Road Watch column, Aug. 17….
(Bridge Tolls expected to go up Sept. 14)
It’s not carved in stone yet by the Delaware River Port Authority, but its full board is expected Wednesday to approve its finance committee’s recommendations for increasing the bridge tolls on its four bridges by a buck to $4 effective Sept. 14 – and by another buck by September 2010.
DRPA owns/operates the Commodore Barry, Walt Whitman, Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross bridges.
Other proposals include a 10 percent increase in PATCO fares next month, another 10 percent increase September 2010, with cost of living increases every two years after that.
At public hearings, there has been public outrage over DRPA funds in its past history being used for economic development instead of bridge maintenance repairs. Glad to see that DRPA vice chair Jeffrey Nash proposed – and recommended by the committee – that revenue from any future cost of living increases for bridge tolls may not be used for economic development projects.
There was also some good news for senior citizens. The recommendations eliminated proposed restrictions on the number of trips seniors may take in a day to use their discount and a proposed requirement limiting the senior discount to off-peak hours.
The last general toll hike was in January 2000 when the toll went up from $2 to $3 although the 10 percent E-ZPass discount for occasional users was eliminated in January 2004.
PATCO fares have been stable since July 2001 when they were increased 16 percent.
AAA Mid-Atlantic said the finance committee’s recommendations “made it obvious that toll and rate hikes were a done deal before the public hearings.
“The DRPA finance committee rubber-stamped toll increases and fare hikes at its meeting this (Friday) morning,” said AAA spokeswoman Catherine Rossi.
AAA expected the committee members to give full consideration to public testimony and act upon it, adjusting proposals accordingly, she said.
She added that the meeting Friday shows that “public input carries little weight.”
However, she applauded the amendments to keep senior citizen discounts in place, but said the committee didn’t go far enough.
“AAA testified at DRPA public hearings saying the toll and fare hikes were unreasonable, especially automatic cost-of-living adjustments in tolls, which take the public out of the process,” Rossi said.
“And the committee did not effectively address the use of new toll revenue for economic development,” she said.
Rossi hoped the full DRPA board will give further consideration to public input than the finance committee did and offer comments to the public about their decision and reasoning.
For further information regarding the proposed toll and fare hikes can be found on the DRPA’s Web site, www.drpa.org.
SHARON HILL HIT-RUN
Charles and Nancy Ellis, 110 Chester Pike, Collingdale, responded to my column last week about the need for a flashing yellow light/curve sign at the deadly intersection of Chester Pike (Route 13 North) and Laurel Road following the death of Faith Sinclair, 16, about 10:15 p.m. Aug. 3. Her killer is still at large.
They said they are willing to circulate a petition to the state (PennDOT) to have something done about this.
The couple in an e-mail said they and others “are very angry about the lax attitude of the state regarding this particular stretch of highway.” They also indicated they have written to Brian Thompson at PennDOT to demand an immediate study and remediation of this situation.
“They have taken minimal action to ensure pedestrian safety at that intersection,” they wrote.
A Road Watcher salute to Charles and Nancy Ellis for their concern and efforts.
Like I wrote here last week: It shouldn’t take the death of a 16-year-old honor student to bring attention to the need for a flashing yellow curve sign before the deadly bend on Chester Pike (U.S. Route 13 North) at Laurel Road in Sharon Hill.
EL SHUTDOWN
The 16-day El shutdown and 63rd and Market streets closing continues until Aug. 25.
SEPTA Market-Frankford El service between 69th Street Terminal and 40th Street Station will be replaced by shuttle buses as the El reconstruction project has its final extended service shutdown. Service resumes 5 a.m. Aug. 25.
Also, the busy intersection of 63rd and Market streets – a major link between Upper Darby and West Philadelphia – will be closed to traffic until 4 a.m. Aug. 25.
There will be no El service to 52nd Street, 56th Street, 60th Street, 63rd Street, Millbourne or 69th Street Terminal as all-stop and non-stop shuttle buses replace train service.
Regular Market-Frankford Line service will only operate between the 46th Street Station and Frankford Transportation Center during weekdays of the 16-day shutdown, while weekend service from FTC will terminate at 40th Street Station.
The all-stop shuttle buses will stop at all designated locations between 40th and Market streets and 69th Street Terminal. Passengers should look for shuttle bus stop signs.
Non-stop shuttle bus service will only operate on weekdays to and from 69th Street Terminal and 40th and Market streets 6 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 3:30-6:30 p.m. without making any other stops.
TRAFFIC DELAYS
Haverford – U.S. 1 North/South, bridge wall repairs at Township Line Road 8 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Collingdale – Springfield Road, pipe and inlet repairs between MacDade Boulevard and Providence Road 8 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Line Painting – Ridley Park, Eddystone and Upper Chichester, a slow-moving operation to paint lines on state highways. Motorists should remain an ample distance behind line painting trucks and stay off traffic lines 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
I-476 South – Radnor, overhead catwalk installation, two left lanes closed at Lancaster Avenue (U.S. Route 30) 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Tuesday.
I-476 North/South – Radnor, Marple and Haverford, sweeping with lane restrictions between Route 3 (Exit 9) and U.S. Route 30 (Exit 13) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday.
I-95 North/South – bridge inspections between the state line and Delaware state line 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday.
Springfield – Powell Road, pipe replacement, closed/detoured at Saxer Avenue 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday.
Upper Chichester – Chichester Avenue, curb/sidewalk installation between Bethel Road and Flora Lane 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 25.
Tinicum – Wanamaker Avenue, utility installation by Aqua Pennsylvania, closed/detoured between Route 291 and Second Street, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 31. Work began July 21.
Chester – Flower Street, ramp construction, closed/detoured between Second and Front streets, 24-hour detour posted through Sept. 8. Began July 7.
Amosland Road – Prospect Park and Norwood, Aqua installation between MacDade Boulevard and Chester Pike, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 29. Work began June 30.
Chester Township – Concord Road, utility installation between Commerce Drive and McDonald Boulevard 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Sept. 25. Work began Feb. 19.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.