times fall into the off-peak category.

Local residents participating in the Staten Island Bridges discount plan will also notice a 4.4% increase in tolls. Those enrolled in the discount program, who make at least three trips per month across the designated bridges, will now pay $8.03 per trip, at any time of the day.

Furthermore, similar toll increases are anticipated on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, marking the fifth such adjustment in the past four years for these major state highways. This change underscores a broader trend of rising transportation costs in the region.