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Reader Comments On DRPA Toll Hike Plan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―

The Delaware River Port Authority has proposed a toll increase plan that could go into effect in September and CBS3.com readers are sounding off.

Name : Mariann
Hometown : Haddon Twp, NJ
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : No one likes tolls to be raised, but the tolls into Philly are among the lowest in the nation for a major city. Also, does ANYONE realize that the people who did all the giving to economic development projects are not the chief of police or the engineering staff or the toll takers. It is and was the political appointees on the Board of Commissioners.

Name : Marc Ferguson Sr
Hometown : Philadelphia Pa
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : I can't understand why the need 10000 employees for 3 or 4 bridges. And how long have they been painting the Ben Franklin? It looks like they need to cut the snake off at the head. Restructure the entire department. And put some of those employees in the toll booths. (20 booths with 6 open)

Name : Jennifer B
Hometown : Richland
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : No one likes to pay higher tolls or fees ... but no one wants unsafe roads or bridges either. If the toll is earmarked JUST for repairs and is truly necessary to keep conditions safe, that's a cost of public travel we have to deal with. BUT - This wouldn't hurt as much if DRPA had wisely used funds in good economic times for maintenance instead of development. Tolls aren't a slush fund.

Name : Bonnie
Hometown : Penns Grove, NJ
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : I think raising the toll is nuts! People are having a hard time making ends meet as it is and now they wanna raise the toll. Stop giving everybody raises and put that money in a fund to fix the bridges and maybe you'd be doing something. Better yet, take the $180 some BILLION dollars that PA made in lottery money last year and put some of that towards the upkeep, cuz it sure don't look like the senior citizens and the poor population are seeing much of that money.

Name : Brad M
Hometown : Levittown, PA
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : Before the DRPA can justify raising bridge tolls, they need to expalin why they are putting DRPA funds into a soccer stadium of all things. Are they 'priming the pump' by hoping bridge traffic will increase due to events at the new facility? It seems strange that the Authority would fund pet projects like the Jewish Heritage center and the soccer stadium, and THEN cry poor-mouth to plead for funds for bridge upkeep.

Name : Elizabeth
Hometown : Cinnaminson
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!

Name : Mordekhai
Hometown : Lakewood, NJ
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : I disagree with the toll increase, can't you realize people are in bad times right now.. The ecomony is already messed up.. If you make the toll Increase people will not be happy and they will lose more money because of your idea of toll Increase.. I find it to be difficult times now and its not a great Idea to do so... You have to find different ways of saving your money...

Name : Buzz
Hometown : Haddon Twp., NJ
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : If the DRPA had spent their money on maintaining their bridges and the PATCO Line, instead of spending it on the Kimmel Center, Lincoln Financial Field, the new soccer stadium in Chester, and other ventures, they might not have to have a toll increase. Once again the individual gets to pay the bill for poor management decisions on the part of a government entity, that seems to answer to no one.

Name : Scott
Hometown : Philadelphia
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : This is absolutely ridiculous. When the idea was first thought of last year...the CEO approved himself a 20K raise. He now makes over 200K a year. Why does he get to approve himself a raise why we are stuck paying the bill for it? I believe $3 is plenty to cross a mile long bridge. I, for one, will be going to a town hall meeting and bringing these things up. The economy is in shambles, and they want to pull from our pockets even more. It's all about greed. It's pathetic.

Name : Maureen Santoro
Hometown : Mt. Laurel, NJ
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : Why are they involved in building soccer field in Delaware County which has nothing to do with DRPA, instead of putting the money towards bridges?

Name : RAY
Hometown : Pitman, NJ
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : It's a waste of money! Why paint the walkway over the bridge when no one walks on it. I've been driving over the bridge for 10 yrs. and never seen anyone on the walkway. Scrap it and sell the metal. Go Green!!

Name : Glenn
Hometown : Turnersville NJ
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : Every member of management from VPs on up should be fired!!!!

Name : Fred
Hometown : Philadelphia
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : After spending $375 million on stadiums and gofts, these guys should be laid off, not given raises.


Name : Brenda
Hometown : NJ
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : Also, I heard that DRPA employees are exempt from paying tolls. Why? If that is the case, instead of depriving seniors from discounts, and raising our tolls, how about the those "exempt" people pay bridge tolls like every one else?

Name : mike s
Hometown : waterford nj
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : theres crooks on both sides of the river.they should keep there hands out tourism and the money should be going to repairs and maintenance.lets see the payroll of every appointed offical of the DRPA11

Name : Bob
Hometown : Plymouth Meeting
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : Why is their Police Chief being paid $180k a year also? They are spending money on so many other things besides construction and bridge up-keep.

Name : Chris Mesure
Hometown : Philadelphia
The DRPA is proposing a toll increase effective in September. Share your thoughts now. : How about instead of wasting their budget (and taxpayer money) on cultural "programs" like the Kimmel center..various other cultural programs that are not related to the DRPA, maybe they can put that money into maintenance of the bridges!! When will our state government serve to protect us from out-of-control municipal agencies like this??

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