Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to stop accepting cash

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) will stop accepting cash for payment of tolls on January 13, 2025, at its four high-traffic-volume toll bridges – Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1), I-78, Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 22), and Delaware Water Gap (I-80).

This change to an all-electronic tolling (AET) system aligns the agency that maintains and operates river crossings connecting the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey with trends seen across the U.S. and globally.

DRJTBC operates eight toll bridges and 12 free bridges, two of which are pedestrian-only crossings, plus 34 approach structures throughout its jurisdiction.

Motorists using these bridges will need to pay using E-ZPass or TOLL BY PLATE, a system where vehicle license plate information is recorded and used to bill the registered vehicle owner generally twice as much as the E-ZPass rate.

The last opportunity to pay tolls in cash will be on January 12, 2025, when toll collectors will conclude operations at 11 p.m.

The following day, cash payments will no longer be accepted, and toll plazas will no longer feature attendants or open cash lanes. Instead, all toll lanes will process both E-ZPass and TOLL BY PLATE transactions, with trucks directed to a specific lane at the Easton-Phillipsburg Bridge.

Motorists are advised that toll booths will display signs urging them to proceed without stopping, reflecting the shift to a cashless system.

The DRJTBC began transitioning to cashless collections with the 2019 opening of the Scudder Falls (I-295) Toll Bridge’s first completed span, which has a highway-speed AET gantry.

In June of this year, DRJTBC began AET service at its three low-traffic toll bridges — New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202), Portland-Columbia (Routes 611/46/94) and Milford-Montague (Route 206).

DRJTBC began offering a system-wide TOLL BY PLATE payment option in late January 2024, the pivotal step in a phased-in system-wide conversion.

Tolls are charged only in the Pennsylvania-bound direction at all DRJTBC tolling points.

Since its implementation in January 2024, TOLL BY PLATE has allowed drivers without E-ZPass to receive toll invoices by mail but this can cause added fees and penalties for late payment. Failure to pay these invoices on time triggers additional fees and may escalate to toll violations, which incur a $30 administration fee per transaction.

To prepare for this shift, the agency has launched a public awareness campaign that includes billboards near each bridge, informational handout cards, variable message boards at toll plazas, and updated window signage at toll booths.

The DRJTBC initiated its move to cashless tolling in 2019 with the opening of the Scudder Falls (I-295) Toll Bridge’s first span, which featured an AET gantry.

Earlier this year, it expanded the system to three lower-traffic bridges: New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202), Portland-Columbia (Routes 611/46/94), and Milford-Montague (Route 206).

The conversion to cashless tolling is part of the DRJTBC’s comprehensive plan to upgrade its infrastructure and streamline toll collection.

The next phase, beginning in 2025, will involve installing overhead toll tag readers and cameras at the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge while removing the current toll booths. This conversion is expected to continue over the next several years, with full implementation projected by 2032.

Motorists who do not yet have E-ZPass can sign up online through the New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center at http://www.ezpassnj.com or contact customer service at 800-363-0049 for assistance. The Commission’s current E-ZPass penetration rate is over 86% for the affected bridges, indicating widespread adoption.

For those opting for TOLL BY PLATE, payments can be made by mail or online using a credit card via the New Jersey E-ZPass website. While cash payments can only be made at select service centers in Newark, Camden, and New Castle, DE, non-payment can lead to escalating fees and potential collection actions.

A board of 10 unpaid commissioners governs the commission, with five from each state.

New Jersey’s commissioners are nominated by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate for three-year terms.

Pennsylvania’s members are appointed by the governor and serve at his pleasure.

The commissioners meet monthly to review reports, provide oversight, and set policies carried out by the executive director and professional staff.