Pennsylvania bills pursue bridge commission reforms

A package of bills in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are intended to clear up inconsistencies in laws governing operation of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

The agency maintains and operates seven toll bridges and 13 free bridges connecting New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The commission is made up of 10 commissioners, with five from each state.

Making changes to how the commission is run is a complex process. Because the agency is set up by a federal charter, identical legislation must be enacted in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and approved by the federal government.

Rep. Joe Emrick, R-Nazareth, is behind multiple bills to implement greater state oversight of the commission.

“Historically, the commission has been a bastion of political patronage, and many of its financial and management decisions have been questionable at best,” Emrick wrote in a bill memo to House lawmakers.

One bill in the package, HB649, would grant the Pennsylvania governor veto power over actions of the state’s commissioners. Another bill, HB650, would give the governor 10 days to invoke veto power over any actions by an individual commissioner.

“The governor of Pennsylvania should also have the authority to review and veto actions of Pennsylvania commissioners that do not serve the best interests of Pennsylvania residents, such as the toll hike,” he said.

Emrick has said the gubernatorial authority in Pennsylvania could have derailed the rate hike that charged large trucks 75 cents more per axle – to $4 from $3.25 per axle. Tolls for two-axle passenger vehicles increased 25 cents – to $1 from 75 cents.

Certain discounts are available.

At the time, agency officials said the rate hikes were necessary to keep up with capital improvements. An agency news release noted that higher truck fees reflected the “greater wear and tear trucks cause” on roads and bridges.

The third bill, HB651, would require an annual financial and management audit of the commission by the Pennsylvania’s auditor general and his New Jersey counterpart.

One more bill, HB652, would allow for gubernatorial veto of actions by the commission and would require an annual financial and management audit of the commission by the auditor general and his New Jersey counterpart.

New Jersey already has the rules in place.

Emrick has said that “while this is not a statewide issue, it is an interstate issue as New Jersey has already agreed to this and is waiting on us to fulfill our half of the agreement.”

The bills are in the House Transportation Committee.

To view other legislative activities of interest for Pennsylvania, click here.