Photo: Getty Images
The Delaware Water Gap Bridge will stop accepting cash toll payments starting Monday, January 13, 2025. The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) announced that four of its busiest bridges, including the Trenton-Morrisville, I-78 Easton-Phillipsburg, and Delaware Water Gap bridges, will transition to cashless tolling. Motorists will have two payment options: E-ZPass or TOLL BY PLATE.
The DRJTBC is implementing a public awareness campaign to inform drivers of the change, which includes billboards, handout cards, and variable message boards at toll plazas. The transition to cashless tolling is part of a broader move towards all-electronic tolling (AET) systems, which began with the Scudder Falls Bridge in 2019.
According to the DRJTBC, TOLL BY PLATE involves capturing a vehicle's license plate and sending a bill to the registered owner. This option is more expensive than E-ZPass, with TOLL BY PLATE rates up to twice as high due to billing and processing costs. For example, the TOLL BY PLATE car toll is $3, compared to $1.50 for E-ZPass.
Motorists are encouraged to switch to E-ZPass to avoid higher toll rates and potential fees. The Commission's E-ZPass toll rates are up to 50% lower than TOLL BY PLATE rates. More than 86% of toll transactions at DRJTBC bridges already use E-ZPass.
The move to cashless tolling is part of a multi-year plan to convert all DRJTBC toll points to AET, with full conversion expected by 2032. The next phase will begin in 2025 with the installation of an overhead gantry at the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge.