DRPA grants discounts to frequent bridge travelers

A discount for E-ZPass customers who regularly cross Delaware River Port Authority bridges is beginning next month, giving an $18 break to regular commuters.

The DRPA will begin a rollout program that will include news releases and emails to let drivers know about the discount, which returns $18 each month into the E-ZPass accounts of anyone who crosses the bridges 18 times in a month. The discount will apply only to drivers who have E-ZPass accounts through New Jersey, officials said, and won't be automatic. Drivers must enroll.

The program will begin Dec. 1, but E-ZPass customers who sign up through Dec. 28 will have their trips over the bridge throughout the month retroactively apply toward the discount, officials said.

"The reality is, for people who cross the bridges 18 times, we're reversing the last toll increase," said John Hanson, DRPA chief executive officer.

Bridge tolls rose from $3 to $4 in 2008, and by another dollar in 2011, he said.

Up to 29,000 people are eligible to participate in the discount program. The DRPA predicts losing $6.4 million in bridge revenue annually with the program. But at a board meeting Wednesday, DRPA officials noted that even with that rebate, the authority had $278 million available through 2020, enough to ensure no toll increases until at least that year.

The discount has not been embraced by everyone. A member of the authority's Citizens Advisory Committee, Larry Davis, has started a petition to extend a commuter discount to rail riders, too. He has gained more than 100 signatures so far. He says he doubts he'll be able to reverse the DRPA's policy, but believes that it's important someone speak up for PATCO customers.

"Did you know that over 14,000 daily PATCO riders pay more per daily commute than those who drive across the bridge?" he wrote in a text message exchange Wednesday.

His petition is available through his Twitter account, @PATCOWatchers.

About 250,000 people travel each weekday across the DRPA's Delaware River bridges, Hanson said; PATCO provides service to about 19,000 riders.

Davis noted that giving a break to drivers encourages people to use their cars, rather than public transportation, which could lead to traffic jams, parking problems, and less rail ridership.

"In this day and age, how can transit not be encouraged and promoted in any way?" Davis asked.

Hanson said PATCO fares have increased far less than bridge tolls over the last 10 years. He also said the DRPA's financial model is based on the bridges being the breadwinner.

"Our funding model is predicated upon bridge tolls paying for everything," Hanson said.

Essentially, the DRPA could find itself in economic trouble if people stopped using the bridges. Bridge tolls pay for about half of PATCO's $52 million operating budget, he said.

Davis, though, still sees the rebate program as an incentive that should be available to every DRPA customer, not just drivers.

"I do not care what my commute costs you - that is your job!" he wrote. "I care what my commute costs me!"

jlaughlin@phillynews.com

215-854-4587@jasmlaughlin