DRPA board puts toll discount plan on hold

    The widely-criticized Delaware River Port Authority met today to adopt several reforms. The board shelved a plan to maintain bridge toll discounts that are set to expire soon.

    The widely-criticized Delaware River Port Authority met today to adopt several reforms. The board shelved a plan to maintain bridge toll discounts that are set to expire soon.

    The DRPA offers modest discounts to monthly commuters, senior citizens and drivers of hybrid cars. While the board tries to rebuild public trust by scrapping executive perks and secret meetings, members thought they’d revoke plans to raise the senior toll by a quarter and eliminate the other two discounts September first.

    But beancounters spoke up, warning that Wall Street agencies could downgrade the DRPA’s bond rating if it was too generous. Pennsylvania treasurer Rob McCord says the board decided to stop and think about it.

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    “We’re meeting next week to review all off the discounts with a move to try to retain them, but to double check what we can do to shore up our bond rating.”

    The board adopted other reforms, but resisted calls to fire the authority’s CEO John Matheussen.

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