The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission partially yielded to pressure from truckers and their political allies Monday, voting to delay the full increase for trucks crossing five of the commission's seven toll bridges between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Tolls will rise 280 percent to $2.25 per axle Dec. 1, but the full increase of $3.25 per axle won't take effect until January 2004.

Bridges affected are on Interstates 78 and 80 and U.S. Highways 22, 46 and 206. Tolls for bridges on U.S. Routes 1 and 202 were already set to rise in two phases, on the same schedule.

Cash tolls for cars will double from 50 cents to $1 on four of the bridges and from $1 to $1.25 on the rest. Approved in December 2001, the new rates will help fund a 10-year, $526 million maintenance plan for the seven toll bridges and 13 free bridges the commission maintains and operates.

Linda Spalinski, director of strategic planning and community affairs for the commission, said complaints from the trucking industry prompted Monday's decision to enact the two-step increase.

"The commission has heard from representatives of trucking companies and understands the impact on businesses," she said. "The commission hopes this action would provide some additional time to absorb the increase."

Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice president, said the commission's attempt to soften the toll's blow would not have truckers reveling in spare change.

"The initial proposal was outrageous, and, despite the modified toll increase, it is still outrageous to expect truckers to afford this toll hike," Spencer said.

Truckers have the support of Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA), whose district includes the I-80 Delaware Water Gap bridge. Kanjorski told news reporters he has won assurances from Gov.-elect Ed Rendell that he will be sympathetic to the truckers' concerns.
-- Keith Goble, staff writer