The Port Authority is getting ready to open two lanes of the new Bayonne Bridge and say goodbye to toll booths. As NY1's Thabie Sibanda explains, the new bridge comes with cashless tolls.
"It feels great to be close to all of this. It's been a long time coming for the cashless tolling piece and it's a wonderful thing to be able to see and to be able to offer to our customers," said Allison de Cerreno, Assistant Director of Tunnels, Bridge and Terminals for the Port Authority.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is just weeks away from opening two lanes of the newly raised bridge---one lane going in each direction. When that happens, cashless tolling will begin. The Port Authority says now is the right time to inform drivers about what they can expect.
"The new roadway even in the current configuration of one north bound and one south bound lane will improve mobility," said Roger Prince, General Manager of Staten Island Bridges for the Port Authority.
Before you had to stop and pay cash for the toll or if you had an EZ-Pass you had to slow down and allow a device to read your mounted tag. Now newly installed gantries will read your EZ-Pass as you drive by at the posted speed limit or the cameras will snap a picture of your license plate and the registered vehicle owner will get a bill in the mail.
"This is a good thing for the community absolutely. The benefits of cashless tolling include not just the mobility but also better air quality since you have reduced emissions since there's no stopping at the plaza,” said de Cerreno.
For those without EZ-Pass, there will be several ways to pay the toll---by phone, mail, online or in person at a customer service location. And those who fail to pay will be subject to fees and penalties.