A Pennsylvania Senate panel has approved a bill calling for state officials from Pennsylvania and New Jersey to conduct audits of the agency that sets tolls and manages bridges over the Delaware River.

The Senate Transportation Committee voted unanimously June 22 to advance the bill, HB1801, which passed the House late last year. It now goes to the Senate floor for consideration.

Sponsored by Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, the bill was introduced last summer amid controversy about toll increases imposed in 2002 by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. The increases applied to seven toll bridges the commission maintains between the two states. The bill addresses questions about how the toll revenue is to be spent, The Associated Press reported.

The increase hiked tolls on trucks from 80 cents per axle to $2.25 per axle. Tolls on cars were doubled from 50 cents to $1. In 2005, truck tolls are to increase again from their current $2.75 per axle to $3.25 per axle. Tolls on cars will then drop a quarter to 75 cents.

The bridge commission said the new rates are needed to help fund a 10-year, $526 million capital improvement plan for economic development.

However, The Morning Call reported that the commission intended to use about $250 million from the increases for unauthorized projects.

Although agency officials deny they misled anyone about the commission’s intentions, Freeman said in a written statement that he thought it was important that annual joint state audits be conducted to ensure that toll revenues were being properly used.

“Commuters using these bridges and paying these tolls deserve to know how the toll revenues are being used,” he said, “particularly in light of the revelation that the commission was planning on using some of the toll revenue for economic development that is beyond its stated mission.”

The provision was approved in New Jersey years ago but requires the same language to be approved in Pennsylvania, Congress and by the president before it can be implemented.