The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will activate a cashless tolling system April 24 at the Outerbridge Crossing, a cantilever bridge connecting Perth Amboy, N.J., with Staten Island, N.Y.
The cashless system allows E-ZPass users to drive at normal roadway speeds under an overhead gantry. E-ZPass accounts will then be debited for the toll. Drivers without E-ZPass will have their license plate photographed, and a bill for the toll will be mailed.
“With travel at Port Authority crossings continuing to grow, it is imperative for us to implement this new technology to move more vehicles quickly and efficiently through our facilities,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said. “This system will help bring our toll facilities up to 21st century standards and supplement our multibillion-dollar investments to build new crossings such as we have done at the Bayonne and Goethals bridges.”
Outerbridge Crossing is the second Staten Island bridge with the system. Bayonne Bridge began using the system in February 2017, and Goethals Bridge will begin this fall.
The Outerbridge Crossing and Goethals Bridge systems are forecasted to save drivers approximately 200,000 hours annually, reduce toll booth crashes by 7 to 10 percent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 11,500 metric tons annually, according to the Port Authority.