The toll hikes are more than chump change: Cash tolls on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge jumped to $4 from $2.50, and to $12 from $8 on all the New York-New Jersey Hudson River crossings.
The trend reflects tough economic times and growing uncertainty in state capitols about the future of federal road money. Congress has repeatedly delayed approval of a multiyear funding bill for highway projects.
The tolling also highlights the intensifying national debate over how the USA should pay to maintain and improve highways, bridges and tunnels ”” the federal fuel tax, tolls or something else, such as public-private partnerships. The federal gas tax, 18.4 cents a gallon, has not been raised since 1993; more fuel-efficient vehicles have worsened the funding shortage.
I noticed that when recently on vacation, driving between Boston and the coast of Maine. Tolls were more in NH, probably because people drive straight through to get to Maine.
A word of caution to rental car drivers. DO NOT USE the built-in EZ-Pass system attached to the windshield. You may think you can drive right through the EZ-Pass lanes without stopping and automatically pay the toll. While that part is true, there is also a $2.50 charge (PER USE). Fortunately, I read the fine print. Pay cash instead. You only pay the out-of-pocket expenses directly and have no extra service charges to the rental car company.
I wonder what happens to the money the federal government
collects from oil companies for royalties on oil extracted from federal
lands? Could we not set a portion aside for transportation?