Lawmaker's Petition Calls For E-ZPass Toll Discount

NORTHAMPTON, PA — Another Bucks County lawmaker is pushing for commuters who drive into New Jersey to get a break on the tolls they have to pay to do so.

Rep. Wendi Thomas, a Republican from Northampton, has created a petition urging the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to give Pennsylvania E-ZPass users the same break that New Jersey commuters are already getting for crossing the Scudder Falls Bridge.

Currently, New Jersey-based E-ZPass users get an additional commuter discount of 40% when they make at least 16 tolled trips across Scudder Falls or other tolled bridges each month. To get the discount, Pennsylvania users currently would have to buy a second transponder, Thomas said.

'The toll on the new bridge will have a major impact on local commuters," Thomas said in a news release. "It’s patently unfair not to offer the commuter discount to Pennsylvania commuters using the PA E-ZPass system."

Tolls on the new span of the Scudder Falls Bridge connecting New Jersey and Pennsylvania began on Sunday.

Thomas has posted the petition on her website. She said she plans to deliver it to toll bridge commission officials.

Thomas isn't the only local official who is targeting tolls.

On Friday, Democratic state Sen. Steve Santarsiero and state Rep. Perry Warren held a press conference near the Scudder Falls Bridge interchange in Lower Makefield. They're pushing their bills in both the House and Senate that would give a tax credit of up to $500 for toll-related expenses.