Drivers Face First Weekday Commute With Higher Port Authority Tolls

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Many drivers made their first weekday commute into the city Monday with new toll hikes in place.

The Port Authority has increased cash tolls from $8 to $12 for the George Washington Bridge, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, Goethals Bridge, Bayonne Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing.

Peak-hour tolls for E-ZPass users has also risen from $8 to $9.50.

Tolls are set to rise to $15 by December 2015 after a series of increases.

Additionally, PATH train fares have increased from $1.75 to $2.

The Port Authority has also extended its peak hours by an hour, so they last from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.

The agency says the money raised will go toward road repairs and infrastructure upgrades, as well as rebuilding at the World Trade Center site.

However, AAA says it's illegal to put the money toward anything but roads and has called on Washington to roll them back.

Drivers who spoke with NY1 during the morning rush were not happy with the new hikes.

"Well I use E-ZPass but I know they went up about a buck fifty each. Too much, I mean, everyone has the same feelings it's too much too fast," said one driver.

"It's not fair. The roads are still just as bad as they were yesterday," said another.

Some drivers said they may even have to reconsider their daily routes, or switch to mass transit.

"Yeah, I've been considering it actually. I've been driving less. Trying to mix up my commute. Taking PATH a couple more times a week than I normally would," said one commuter.

"You have no chance. How am I going to get to where I'm going with mass transit? There is none. We are stuck and they know it," said another.

For more information on the toll and fare hikes, visit http://www.panynj.gov/about/new-toll-fare-2011.html?tabnum=1.