Starting Sunday night, cash tolling on the Delaware River toll bridges will be a thing of the past since the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission moves to all-electronic tolling. This transition is expected to make the process of toll collection much smoother, reduce congestion, and improve safety for those crossing the river.
This is the culmination of years of planning and investment in modernizing toll infrastructure to meet changing transportation needs. Travelers will no longer be able to pay tolls with cash but rather will have their tolls collected electronically through E-ZPass transponders or a “TOLL BY PLATE” billing system that uses cameras to capture license plate information for billing.
Every user of E-ZPass will be charged without him noticing because the charge will be automatically deducted from his account. For users who don’t have E-ZPass, the TOLL BY PLATE system will mail a bill to charge them. However, these mailed bills come with an added administrative fee, so frequent travelers might find more value in using an E-ZPass.
To popularize use, the DRJTBC calls on motorists to register for the E-ZPass. This mode of payment comes with a huge benefit, especially due to the substantial cost savings enjoyed by the payers.
Advantages of Cashless Tolls
Adoption of cashless tolling would come with tremendous benefits to drivers and the Department of Revenue Authority, too.
- More Traffic Flow. Since there would be no stop for cash settlements, the movement at tolling points would come to pass uninterrupted, like most other highways and freeways.
- Improved Safety: It reduces the likelihood of accidents around toll booths as drivers are relieved of stopping or digging for coins.
- Environmental Benefits: Traffic flows more smoothly, which decreases fuel consumption and vehicle emissions and helps to clean the air.
- Operational Efficiency: The all-electronic system reduces overhead costs in the management of cash transactions while streamlining operations.
While many drivers embrace the change, others have raised concerns over some of the possible challenges that will be experienced in billing and a lack of familiarity with electronic tolling systems. To this end, the DRJTBC has launched an extensive public awareness campaign to make clear instructions on how to use E-ZPass and what to expect with TOLL BY PLATE billing.
For infrequent users or those without electronic payment capabilities, the agency said that it would be there to help with the new system.
The action is part of a nationwide trend in the United States where cashless tolling is fast becoming the new standard. Other states like New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey have already adopted similar systems, showing a growing emphasis on efficiency and innovation in transportation management.
As the clock ticks down to Sunday night, the era of cash tolling on Delaware River bridges will officially come to a close. The DRJTBC is confident that the new system will benefit travelers by offering a faster, safer, and more efficient tolling experience.
For drivers, now is the time to seize this new reality by registering for E-ZPass, or at least get familiar with TOLL BY PLATE billing in order to not inconvenience the smooth crossing over the Delaware River.
