New DRPA Member May Stall Toll Hikes

The newest member of the DRPA's Board Of Commissioners may oppose toll hikes on the local bridges controlled by the agency.

Philadelphia city councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, whose district includes the major feeder routes to the Betsy Ross bridge, was appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell this week to fill a spot vacant since March.

Back in 1992, toll rates on the Commodore Barry, Walt Whitman, Ben Franklin And Betsy Ross bridges rose from 90 cents up to $2.00.

It stayed that way until the year 2000, when bridge fares jumped to $3.00, with a 10 percent E-ZPass discount.

Four years later, the discount disappeared.

In 2008, there was another increase, to $4.00.

In December 2009, a planned increase to $5.00 was delayed to July 2011.

Now, Quinones-Sanchez says she will not rubber stamp that increase.

"If I feel comfortable that the DRPA is, in its financial management, secure and sound and it's responsible to the public, I may consider a hike. If, over the course of the next few months, I do not see that, I will have no problem in voting against it," she told Gordon.

We've heard that sentiment from other DRPA commissioners.

Gaining that public confidence will take some time.

The first step comes next Wednesday morning, August 18th, when the first DRPA board meeting since all of the recent controversy over free perks is held.