Delaware River authority considering discount for frequent bridge users
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The Delaware River Port Authority is considering offering a discount to frequent users of it bridges including the Ben Franklin. (AP file photo)
The Delaware River Port Authority is proposing bringing back a discount for frequent commuters.
Authority CEO John Hanson says the commuter discount is a help to frequent users of the Commodore Barry and Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross and Walt Whitman bridges.
“We simply recognize that we do not need that revenue at this time,” he said. “We can forgo it, and we would rather have it in the pocket of commuters than in our pockets here.”
The discount will be just for regular commuters, Hanson said.
“The discount is going to cost about $6.4 million in forgone revenue, but it will give an $18 credit to a commuter who crosses the bridge 18 times or more,” he said.
A previous commuter discount was phased out in 2011 because the authority could no longer afford it.
The plan will be voted on during a July 15 board meeting, and it could be in place before the end of the year.
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