State Rep Pushing For PA E-Z Pass Toll Discount

NORTHAMPTON, PA — A Bucks County lawmaker is continuing her push to get Pennsylvania commuters and others who drive regularly into New Jersey a break on the tolls they pay to do so.

State Rep. Wendi Thomas, R-Northampton, said Tuesday she has met with members of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission and other transportation officials in an effort to get Pennsylvania commuters the same 40 percent discount that New Jersey commuters now enjoy.

Currently, New Jersey-based E-ZPass users get the additional commuter discount of 40 percent when they make at least 16 tolled trips across the Scudder Falls Bridge or other tolled bridges over the Delaware River each month.

Thomas said she's been told that's because New Jersey's toll-bridge transponders, which read E-ZPass cards, are able to process the discount, but Pennsylvania's are not.

"While I understand we can get a transponder from the NJ-based company, we already have a PA version," Thomas said Tuesday in a social media post. "This creates enormous confusion and frankly seems unfair."

Over the summer, Thomas collected more than 1,100 online signatures on a petition, which she delivered to the toll bridge commission, calling for Pennsylvania commuters to get the discount.

Thomas said that in her meeting with toll bridge commission members, Vice Chairman Wadud Ahmad agreed to meet with members of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to see if the issue can be resolved.

She said the push by her and other lawmakers helped get Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf appointed as the toll bridge commission's fifth member.

"There had been a vacancy, and now there is a full slate of commissioners from Pennsylvania," Thomas said. "Please know I will remain persistent until the issue is resolved. It’s a question of fairness."