toll bridges

November truck numbers for the US-Canada border crossings were a bit weaker than in earlier months and the very severe winter in December will make this month weak too. But overall 2010 is likely to see about a 5% increase in traffic at the border to 35m, cars up about 4% to 28.1m, trucks up about 10% to 6.7m.

Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) has approved strong toll increases to go into effect next month and in Sept 2010, and cost-of-living or inflation increases on a two-yearly basis thereafter. The board of directors approved the strong toll plan unanimously this morning, despite some public criticism.

The 2008 increase is 33% and the 2010 increase is 25%.

An engineer involved in the design of the new Goethals bridge told us in an email he is going to recommend to the PANYNJ panel that this new NY-NJ bridge get a "falcon condominium" built in, so PANYNJ can compete in breeding the rare raptors with other toll agencies.

The response was an anti-Jersey joke.