Motorists will pay more as the next phase of toll increases kick in at Port Authority bridges and tunnels on Sunday
Cash tolls on the George Washington Bridge, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, Goethals Bridge, Bayonne Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing will increase $1 to $13.
Tolls for E-ZPass users will go from $9.50 to $10.25 during peak commuting hours and from $7.50 to $8.25 during off-peak hours. The changes take effect at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.
The Port Authority last raised tolls in September 2011 and is expected to raise tolls for four straight years through 2014.
The bistate agency said it needed to offset security-related projects following the 9/11 attacks, a drop in revenue caused by the global economic slump, and the $11 billion World Trade Center complex.
Port Authority tolls will next go up on Dec. 1, 2013 unless a lawsuit against the increase is successful. And another 75-cent to a $1 increase is planned for 2014.
Drivers certainly aren't welcoming the news thought many were resigned to dig deeper into their pockets.
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"I'm bothered of course, but I can't do anything about it," said Loida Lao of Rockland County. "I just have to sacrifice. My shopping, maybe? Because I have no choice. I have to cross the bridge. I have to go to work."
And Jay Bierker, filling up his tank in Fort Lee near the GW toll said, "What can I do about it? It's a lot of money. You gotta figure out ways to adjust for it -- pack a lunch."
