Preserving Our Past, Enhancing Our Future 75 Years of Service to Customers and Communities

Stacked (reversed out of black)

ANNUAL REPORT 2009 Bushkill Street Bridge circa 1938 Contents

Mission 2

About the Commission 2

A Message from the Executive Director 3

Staff 4

Commissioners 5

Customer Service/Partnering Credentials Boosted in 2009 6

Bridging the Delaware River for 75 Years 8 Photo credits The Commission uses a variety of professional and amateur photographers from the Delaware Modernization of the Commission 18 River region as well as agency and contractor photographic resources to publish its annual reports. Partnering with Communities through CAI 28 Photographers and professional firms providing images for this report include John Andrulis, Mike Brint, Carol H. Feeley, Gordon H. Nieburg, Ron Saari, Net Assets 31 Ed Savaria, Mike Straub, AECOM, Louis Berger Group, and STV Inc.

Feature photographs: Traffic Counts 32

Cover, inside back cover & envelope – Mike Brint

Back cover & page 30 – Gordon H. Nieburg Mission About the Commission

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission provides safe, dependable and The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is a bistate agency that owns efficient river crossings between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Stretching 140 miles and operates seven toll bridges and 13 toll-supported bridges—two of which are from the Philadelphia/Bucks County, Pa. boundary northward to the New Jersey/ pedestrian-only crossings—along the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New York state line, the Commission’s jurisdiction encompasses a diverse geographic New Jersey. region featuring bustling cities, quaint river villages, and scenic portions of the The Commission’s jurisdiction extends roughly 140 miles from Bucks County, Pa. and Delaware River where nature’s bounty abounds. Burlington County, N.J. to the New Jersey/New York state line. This area comprises four Committed to improving the quality of life for area residents, the Commission counties and a portion of a fifth in New Jersey, and four counties in Pennsylvania. The strives to create a synergy of economic vitality, environmental stewardship, historic region has a population of more than 2 million people. preservation, customer service and fiscal accountability. The Commission is a self-funded organization that receives no federal or state tax dollars. Funding for the operation, upkeep and maintenance of its bridges and other structures is solely derived from revenues collected at its seven toll bridges.

A board of 10 commissioners—five from Pennsylvania and five from New Jersey

governs the Commission. The New Jersey members are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the state Senate for three-year terms. The Pennsylvania members are appointed by the Governor and serve at his pleasure.

Established in 1934, the Commission’s bridges carried more than 139.5 million vehicles across the Delaware River in 2009. The agency has more than 340 full-time employees. Operating revenue earned in 2009 was $86,928,518. The Commission’s 2009 operating budget was $46.6 million.

The Commission has been providing safe and efficient river crossings between New Jersey and Pennsylvania for more than 75 years and remains committed to enhancing

75 Years of Service public safety and commuter convenience while demonstrating responsible environmental stewardship and fiscal accountability.

2 A Message from the Executive Director

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission New Jersey—one of the most heavily used excellent results, and extended the program achieved many noteworthy milestones in truck corridors in the country. for another year. It improved customer service

2009. Confronting a one-two punch of a ■■ The $22.6 million Electronic Surveillance and with a uniform Motorist Assistance Program. stubborn recession and lingering traffic declines Security System installation enhanced the And it administered the most active year yet for stemming from the fuel price spikes of 2008, Commission’s critical infrastructure protection the Compact Authorized Investment municipal the Commission implemented a flat budget and emergency response capabilities through transportation grant program. with across-the-board spending cuts and no cameras, electronic locking devices and Finally, we forged ahead with planning for a salary increases. Despite the tough economic communications upgrades. new wave of projects: the removal of gates at climate, the Commission kept on course with ■■ The $5.3 million New Hope-Lambertville our busiest toll plazas, the creation of Express its $1.1 billion Capital Improvement Program; Toll Bridge Cantilever Bracket Improvement E-ZPass toll-collection lanes at the I-78 and I-80 2009 ended as the construction initiative’s Project strengthened the bridge’s 130 canti- toll plazas, and the rehabilitations of our historic most successful year. Five major projects were lever brackets, enabling the bridge to be fully Calhoun Street, Riegelsville, and Washington achieved: opened for the first time in two years. Crossing bridges. We also made notable ■■ The $102 million Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1) With these project completions, the Commission progress with the biggest single undertaking Toll Bridge Rehabilitation and Widening reached a significant juncture in its capital in the agency’s history—the $310 million I-95/ gave motorists a modernized river crossing program. Projects at half of the agency’s 20 river Scudder Falls Bridge Improvement Project. featuring a new auxiliary northbound bridges are now finished. By year’s end, the Please review this annual report and our record lane, a reconstructed bridge deck, ramp ledger showed over $303 million worth of of progress for the past year. As the following improvements, and a new toll plaza. completed projects and another $485 million pages attest, the Commission remains true to its ■■ The $19.1 million Milford-Montague Toll worth of projects nearly completed, underway 75-year mission of providing safe, well-managed Bridge Rehabilitation provided the public with or in some stage of development. transportation facilities and quality customer a new bridge deck, new approach roadway There were other notable accomplishments: services to help promote regional growth pavements, and a new toll plaza. The Commission adopted a Public Involvement and meet the current and future needs of the ■■ The $57.6 million I-78 Roadway Rehabilitation policy to facilitate positive relations with traveling public. wrapped up in the fall, producing a stabilized customers and communities during construc- and improved road surface along the tion projects. It completed a one-year Minority/ Commission’s 4.2 mile segment of I-78 in Women/Small Business pilot program with of Service Years 75

3 Staff FRANK G. McCARTNEY Director Executive FRANK TOLOTTA J. of Operations Deputy Director Executive P.E. GEORGE G. ALEXANDRIDIS, Chief Engineer McNEELEY SEAN P. Officer Chief Financial JR. CONOLINE, ARNOLD J. Officer Chief Administrative JR. DONNELLY, JOSEPH F. of Communications Deputy Director Executive STEPHEN CATHCART Comptroller RICHARD McCLELLAN of Community Affairs Director JULIO A. GURIDY Investments Authorized of Compact Director M. HARTIGAN MATTHEW Security of Electronic Director and Surveillance YVONNE KUSHNER of E-Z Pass Director R. HERON PATRICK of Human Resources Director JANE HANSEN MARY of Information Technology Director FRANK L. BERUTA and Facilities of Plants Director GLENN REIBMAN and Planning of Policy Director K. BURD DAVID of Purchasing Director STETTNER P. JAMES Safety of Security, Director and Training PRIOR JOHN B. District (Acting) I Superintendent LENDELL JONES District II Superintendent L. HILL BRYAN District III Superintendent

75 Years of Service 4 Commissioners

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is governed by a board of 10 commissioners—five from each state. The New Jersey members are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the state Senate for three-year terms; the Pennsylvania members are appointed by the Governor and serve at his pleasure. The Commissioners are not compensated for their service.

New Jersey David R. DeGerolamo, Chairman William J. Hodas, Secretary-Treasurer Donald Hart Yuki Moore Laurenti Harry Zikas, Jr.

Pennsylvania Gaetan J. Alfano, Esq., Vice Chairman James L. Broughal, Esq. Bernard A. Griggs, Jr. Melissa Heller John Prevoznik, Esq.

Front row, left to right: William J. Hodas, David R. DeGerolamo, Gaetan J. Alfano, James L. Broughal. Back row, left to right: Donald Hart, Harry Zikas, Jr., Melissa Heller, Yuki Moore Laurenti, Bernard A. Griggs, Jr., John Prevoznik. 75 Years of Service Years 75

5 Public involvement is the process of engaging engaging of process is the involvement Public early in the the public capital of applicable stages gained input practicalWhen feasible, and projects. project can be a constructive citizens interested from planning tool. involvement public has utilized Commission the While set of in a variety a formal 2001, of capital projects since to further codified principles and goals was strengthen efforts. and outreach community relations the agency’s principles and goals policyThe served statement as by is being utilized that a set of guidelines the basis for in and consultants contractors, personnel, Commission of capital projects. execution the successful Activities houses and stakeholder meetings like open and when how determine to help the Commission should be staged and scheduled in bridge closures connection a project—on with or weekdays, weekends community groups for major regional events such as events regional major for community groups Heritage Day, Easton’s the Lambertville Shad Festival, of the Arts Gap Celebration Water and the Delaware jazz festival. Involvement Public Formalizes Commission Goals and Principles - Bridge Commis Toll River Joint In 2009, the Delaware the guide a set of principles and goals to sion approved activities as it moves public involvement Commission’s Program. Improvement with its Capital forward

Meanwhile, the agency donated used radio equipment, the agency equipment, used radio donated Meanwhile, and no-longer-needed to equipment vehicles, motor squads and municipalities. first-responder volunteer and drives, part took food Employees in blood drives, maintenance Additionally, campaigns. fundraising and host municipalities to assistance lent crews The agency service/communityThe its customer added to in 2009. in a number of ways credentials relations MotoristIt Assistance launched a standardized that of vehicles assist occupants better to Program bridges toll disabled on the Commission’s become It public a formal adopted roadways. and approach policy personnel, guide Commission to involvement alerting in and contractors consultants and involving of its the public during and execution the planning property Commission And capital projects. and facilities and public purposes. a series of events used for were As a result, the Commission constantly interacts with interacts constantly Commission the result, a As local governing residents, area the driving public, on both sides and community organizations bodies, particularlyThis has been the case over of the river. it as the driving public increased years the past eight transportation facilities and use of the Commission’s of its Capital the agency with its execution proceeded and Compact Authorized Program Improvement program. municipal grant (CAI) Investment Credentials Boosted in 2009 Credentials each state—host in of 28 municipalities—14 A total of Scores 20 bridges. Commission’s of the one or more directly affected are in the area other municipalities Commission’s the uses that traffic or indirectly by and roadways, approach bridges, network of river served the area by geographic The support structures. 2 million residents. of roughly consists Commission Customer Service/Partnering Customer 6 75 Years of Service 6 changing tools, include: andotheritems. Services equipment suchasflares, traffic cones, gasoline, tire- emergency outfitted withapushbumperandcarrying officer respondsinaspeciallymarked MAP vehicle When acustomer requests MAP assistance, atoll the customer. professionala courteous, mannerfree ofcharge to bridge. personnelthenprovide Agency assistance in assistance by callingphonenumbersposted at each with disabledvehiclesMotorists are ableto obtain and better protects occupants ofstranded vehicles. safety, provides free passenger-vehicle assistance, The standardized program offers improved traffic Commission’s toll andapproach bridges roadways. occupants ofvehicles that become disabledon the a uniform Assistance Motorist Program (MAP) to help On March 23,2009,theCommission officiallylaunched Uniform Motorist Assistance Program Launched episodes anddelays dueto misinformation ordistrust. and communication mitigates costly confrontational projects. Public acceptance forged through cooperation the Commission save moneyintheexecution ofits Additionally, thepublicinvolvement work canhelp affected businesses, residents andmotorists. for ameansofminimizingimpacts for example—as ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ as theDelaware Rivercrossing location for theIron September,In theCommission’s I-78 Toll served Bridge to thebridge. Portland andColumbia, andontheroadways adjacent on thefoot bridge, onnearby residentialin properties over thecourse ofthree days and involved footage film, The Line, inearly August. The filming tookplace was Bridge usedasalocation for anindependent short The Portland-Columbia Toll-Supported Pedestrian examples ofthisoccurred in2009. the agency’s core mission.Several transportation assistance oraccommodation for endeavors outside From timeto time, theCommission isaskedto provide Lights, Camera, andMotorcycles Action Aplenty assisted 278customers. (nine months andninedays), thefree roadside service Commission personnel. itsfirst During year ofoperation andassistance from better-trainedset listofservices program provides stranded motorists withaccess to a request motorist assistance. This newstandardized was noestablishedsystem ofphonenumbersto level ofassistance variedatandthere eachbridge disabled motorists at itstoll facilitiesinthepast, the While theCommission provided free assistance to ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ radiators; Supplying water andantifreeze for low oroverheated stalledvehicles; Jumpstarting Tire changing assistance; Traffic control; patrol vehicles equippedwithpush bumpers; disabledvehiclesClearing from travel lanesusing choice. Contacting atow ifneeded, service, ofthemotorist’s diesel fuel;and Providing upto three gallonsofunleadedgasolineor smoothly, you couldn’t askfor anything more.” personnel helpedusmove safely andquickly. went so It for theIronandSteel event. Commission’s Bridge “The with us,” Angelastro, saidMichael leadruncoordinator themenandwomenand honoring whoare nolonger motorcycle runisallaboutpeoplehelping “The beams for inFort anewmemorial Benning, Ga. and fire truckstransporting World Trade Center steel toll lanesfor theSeptember12caravan ofmotorcycle Pennsylvania, theCommission provided two dedicated Working withState Police from NewJerseyand Twin Towers at the World Trade Center. their lives intheSeptember11,2001collapse ofthe names ofthe343New York firefighters City wholost The procession includedafire truckengraved withthe Pennsylvania’sLehigh Valley. other vantage points inwestern NewJerseyand who waved flagsandsaluted from overpasses and minded residents andvolunteer fire companies The event involved andattracted patriotic- 150 riders Williamsin Township,Pa. traveled west alongI-78andthrough theI-78 Toll Plaza was thesecond consecutive year themotorcycle run FDNYCity-based Fire Family Transport Foundation. It and Steel Motorcycle by Runconducted theNew York 7 7 75 Years of Service Bridging the Delaware River for 75 Years

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is one of the nation’s oldest toll ■ Breaking ground agencies. Its genesis is rooted in the advent of the automobile age during the first The watershed event that gave rise for a reconstituted toll agency occurred in quarter of the last century. Its incorporation and history of operations reflect an 1925, when the Northampton Street Bridge linking Easton, Pa. and Phillipsburg, N.J. ongoing responsiveness to a continuous trend of rising traffic rates, larger and faster required major repairs. In the course of making repairs, one half of the road deck vehicles, and growing volumes of interstate commerce in each ensuing decade. had to be closed to traffic. This resulted in crippling traffic jams, economic losses in The Commission was created as a bistate agency under an agreement between the the two communities and numerous problems for law enforcement. The experience Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey—signed by New Jersey motivated community and business leaders to crusade for construction of a new Governor A. Harry Moore on December 18, 1934 and Pennsylvania Governor Gifford bridge—the current Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 22) Toll Bridge, originally named the Pinchot on December 19, 1934. The bistate agreement, or compact, was approved by Bushkill Street Bridge. Congress on August 30, 1935. For the first three years of its existence, the Commission The predecessor commission subsequently received authorization from the two operated without a single toll bridge in its inventory. Its headquarters was in the states to prepare plans, specifications, and cost estimates of the additional bridge. Broad Street Bank Building at 28 West State Street, Trenton, N.J. But when the costs of the proposed structure and approaches were determined to The agency succeeded the former Joint Commission for the Acquisition of Various require multi-million-dollar subsidies from the two states, it was made clear to the Bridges over the Delaware between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the predecessor commission that the two states would not provide the funds necessary State of New Jersey. The predecessor body—also known as the Joint Commission for to build a “free” bridge; the new bridge would need to be financed through sales of the Elimination of Toll Bridges over the Delaware River—came into being by reason Revenue Bonds. of a 1912 New Jersey statute and 1913 Pennsylvania legislation. The predecessor The legislative process to convert the predecessor commission into a toll agency agency acquired bridges from private owners, freed them of tolls and operated and began in 1931, but it was not completed until late 1934. By this time, the region’s maintained them with public funds provided by the two states. transportation needs were growing rapidly. Almost all car models were longer, The DRJTBC’s 1953 Annual Report describes the Commission’s evolvement as follows: wider, more powerful, and increasingly affordable. The price of a brand new 4-door Dodge sedan was $665. Innovations such as aerodynamic designs, one-piece curved “World War I had so developed the gas engine that its use was reflected in the windshields, and radio controls built into instrument panels all took root in 1934. mass production of automobiles and trucks. This, in turn, resulted in a rapid 75 Years of Service growth of interstate traffic between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The Joint Responding to the legislative mandate, the reconstituted Commission organized itself Commission, at the time the privately-owned toll bridges were purchased, on December 28, 1934. Its first official meeting took place in February 1935, a non- could hardly have visualized the great growth of motor vehicle traffic and voting session where testimony was gathered on the need for the proposed Bushkill the phenomenal development of motor vehicle transportation, which has so Street Toll Bridge between Phillipsburg and Easton. (The bridge was later renamed the tremendously changed the pattern of American economic and social life . . .” Easton-Phillipsburg Toll Bridge after a “dual high-speed highway” approach through Easton was constructed and opened to traffic in 1952.)

8 At the time the Commission approved the construction of the Bushkill Street Bridge, ■ From wooden bridges to super highways the country was in the depths of the Great Depression. The push for large-scale public Despite the Depression, traffic volumes grew steadily during the Commission’s improvement projects was intensifying as a means of putting unemployed people early years. In its first full year of operation in 1935, the agency’s network of non-toll back to work. In 1934 alone, bridges carried slightly more construction was already in than 20 million vehicles. Like full swing on the Golden Gate its predecessor agency, the Bridge in California, the Grand Commission operated and Coulee Dam in Washington, and maintained these bridges with the Tennessee Valley Authority’s tax revenues provided by the hydroelectric system in two states. One of the non-toll the South. bridges was a wooden covered Construction on the Bushkill span—Portland-Columbia. Street Bridge began in 1936. Constructed in 1869, it would It was completed and opened go on to hold the distinction as to traffic on January 17, 1938, the longest remaining wooden at the cost of approximately covered bridge in the country. $2,500,000 financed by revenue Another bridge—Lumberville- bonds payable solely from Raven Rock—consisted of four tolls collected at the facility. wooden spans and a single The new bridge was hailed as steel span. (It was closed to the “The World’s Most Brilliant vehicular traffic for reasons Bridge” and it ranked as the of public safety in June 1945. longest single steel truss in The Commission replaced the nation, a distinction it the bridge with a pedestrian held for 19 years. It would be suspension span in November more than a decade—a period 1947 at a reported cost of that included the end of the $75,000 that included removal Great Depression and the dark of the old bridge.) Many of the years of World War II—before Commission’s other bridges still the Commission would break had wooden road decks. ground to construct another vehicular bridge. 75 Years of Service Years 75

9 With the outbreak of World damaged bridge and built a War II and the imposition of new pedestrian bridge. And gasoline rationing between at the end of the decade, 1942 and 1946, the Commission the agency was assigned experienced a traffic operational responsibility for decrease—reaching a low of the Scudder Falls Bridge, which roughly 15.9 million vehicles in the Commission constructed 1943. But when the war ended for Pennsylvania and New and the region experienced a Jersey through a combination building boom and a wave of of state and federal funds. rampant suburbanization, the (While construction of the Commission saw rapid annual Scudder Falls Bridge ended in traffic increases—surpassing 1959, it did not open to traffic 34 million vehicular crossings until June 22, 1961, when the in 1950. two states finally completed approach roadways to The Commission responded to the span.) this new mobile society—and the need for stronger bridges As heady as the Fifties were for for national defense purposes— the Commission, the decade by launching and completing posed one notable setback. a series of “super highway” In 1955, the most devastating toll bridge projects. The first flood ever recorded along the of these was the Trenton- Delaware River presented an Morrisville (Route 1) Toll Bridge, unanticipated set of problems which opened in 1952. The project required the relocation of a series of residences for the Commission, its administrators and its engineering staff. The flood waters to make way for the bridge and the corresponding completions of a new Route 1 resulted from the remnants of two separate hurricanes—Connie and Diane—that roadway in Morrisville, Pa. and the “Trenton Freeway” in New Jersey. The project also inundated the river region with rain during a one-week period. The river gauge included construction of a four-story administration building adjacent to the bridge’s at Riegelsville, Pennsylvania recorded an all-time record crest of 38.85 feet on 75 Years of Service toll plaza. The facility—situated between Route 1 and Wood Street in Morrisville— August 19, 1955. The raging flood waters damaged nearly every bridge. For a few served as the agency’s headquarters for the next 56 years. hours during the crisis, the Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1) Toll Bridge was the only river crossing under control of the Commission open to traffic. Four non-toll spans were In December 1953, the Commission opened three new toll bridges in its northern destroyed—Portland-Columbia Covered Bridge, Northampton Street Bridge, Point district in a single month: Portland-Columbia, Delaware Water Gap (I-80) and Pleasant-Byram Bridge, and Yardley-Wilburtha Bridge. Of these, the Northampton Milford-Montague. During the decade, the Commission also reconstructed a flood-

10 Street Bridge between Easton and Phillipsburg was the only vehicular crossing to roughly 5 million to roughly 9.8 million crossings. The Delaware Water Gap (I-80) Toll be totally restored, reopening with considerable fanfare on October 23, 1957. Three Bridge saw a 95.7 percent increase in traffic, from 1.8 million to 3.5 million crossings. “Bailey” spans enabled the Yardley-Wilburtha Bridge to resume service, but only until Meanwhile, traffic at the Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 22) Toll Bridge rose 48.87 percent May 1961, when it was finally deemed unsafe for further use. A steel girder pedestrian (from 7.1 million vehicles in 1960 to 10.6 million vehicles in 1969) due to growth in bridge constructed on the piers of the venerable Portland-Columbia timber bridge Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley region. opened on October 22, 1958. Increases also were seen at many of the Commission’s aging non-toll bridges, the largest occurring at the Commission’s four Bucks County, Pa.-Hunterdon County, N.J. ■ If you build it, they will come vehicular crossings—New Hope-Lambertville, Centre Bridge-Stockton, Uhlerstown- When the 1960s arrived, the Commission had responsibility for operating 13 non-toll Frenchtown, and Upper Black Eddy-Milford. A comparison of these four bridges state-owned bridges (two of which were pedestrian only spans) and five toll bridges. showed an average 34.33 percent increase in traffic, according to year-end reports in Total traffic for 1960 was slightly 1960 and 1969. more than 56 million vehicles— Partly due to this traffic an increase of over 21 million surge and the congestion vehicles from 1950. that regularly inundated the The Commission switched focus overcrowded, weight-limited, during the 1960s, concentrating two-lane truss span connecting less on mega projects and New Hope, Pa., and Lambertville, instead tending to its mission N.J., the Commission in the of maintaining, operating early Sixties began planning and improving its network construction of a new toll bridge of modern-day toll crossings to carry U.S. Route 202 traffic and aging state-owned, non- around the two communities. toll bridges. As in the 1950s, Ground was broken October 7, there were significant traffic 1968 and the $13 million increases in all regions of the structure opened to traffic Commission’s 140-mile river on Thursday, July 22, 1971. In jurisdiction. constructing the new bridge, the Commission attempted Between 1960 and 1969, annual to accommodate local vehicular traffic nearly doubled residents who did not want a at the Trenton-Morrisville foreboding institutional building (Route 1) Toll Bridge—a

constructed in the rural setting. of Service Years 75 94.42 percent increase, from So, the administration building

11 With each passing year, the year, each passing With state-owned bridges the and operated Commission Pennsylvania for maintained and New Jersey presented continuing These challenges. or “tax- so-called “free” bridges consisted supported” of two-lanelargely truss spans masonryacross piers originally constructed 19th in the century support to privately covered wooden owned least one of these At bridges. still had a Riegelsville, bridges, the deck despite road wooden open-grid of steel availability decking the early 1930s. since of aging Noting the rapid the Commission these spans, on a the load limits reduced variety of these older bridges during the 1960s and 1970s and launched feasibility some of replace studies to Street them, including Calhoun (the Commission’s oldest superstructure), Washington Crossing (the Commission’s (the Commission’s Crossing Washington oldest superstructure), (the Commission’s suspension bridge), only vehicular span), Riegelsville (the Commission’s narrowest northernmost bridge). through-truss and Riverton-Belvidere (the Commission’s particularly was location Street the Calhoun bridge for pursuit of a replacement The bridge Morrisville that toll low-level a six-lane, called for as the proposal contentious, harmed local businesses and have it would that on the grounds fought Borough

, bridge , , gas , ation v utomation preser shortages ■ A and maintenance garage at at garage and maintenance in a designed were the site the Bucks captured manner that farm motif in exteriorCounty “conserving appearance, beauty the the natural of countryside.” surrounding cornerssteadily in all rose Traffic jurisdiction of the Commission’s with the onset of dual-income households and the maturation boom” “baby of the car-crazed ease To in the 1960s. generation the Commission’s at the situation the agency bridges, toll began and coin automated employing its collection at token devices plazas in the early 1970s. toll tokens (While the Commission’s stamped with the year were applied date 1934, the reference and founding the agency’s to collected tolls Commission the this time, Until not the actual of the coins.) minting regular bridge afforded tickets that of commutation manually as cash, or in the form of 40 and enabled regular sold in rolls were tokens The of passage. rates users reduced discounting a toll cost, bridges a reduced at toll Commission cross to commuters electronic toll E-ZPass the agency’s through this day to continues practice that enthusiasts collectible highway (The by collection program. a coveted are old tokens sale on e-Bay.) the country for around and can often be found

75 Years of Service 12 negatively impacted the community’s street system. The experience was a Commission with assuming full financial responsibility for the 13 non-toll bridges contributing factor for the Commission’s later general policy of preserving, where within its jurisdiction. Prior to that time, the costs of operating and maintaining the feasible and appropriate, its inventory of historic bridges. non-toll bridges were financed by appropriations from the two states. Ownership of the state-owned bridges was not fully transferred to the Commission until July 1, Like other toll agencies in the country, the Commission weathered two major oil 1987. With the transfer of ownership, the 13 non-toll spans became “toll-supported embargoes and resulting gas crises in the 1970s. It was during this period that new bridges,” a designation reflecting the fact that a portion of the tolls collected at terms like “data processing” and “computerized toll collection and recording systems” the Commission’s toll bridges are used to finance the operation, maintenance and began creeping into the Commission’s vernacular for the first time. The Commission security of the non-toll spans. purchased its first computer system for tabulating toll collections in 1975. To this day, the Commission is a self-supporting entity receiving no federal or state By the end of 1980, the total annual traffic figure for the Commission’s bridge system subsidies for its operations. was 72,602,610—roughly 20 percent more than the 60,389,480 total crossings recorded in 1970. Traffic growth remained the overriding dynamic for the Commission The 1984 agreement had an additional noteworthy change for the Commission: a throughout the 1980s and the 1990s. Vehicular crossings rose exponentially provision pertaining to construction of a seventh Commission toll bridge that would throughout the agency’s jurisdiction as sprawling office and warehouse parks, large one day carry a long-proposed interstate highway—I-78—across the Delaware River. planned communities, major shopping malls, and new regional attractions, housing It stipulated that the eventual I-78 river bridge would be operated and maintained developments and businesses sprang up in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley and Pocono by the Commission as a toll span and the agency would be responsible for the non- Mountain regions, along I-95 in Bucks County, Pa. and around New Jersey’s Princeton- federal share of construction costs for the bridge and approach highways extending Route 1, I-80 and I-78 corridors. Each year saw more trucks, more commuters and from the bridge to the first interchanges in each state. more travelers using the agency’s bridge system. The I-78 Toll Bridge opened to traffic on November 21, 1989. The event marked Toll bridges continued to see unbridled traffic increases, but the traffic rates at non- completion of the last segment of I-78, a 144-mile interstate highway between toll crossings remained relatively steady, save for one exception: the Scudder Falls Harrisburg, Pa. and the Holland Tunnel linking New Jersey and Lower Manhattan. (I-95) Bridge linking Mercer County, N.J. and Bucks County, Pa. During the 1970s, The new river connection soon demonstrated its worth, providing an additional travel traffic at this location more than doubled—from roughly 4.8 million vehicles in 1971 route to and from the Lehigh Valley. The new bridge also helped to alleviate mounting to 10.6 million vehicles in 1980. By 1983, the bridge’s annual traffic total surpassed traffic congestion along Route 22 in the Easton-Phillipsburg region, which carried that of every other bridge in the Commission’s system, with early-morning commuters more than 17 million vehicles alone in 1988. experiencing increasing delays when travelling from Pennsylvania to New Jersey on The I-78 Toll Bridge had a unique distinction from the Commission’s previous six the narrow two-lane, shoulder-less span. The growth trend continued throughout toll bridges: its toll plaza was constructed to accept tolls in only the westbound the 80s and 90s, with 20 million vehicle crossings recorded in a single year for the first direction. Earlier in 1989, the Commission converted its two-way toll plazas at the time in 2000. Delaware Water Gap (I-80), Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 22) and Portland-Columbia toll bridges to westbound-only collections. The Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1) Toll Bridge ■ New mandate and a new bridge was converted to one-way collections in 1992; the two remaining toll facilities were

Governance wise, a major change in the Commission’s bistate agreement and converted in later years. These changes were made in an effort to reduce congestion of Service Years 75 federal compact occurred in 1984 when Pennsylvania and New Jersey charged the and enhance efficiency at the Commission’s toll crossings.

13 indicating that cross-river traffic congestion will continue to worsen. The worsen. to continue will congestion traffic that cross-river indicating volume has traffic an aging bridge inventory of and increased combination to a paradigm” broken what’s shift a “fix to from the Commission forced paradigm. renew” and enhancements” for systems and “plan “rehabilitate To meet this challenge the Commission launched a four-prong capital improvement capital improvement launched a four-prong challenge the Commission meet this To and safe mission of providing central enable the agency fulfill its to better to program billion, the capital than $1.1 total more to anticipated Now crossings. efficient river of which are successes—some numerous achieved has already program improvement in this annual report. began in detail elsewhere Inexplained 2002, the Commission collection electronic toll system, the E-ZPass bridges to all of its toll transitioning is of revenue than 60 percent More customers. for queuing and congestion reducing and computerization security, Radio communications, collected electronically. now headquarters administrative the Commission’s And standards. current up to now are to the New Hope- adjacent centralized—offices more newer—and to has moved the close of 2009, half of the Commission’s At Pa. Bridge in Solebury, Toll Lambertville under or improvement widening, rehabilitation, undergone 20 bridges have the program. commuter- of the existing plans include the replacement capital improvement Future including overhauled (I-95) Bridge with a new facility, choked ScudderFalls tolling— Open road roadway. approach and a widened Pennsylvania interchanges Water the Delaware at be installed speeds—will highway at paying electronic toll traffic-control be arms should Gap bridges in 2010. Meanwhile, and I-78 toll (I-80) bridge rehabilitation/improvement bridges and three toll all seven at removed in 2010, the the end of 2010. Additionally, by be completed expected to projects are of the rehabilitation for the planning process begin is expected to capital program the led to span that the envisioned Bridge, Toll 22) (Route the Easton-Phillipsburg 75 years ago. creation Commission’s vehicle crossings with 20 million agencyyear of operations The ended its first that during its traffic Total annually. 140 million crossings handles roughly in 1935 now years of operation 5.3 billion (Januaryfirst 75 exceeds 31, 2009) to December 1, 1935 13 non-toll bridges, toll seven operates currently Commission The crossings. vehicular w century w ne a for Up until very recently, the Commission quietly went about the business quietly went the Commission Up until very recently, broken” a cost-conscious what’s of maintaining its 20 bridges by “fix but inevitably, years, for many very successful was approach That approach. The Our is aging rapidly. bridge system change. conditions and circumstances toll bridges out of seven with five 70 years, age of our bridges exceeds average Our on revenues toll-supported reliant old. entirely 50 years bridges, over 7 out of 11 toll-supported older—with even bridges are bridges, our toll from has growth population and employment Meanwhile, old. 100 years over trends at our bridges with of traffic volume the increased significantly The 2000 annual reportThe described as follows: the situation ■ Modernizing entire the responsibility of operating new relatively volumes and the Rising traffic bridges presented toll the seven collected at only with revenues 20-bridge system of most notably in the areas the Commission, a series for of new challenges review of the agency management comprehensive A and efficiency. management a to in a transition resulting during the 1990s, states the two conducted by was organizational improve to with the directive charged team new management Commission’s the At the time, service. and customer accountability, effectiveness, Its data. toll- with no ability exchange headquarters to computers possessed three of mechanical largely consisting outdated, were collecting and systems equipment systems. processing data main-frame antiquated coin-collection and bulky, devices of in need was meanwhile, network plazas, of bridges and toll agency’s The serious attention. In its first full year of operation in 1990, the I-78 Toll Bridge than 8 million carriedmore I-78 in 1990, the year of operation In its first full The bridge also enabled toll bridge. Commission for a new record a first-year vehicles, at the in 1990: it marked first time traffic the the agency a major milestone reach to of its non-toll surpassed the levels bridges vehicles) (54,314,407 toll Commission’s in milestone traffic significant second the was This bridges (50,277,254 vehicles). surpassed the crossings vehicular annual total the Commission’s in 1988, years; three the first time. 100 million mark for

75 Years of Service 14 Enhancing Our Future.”Enhancing Our Pennsylvania andNewJersey, fulfillingtheagency’s motto:Our “Preserving Past, the Commission missionfor continues theresidents withitstransportation of ofthework ofalltheseindividuals over isby thepast75years virtue It that to thetravelling facilitiesandservices public.transportation topositions that provide ultimately enabledtheagency efficient, cost-effective state truckers, andscores ofotherindividualswhoworked behindthescenes in major storms; toll boothattendants whoprovided to directions tourists orout-of- maintenance crews that plowed andsalted andapproach bridges roadways during or overweight vehicles from crossing anddamaging theagency’s historic spans; the agency’s executives andengineers; officers bridge who prevented oversized andauthorized scoresCommissioners overseen whosetpolicy ofprojects by and women whohavework sosuccessfully madetheagency through thedecades: Commission’s core, theagency’s soulhasalways beenthecollective bodyofmen While traffic numbers, andlegislativebridge structures mandates are atthe throughout (smalleroverpass/underpassbridges) structures itsriver type region. facilities—andanadditional36approach ofwhicharebridges—two pedestrian-only 15 Partnering with Communities Milford-Montague Toll Bridge Steel girder opens; narrow wood-deck truss Portland-Columbia bridge upstream taken Pedestrian Bridge opens out of service October 22, 1958 December 30, 1953 Record Delaware River flood destroys four bridges, damages several others; little- used Point Pleasant-Byram Bridge never rebuilt August 18–19,1955

First toll span—Bushkill Street Bridge—opens with Delaware Water Gap Toll ceremony; 10-cent car toll Bridge opens Flood ravaged Northampton each direction December 16, 1953 Street Bridge restored Deteriorated January 14, 1938 and reopened Upper Mount Bethel- October 23, 1957 Delaware Bridge taken out of service 20 million-plus vehicles April 9, 1954 use Commission’s 16 state-owned free bridges in first year Portland-Columbia Toll Bridge December 31, 1935 opens; old covered timber Lumberville-Raven bridge closed to vehicles Rock Pedestrian Bridge Congress approves agency’s December 1, 1953 constructed; replaces prior compact, fully empowering vehicular span closed in the Commission June 1945 for safety reasons August 30, 1935 November 1947

First official Scudder Falls Commission meeting Bridge opens Predecessor non-toll June 22, 1961 agency is disbanded and (non-voting session) new Commission February 1935 organizes in its place Annual traffic ebbs to December 28, 1934 15.9 million crossings due to gas rationing Bistate agreement December 31, 1943 establishes Commission 75 Years of Service with tolling authority Yardley-Wilburtha Bridge December 18–19, 1934 Trenton-Morrisville taken out of service; 3 of its Toll Bridge opens 6 spans lost in 1955 flood December 1, 1952 May 3, 1961

1930 1940 1950 1960 16 Rehabilitation/improvement projects completed at half of agency’s 20 bridges under Capital Improvement Program November 12, 2009 Uniform 75-cent base car toll established at all seven toll bridges November 1, 2003 I-78 Toll Bridge opens November 21, 1989

Delaware Water Gap Use of tokens and toll plaza becomes automated toll first to switch to New Hope-Lambertville collection baskets begin one-way collections toll plaza converts to one- at T-M Toll Bridge First Compact Authorized May 25, 1989 way collections; last March 2, 1970 Investment (CAI) program bridge to do so grants awarded December 1, 2002 September 26, 2005 Annual traffic surpasses 100 million mark E-ZPass service begins; Toll ticket/token December 31, 1988 phase out of tokens and toll tickets initiated redemption program ends November 30, 2002 July 1, 2005

Commission takes ownership/financial 75th year of operations kicked off at New Hope-Lambertville responsibility of 13 state- Execution of comprehensive Commission meeting (Route 202) owned non-toll bridges Capital Improvement December 21, 2009 Toll Bridge opens under 1984 compact change Program begins July 22, 1971 July 1, 1987 March 6, 2001 75 Years of Service Years 75

1970 1980 1990 2000 17 Modernization of the Commission

18 Capital Improvement Program Has Single Busiest Year of Activity in 2009

The $1 billion-plus Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that the Commission initiated in 2001 had its busiest single year of activity in 2009.

Five major project completions were achieved during the year:

■■ Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1) Toll Bridge Rehabilitation and Widening;

■■ Milford-Montague Toll Bridge Rehabilitation;

■■ I-78 Roadway Rehabilitation in New Jersey;

■■ New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202) Toll Bridge Improvement; and ■■ Electronic Surveillance/Detection System. Seminar Aims to Boost Competition Also during the year, the Commission conducted public-involvement programs for six for Commission Contracts new projects scheduled to break ground in 2010 or early 2011: In an effort to encourage a larger pool of businesses to submit proposals ■■ I-78 Express E-ZPass/Open Road Tolling; and bids for its capital program contracts, the Commission hosted a ■■ Calhoun Street Toll-Supported Bridge Rehabilitation; heavily attended “Working with the DRJTBC” seminar for local contractors ■■ Riegelsville Toll-Supported Bridge Rehabilitation; and consultants. About 225 individuals attended the event to learn

■■ Washington Crossing Near-Term Improvements; more about the various capital projects, background on the procurement process, and specific requirements for consultants and contractors. ■■ Delaware Water Gap (I-80) Express E-ZPass/Open Road Tolling; and

■■ Upper Black Eddy-Milford Toll Supported Bridge Rehabilitation. The Commission’s goal was to encourage more competition in its procurement process, creating additional value for the agency and Finally, two marquee initiatives—the I-95/Scudder Falls Bridge Improvement Project helping to reduce construction costs. Among the topics discussed and the Electronic Toll Collection System Enhancement Project—moved forward in were insurance requirements, indemnification requirements, and the the Commission’s capital program pipeline. Commission pilot program for minority-owned, women-owned, and The CIP was initiated to improve driving conditions, enhance security and safety, small-business enterprises. upgrade customer service, and reduce congestion on Commission bridges and The session provided attendees with opportunities to question access roadways. Commission personnel about topics discussed at the seminar or on other All totaled, the eight years of CIP activities have resulted in obvious and sometimes procurement issues. Many attendees expressed appreciation to the dramatic improvements to Commission facilities and operations up and down Commission for communicating upcoming project opportunities and the river. Through 2009, the program had financed 67 Commission projects and discussing procurement issues in such an open and proactive manner. dozens of local transportation projects, totaling more than $340 million in regional improvements.

There were additional dividends, as these investments have helped to create or sustain 9,690 jobs, generating $1.16 million in regional economic activity. 75 Years of Service Years 75

19 The project widened the bridge’s road deck and put the entire structure in a state of condition where it will not require any sustained lane closures for at least 15 years. A series of other improvements and safety upgrades were made in conjunction with the project, which extended beyond the river bridge along U.S. Route 1 in Trenton, New Jersey and Morrisville, Pennsylvania.

The fruits of the work performed during the three-year construction period were readily evident at the bridge’s rededication; a dramatically smoother driving surface; a new, well-lit toll plaza that was safer for motorist and toll-collection personnel alike; and a widened bridge structure that could carry a new auxiliary northbound lane, enabling motorists to enter on the bridge via a dedicated lane on its Pennsylvania approach and likewise exit more safely off the bridge on its New Jersey side.

The project utilized a unique engineering design that widened the bridge while maintaining the same pier dimensions in the river below. This was achieved through the use of cantilever pier cap extensions on the bridge’s upstream and downstream sides. Trenton-Morrisville Route 1 Toll Bridge This approach to widening the bridge enabled the Commission to avoid the in- Rededicated river impacts that would have required time-consuming permitting processes and driven up construction costs. Credit for conceiving and proposing this solution to a problem—widening the bridge while using existing pier footprints—went to Louis he Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission held a rededication ceremony Berger Group, the project’s design engineers. T on November 12, 2009 for the Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1) Toll Bridge, officially marking completion of the multi-faceted rehabilitation and widening project it began There was another noteworthy project achievement: the work was conducted while three years earlier. The project reached substantial completion in September, two full still allowing vehicles to cross the bridge in both directions. To mitigate impacts weeks ahead of its original schedule. on the traveling public, the project was conducted in three stages, with the bridge remaining open to traffic throughout the entire duration of construction activities. Staging of the rehabilitation and widening project began in November of 2006, with construction-related detours and lane closures commencing in January of 2007. The project’s major elements included the following work: At that time, the bridge was a rutted, 50-year-old-plus facility struggling to keep up ■■ Rehabilitating the main river bridge and widening it to accommodate a with 21st Century traffic demands. Traffic counts on the bridge had risen from just northbound auxiliary lane for traffic entering from Morrisville and exiting into over 1 million vehicles in its first full year of operation in 1953 to well over 18 million Trenton; vehicles annually when the project began. ■■ Reconstructing the Route 1 pavement on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Higher traffic volumes were just one of many issues confronting the bridge. Other approaches to the bridge;

75 Years of Service shortcomings included: severe geometric deficiencies on ramp systems near the ■■ Providing a deceleration lane on the PennDOT viaduct over the Delaware Canal bridge’s approaches; a deteriorating concrete bridge deck; corroding bearings and Conrail property on the Pennsylvania side of the bridge; beneath the girders; outdated and corroding parapets; excessive settling on numerous concrete slabs on the approach roadways; poor drainage in several areas; ■■ Modifying the interchange at South Pennsylvania Avenue in Morrisville and a toll plaza that dated back to the Eisenhower administration. and installing a new traffic signal and resurfacing the pavement on South Pennsylvania Avenue;

20 ■■ Installing noise walls adjacent to northbound Route 1 in Morrisville;

■■ Constructing a new toll plaza, serving southbound motorists on the Morrisville side of the bridge;

■■ Realigning the New Jersey Route 29 Ramp (Ramp C) and constructing a new bridge over Route 29 to allow for improved access to that highway;

■■ Rehabilitating, cleaning and repainting structural steel components of the bridge and its Route 1 approaches. With the bridge’s rededication, the Commission reached the halfway mark of its long- term $1 billion-plus Capital Improvement Program, having completed rehabilitation projects on 10 of its 20 bridges. The project, in fact, ranked as the largest single undertaking completed to date during the Commission’s 75-year history.

While motorists from time to time voiced frustration with the project’s duration and construction-related traffic congestion, reaction to the final product was overwhelmingly positive.

Thomas Jeske of Langhorne, Pa. was among those who sent an e-mail to the Commission: “Fabulous job on the redesign and completion of the Route 1 toll bridge. Traffic flows SO much better now in both directions, especially during rush hours. I’m sure that has removed a great deal of frustration for many commuters. It certainly has for me. Thank you for a job well done!”

New Hope-Lambertville Toll Bridge Gets Strengthened Cantilever Floorbeams

he value of the Commission’s bridge inspection process—toll bridges are The work involved removal of a rust-prone section of steel on each bracket and the T inspected in odd years and non-toll bridges are inspected in even years—was installation of a new higher-strength steel replacement connection plate. Because fully demonstrated with the execution of the New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202) work crews could make their repairs by accessing the support structure from the Toll Bridge Improvement Project in 2009. bridge’s outer lanes, the construction activities had minimal impact on traffic.

The project was initiated after a 2007 bridge inspection detected deterioration to Construction activities began in the spring and the work ended in the fall, with all four some of the cantilever floorbeam brackets that help support the bridge’s outer lanes. lanes of the bridge being fully operational again on October 3, 2009.

Although the bridge was deemed to be safe, the Commission prohibited motorists Despite its name, the bridge is neither in New Hope nor Lambertville. Its southern from using the bridge’s two outer lanes—one in each direction—beginning in abutment is in Solebury, Pa. and its northern abutment is in Delaware Township, November 2007. The lane shutdowns allowed the Commission to more thoroughly N.J. It is a 1,682-foot, 10-span steel girder and concrete-deck structure. It originally examine the problem and conduct load tests and a structural analysis before crafting opened to traffic on July 22, 1971. a plan of action and executing that plan. 75 Years of Service Years 75 The result was a 2009 improvement project that strengthened all 130 “pork chop” cantilever floorbeam brackets beneath the bridge’s two right lanes. 21 Joint Emergency Exercise Puts Security Puts EmergencyJoint Exercise Test the to System Camera exercise training conducted an elaborate Commission the In August, late and local emergency Police State with New Jersey and Pennsylvania Bridge. the New Hope-Lambertville agencies at response Toll unit a tactical a helicopter unit, rescue marine police, session involved The and a bomb squad. security Commission enabled personnel and specialized exercises The capabilities in a variety of hone their response units to Police State rescue. including a river emergency situations, Electronic newly installed Surveillance and Detection Commission’s The exercises. of the training in the execution a key tool was System access to electrical lines, solar panels were employed to power cameras and related and related cameras power to employed electrical were solar panels to lines, access equipment. the hardened project installed under the have controls electronic access The employees With and crime. terrorism against potential facilities Commission’s and locations, buildings Commission using swipe-tag to gain access to technology and the Commission across taken out of circulation were of metal keys hundreds purposes. recycling a charity for to melts the metal down that donated state-of-the-art new security-improvement—a A related initiated system—was radio on Work controls. and electronic access cameras of installations in tandem with the in 2008, enabling the Commission completion substantial reached system the radio local emergency to system radio of its previous various components donate to the in early and New Jersey totaled, 2009. All in Pennsylvania agencies response and base stations, radios, than $30,000 worth more of antennas, donated Commission agencies rescue and emergency-response fire, region’s the river to other equipment during 2009.

he multi-dimensional Electronic Design-Build- Surveillance/Detection System project included The on July 2. completion substantial reached Maintain Project

ideo Cameras and Access Controls and Access ideo Cameras T Security and Response Improved through through Security and Response Improved V Work crews began the process of installing cameras on and around all of the on and around of installing cameras began the process crews Work and fiber-opticwas technology Wireless bridges in 2008. 18 vehicular Commission’s without easy locations remote At center. control a central link them to to employed The video equipment promises to help advance the Commission’s efforts to develop effortsto develop the Commission’s help advance to promises video equipment The congestion on and will help manage traffic that System Transportation an Intelligent bridges and roadways. the agency’s The video cameras also have proved to be helpful to partner helpful to be to and other communities proved also have video cameras The been used to have the cameras example, For agencies when needed. river-region with up-to-the-minute River Basin Commission the Delaware reportsprovide on ice communities of river in dozens police And months. during winter dams in the river and other incidents—including accidents, of car chases, video recordings sought have partya wedding out on a bridgewalkway. broke that fight Together, the various components are providing the public with added security providing are the various components Together, and emergencies accidents, to ability respond to while enhancing the Commission’s buildings and support roadways, its bridges, as flooding—at other incidents—such facilities. the installation of a video-camera surveillance system and electronic access controls of a video-camerathe installation controls and electronic surveillance access system properties. all criticalat Commission

75 Years of Service 22 O additional single E-ZPass-only lane. toll boothsfor processing both cashandE-ZPass transactions, electronic andan The previous toll plazawas replaced that hastwo newmixed-mode withanew facility tobridge remain openthroughout period. theconstruction approaches. The work outwithalternating was lanesoftraffic carried that enabledthe and NewJerseyapproaches, and installations ofnewsignage onthebridge’s superstructure. The alsoincludedrepairs project orreplacement of thePennsylvania andpainting oftheentire andtruss members;andblast-cleaning stringers steel of thebridge’s precast concrete deckpanels;replacement ofdeteriorated support that beganinFebruary 2008. The rehabilitation includedthereplacement project The ceremony thecompletion rehabilitation marked ofa$19.1millionbridge project representatives for theevent. officials from Pike County, Pa.andSussex County, N.J. joinedwith Commission Pennsylvania, NewJerseyand York. ofstate, Avariety county, andlocalelected tollveterans plaza andaflagsalute led by military representing thetri-state region of an opera singer, anantique carprocession through thebridge’s newlyconstructed after 16-Month Rehabilitationafter Milford-Montague Toll BridgeRededicated rededicated theMilford-Montague Toll withaceremony Bridge that included n July21,2009,theDelaware RiverJoint Toll Commission Bridge officially American Institute ofSteel Institute American Construction. in the26thannual(1953)nationalcompetition aestheticbridge by conducted the asoneofthe10mostbeautifulsteel was bridges selected on December 30,1953.It istheCommission’sIt onlydeck-truss bridge. The spanoriginally openedto traffic U.S. Route 206inNewJerseywithU.S. Routes 209and6inPennsylvania. Located seven milessouthofthe NewJersey/New York state line, connects thebridge just southofthePike County seat ofMilford. County, NewJerseyanditswestern abutment isinDingman Township, Pennsylvania, eastern abutment isinMontague,140-mile Delaware Its Sussex Riverjurisdiction. The Milford-Montague Toll intheCommission’s bridge isthenorthernmost Bridge 23 75 Years of Service concrete slabs. This, in turn, made for an increasingly bumpy ride the along bumpy an increasingly in turn, for made This, slabs. concrete of I-78. stretch New Jersey Commission’s October in a $57.6 million 2007 launched the Commission analyses, studies and After and make other roadway the six-lane rehabilitate project to multi-faceted improvements. foundation a better the busy roadway give to employed A variety were of techniques slurry injection and concrete grout grouting polyurethane including and ride, slabs of concrete stitching” “Crack the highway. beneath the ground stabilize to In of roadway some worst-case areas 2,200 locations. roughly at utilized also was slabs were and new concrete removed was pavement concrete existing deterioration, known as full-depth in a process poured replacement. new of the project under installation included the achieved Other improvements and secondary various overpasses bridge to structures, repairs surfacepavement, such as new upgrades, of safety the placement and systems, drainage to repairs reflectors. and roadway guiderails striping, the next for repairs project was performedThe with a goal of preventing major so in a stable state importantly More put the roadway the work perhaps, 15 years. predicted to is that support in truck traffic it can better upsurge that an anticipate port wider and of a new after as East Coast completion occur increase shipments 2015. channel by Canal deeper Panama on September 25 and came at achieved was completion substantial project’s The anniversary the 20th an optimum time—slightly of of the opening before a month in New I-78 segments Commission’s The facilities. Bridge and related Toll the I-78 constituting the 21, 1989, November on traffic opened to Jersey and Pennsylvania to the east and Tunnel Holland between highway final link in the 144-mile interstate the west. to Pa. Harrisburg, span. It toll traveled most heavily Bridge the Commission’s is Toll the I-78 Today, in 2009. per day 56,770 vehicles carried average an Commission in 2009 made final the at the bridge, demands rising traffic address To the agency’s to Tolling Road E-ZPass/Open bring on a project Express to preparations Memorial 2010. by Day Pa. Township, Williams in Plaza Toll I-78 the toll-collection construction for a design-build contract awarded Commission The modernization project in September and a construction management/inspection in initiated the project was for program A public involvement in November. contract in early 2010. begin with construction scheduled to work December, ighway Sturdy Foundation Sturdy ighway

Project Rehabilitation I-78 Roadway H Gives

he Commission owns, operates and maintains 4.2 miles of I-78 in Warren County, County, Warren 4.2 miles of I-78 in and maintains operates owns, he Commission (Exit 3) Interchange Valley the Still is between of roadway stretch The New Jersey. T Over time, the combination of 20 years of heavy truck traffic and slowly dissolving and slowly of heavy truck traffic of 20 years the combination Over time, cracking deposits caused limestone of the roadway’s and settlement underground The highway here also crosses what the New York Times in 1989 described as a Times York the New what also crosses here highway The part substratum, underlies geological belt that southern of a limestone “peculiar limestone “karst” These the Appalachians.” through and runs down County Warren would far short but they are anyone of what back 650 million years, deposits date this section water, firma.by describe as terra Because eroded is easily karst limestone sinkholesof earth to surface prone In and constant fact, is inherently settling. during construction in 1989, one sudden sinkhole deep 20 feet left a crater the roadway’s beside the unopened highway. It is one of the busiest long-haul truck corridors in the United States. On average, On average, It States. is one of the busiest long-haul truck corridorsthe United in The each year. stretch roadway this across westbound move 2 million tractor-trailers of these trucks transport shipping at originating heavy preponderance loads, vast City/Port of Newark/Elizabeth region. York in the New terminals and the Commission’s I-78 Toll Bridge across the Delaware River. the Delaware Bridge across Toll I-78 and the Commission’s

75 Years of Service 24 Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Highway Administration will be the agency responsible for determining whether a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) will be issued after the EA public-comment and agency-response process is completed.

The second major step in the Scudder Falls project occurred just before year’s end, when the Commission approved a resolution to finance the multi-faceted project by tolling the facility at some future date. The tolling option was chosen due to the absence of federal and state transportation funding for the project and because it would have been unfair to assign the financial burden to motorists at the seven existing toll spans, most notably the heavily used I-78, Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1), Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 22) and Delaware Water Gap (I-80) Toll Bridges.

The Commission plans to implement cashless tolls in the southbound direction on the bridge. Motorists with E-ZPass tags would pay their tolls while travelling at highway speeds, while non-E-ZPass customers would be sent bills—conceivably including an I-95/Scudder Falls Bridge Improvement administrative fee—through the mail. This all-electronic system of toll collection is Project Advances beginning to be used more widely by other toll agencies across the country. Tolling will enable the Commission to pay off the project’s debt; the cashless system will prevent counterproductive traffic delays. he Scudder Falls Bridge, which carries I-95 across the Delaware River between T Ewing, N.J. and Lower Makefield, Pa., turned 50 years old in 2009—a year At a program cost of $310 million, the bridge replacement project is expected to be when the Commission took some of the most significant steps to date in project the largest single capital undertaking in the Commission’s history and will provide preparations to replace the congested, outdated span and improve its corresponding new capacity and other upgrades to meet current and future traffic demands of the interchanges and approach roadway network. coming decades.

During the year, the Commission completed the 561-page Environmental Assessment The bridge is the most heavily used crossing among the 20 bridges in the (EA)/Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation documents for the necessary improvements to the Commission’s system. The I-95/Scudder Falls Bridge operates at the worst level of bridge. The three volumes of research, analysis, schematics, tables, correspondence service—a federal highway classification called Level of Service (LOSF)—during peak and supporting materials were released for public review on December 9, triggering a travel periods. Traffic volumes are projected to rise an additional 35 percent—from 45-day comment period. an average 58,400 vehicles per day in 2007 to 77,500 vehicles per day by the year 2030. The replacement project is necessary because the bridge’s 1950s design does The document includes environmental studies, preliminary engineering analyses, and not meet today’s standards and it does not have the geometric configurations (i.e., explanations of the various design alternatives that were considered to reduce traffic sufficient number of lanes and shoulders) to accommodate current and future traffic congestion and improve safety on the bridge and approach roadways. The EA details conditions. the potential impacts the project would possibly have on the environment and local communities, and it identifies the mitigation efforts the Commission would undertake The proposed project area would extend 4.4 miles along I-95—from the Route 332 to protect wildlife and the river environment. interchange in Bucks County, Pa., to the Bear Tavern Road interchange in Mercer County, N.J. The work would include a complete replacement of the existing four-lane The EA was compiled by the Commission’s project consultant team with the Scudder Falls Bridge over the Delaware River with six lanes of through traffic (three in assistance of the Commission’s two project partners—the New Jersey and each direction), and two auxiliary northbound lanes and one auxiliary southbound of Service Years 75 Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation. In accordance with the National lane for entry/exit movements.

25 Other major components of the project include:

■■ Widening of I-95 from the Route 332 exit in Pennsylvania to the bridge by adding an additional lane in each direction (widening to the inside of the highway);

■■ Reconfiguration of the I-95/Taylorsville Road Interchange in Lower Makefield Township, Pennsylvania, by eliminating the existing eastern southbound off-ramp from I-95 and combining it with the existing western southbound off-ramp; Toll Collection Enhancements Take Root ■■ Reconstruction and reconfiguration of the Route 29 interchange through the use of roundabouts—an option that would avoid traffic signals;

■■ Noise-abatement walls along sections of the approach roadways leading to and he Commission took a series of steps in 2009 to improve its E-ZPass® program and from the bridge; T its overall toll collection operations. ■■ Construction measures to protect the federally endangered shortnose sturgeon Referred to as Electronic Toll Collection System Enhancement, the work consisted that is present in the Delaware River at some times of the year; of multiple elements that occurred largely out of sight to the driving public. The ■■ Construction measures to protect the historic canals in the project area: the Delaware results of this endeavor, however, will become readily apparent to the Commission’s Canal in Pennsylvania and the Delaware and Raritan Canal in New Jersey; and customers in 2010 and 2011. ■■ Environmental mitigation measures to protect resources during and after The first step the agency took was implementing the contract the Commission construction. approved in October 2008 for the operation and maintenance of a comprehensive Customer Service Center and Violation Processing Center (CSC/VPC). Under this contract, the Commission switched its back-officeE-ZPass ® operations to a new service provider—Electronic Transaction Consultants Corporation (ETCC) of Richardson, Tx.— on June 1. It marked the first time the Commission switched E-ZPass® service providers since it initiated E-ZPass® toll collections in November 2002.

The ETCC contract to design, build, operate and maintain the new CSC/VPC was structured to help the Commission move ahead with a series of other toll-collection improvements: the phasing out of the mechanical traffic-control arms (gates) at the Commission’s seven toll bridges, the installation of Violation Enforcement System

75 Years of Service (VES) technology to identify and bill violators at the Commission’s toll plazas, and the creation of Express E-ZPass lanes (electronic toll collection at highways speeds) at the I-78 and Delaware Water Gap (I-80) Toll Bridges.

During the year, technicians successfully installed and tested VES equipment in the far left lane of the toll plaza at the New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202) Toll Bridge. The apparatus included front and rear high-resolution cameras, light sensors, and 26 E-ZPass® Ramps Up Outreach, Gets in Step with Other Agencies

For the first time since making E-ZPass® accounts available in late 2002, the ® near-infra red lights. The system was thoroughly tested in varieties of conditions Commission began charging its E-ZPass account holders a $1 monthly account maintenance fee, effective June 1, 2009. to ensure accuracy and proper operation. This work took place in the toll lanes and behind the scenes at underground computer cable locations and the Commission’s The fee was the last piece of a series of E-ZPass® pricing changes that the toll-host-server rooms. By year’s end, permanent installations were being made at the Commission had authorized to be implemented at the close of 2008. The other changes included: Trenton-Morrisville, I-78, DWG (I-80) and Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 22) Toll Bridges. Once the VES is installed and made operational, the Commission can then remove the ■ Elimination of a 20-percent “casual discount” the Commission provided to ® toll gates at these heavily congested toll plaza locations. (The gates have been the all motorists whenever they used an E-ZPass transponder to pay a toll at a Commission crossing; source of the largest percentage of customer complaints since the Commission began offering E-ZPass®.) ■ Discontinuation of a 5-percent discount the Commission provided to commercial vehicles when using a toll bridge during peak travel times; Moreover, the VES technology will be employed in the creation of the Express E-ZPass/ Open Road Tolling facilities the Commission plans to bring online at I-78 and I-80. The ■ Revision of the off-peak discount for commercial vehicles, setting it at 10 percent—down from 15 percent. Commission moved both of those projects forward in 2009 through the awarding of contracts and the execution of public involvement programs aimed at raising These changes were notable because they made the Commission the last toll awareness of construction activities and related short-term traffic impacts in 2010. agency in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey region to charge an account fee and eliminate casual discounts for its E-ZPass® customers.

Nonetheless, the Commission continued to maintain one of the most motorist- friendly E-ZPass® programs in the region. In addition to its revised off-peak truck discount, the Commission maintained its commuter discount for E-ZPass® users who make 20 charged trips across a Commission toll bridge within a 35-day period—a 40-percent reduction that trims the base 75-cent base car toll to 45 cents.

Despite the new fee and reduced table of discounts, the Commission ended 2009 with a net increase of 736 E-ZPass® account holders, bringing the agency’s total to 68,943 accounts. On December 31, the Commission’s E-ZPass® program had 131,436 transponders in circulation and its E-ZPass® penetration rate was 58.65 percent—the highest respective year-end totals ever.

Contributing to the increase were the Commission’s continuing E-ZPass® outreach efforts. 2009 marked the first full year of a partnering program initiated with AAA Northampton County in late 2008 to provide E-ZPass® accounts. During the year, AAA Northampton’s E-ZPass® availability resulted in sign ups of nearly 400 new accounts.

The Commission ended the year by setting in place an advertising campaign to market its E-ZPass® account advantages in tandem with the anticipated removal of the mechanized gates at its toll bridges in 2010. 75 Years of Service Years 75

27 —Belvidere Councilwoman Marianne Meyer-Garcia Councilwoman —Belvidere an additional $7.4 million in CAI grant financing financing in CAI million $7.4 an additional grant of money consisted funding additional The available. various CAI for awarded had been previously that had been that and interest projects spent, but not fully previous the earneddeposits of CAI on the funds over five years. of the time extension and available combination The are that of communities help dozens to funds promises and pedestrians of vehicles impacted the millions by crossings 20 river Commission’s who make use of the each year. CAI Garner Projects Attention their to A variety of municipalities called attention by holding projects CAI-financed in 2009 respective of many and ribbon-cuttinggroundbreaking events, local media attention. which attracted a hosted N.J. Township, in Hopewell officials Local kick to off a three- event groundbreaking March pedestrian-safety/handicap-access pronged Washington project in and around improvement and Raritan Canal the Delaware Park, State Crossing Crossing Washington and the Commission’s towpath, officials highlighted Township Bridge. Toll-Supported for pedestrian access improve the project would how the alike while strengthening and old residents young Township bonds with Upper Makefield community’s project—funded The in Pennsylvania. the river across construction of a $794,397 CAI grant—included by a sidewalk, additional handicap handicap ramps, parking and a brick walkway. spaces “If the town sought to do this project on its own, it on its own, this project do to sought “If the town in our local increase a 41-cent necessitated have would offset not only CAI grant The Commission’s tax rate. benefits in this but it will provide such a tax increase, of residents.” that will last for generations community Since being launched in 2005, the CAI program has being launched in 2005, the CAI program Since $40 million in project financing roughly distributed Overall, river. the up and down communities to have on both sides of the river 32 communities transportation- 67 separate for grants received projects. related ahead for lies work more these achievements, Despite the CAI program. an additional granted the Commission In November, municipalities one-year recipient deadline extension for While projects. unfinished CAI- financed complete to additional funding, the extension did not provide 11 projects on both sides of the river it allowed the affected Among forward. moving continue to Phillipsburg, Easton, Trenton, were communities Portland, and Township, Lambertville, Smithfield have now communities These Gap. Water Delaware their projects. complete 31, 2010 to December until in CAI expanded funds also was pool of available The make to voted the Commission 2009. In December, Lower Mount Bethel Township Mount Bethel Lower coordinator, grant —John Mauser,

CAI grants have enabled dozens of Pennsylvania of Pennsylvania enabled dozens have CAI grants local pursue sound, to and New Jersey communities transportation-focused capital projects without having local tax increases. resortto onerous to The CAI program complements the Commission’s the Commission’s complements CAI program The with practice of assisting its host communities general or civic undertakings. and repair work maintenance hallmark partnering program, It is the Commission’s of the fact communities that in recognition conceived jurisdiction shoulder within the Commission’s of proximity to the due burdens additional traffic and other roadways, bridges, the Commission’s transportation facilities. Throughout the Commission’s 140-mile river 140-mile river the Commission’s Throughout jurisdiction, municipalities used and small large busy at signals new traffic finance to CAI grants on thoroughfares improvements road intersections, bicycle bridges, and Commission and from leading to and a variety of other sidewalks, pedestrian or paths projects. transportation-related through CAIthrough Investment Compact Authorized Commission’s The had its local communities for program grant (CAI) in 2009, with 24 project completions ever busiest year and 10 project launchings. Partnering Communities with “With only 3,000 residents and an $800,000 municipal and an $800,000 municipal 3,000 residents “With only been implausible for have budget, operating it would an ambitious project undertake Mount Bethel to Lower and the land program grant this. The Commission’s like turn a once-unfathomable donations of PPL helped to a facility that will be a have we Now a reality. into project come.” of pride for decades to source

75 Years of Service 2828 possible throughout theregion.” all ofthesetransportation andsafetyimprovements commended foritsfinancialassistance thatismaking Commission’s bridges.TheCommission deserves to be communities like Lambertville thatare impacted by the “The CAIgrant program hasbeenalifelineforriver ofthe Highlands the NewJerseysection Trail andthe held acelebration oftheirown to completion mark of before thebridge’s officialdedication, trail enthusiasts whencompleted.and Connecticut two weeks Roughly ofNewJersey,will alsopassthrough portions New York forHighlands thefledgling Trail—a 150-miletrail that for thecommunity, asit is thePennsylvania point entry gateway animportant function alsowillserve Bridge. It Commission’s 105-year-old Riegelsville Toll-Supported focalcommunity points—the historic canalandthe without lifting. for two major The isthelinkage bridge easily move theirvehicles upanddown thestaircase and auniquewooden trough that allows to bicyclists sidewalks, astaircase linkwiththecanal’s towpath, paid for ofthefootbridge, theconstruction adjoining acrossbridge theDelaware Canal. grant A$230,000CAI 75-foot-long, 6-foot-wide prefabricated steel pedestrian cutting ceremony to dedicate arecently completed Riegelsville, Pa. officialshosted anearly-June ribbon- —Lambertville Mayor DavidDelVecchio—Lambertville to Riegelsville.” agreatCommission It’s forfundingthisproject. addition “I appreciate theDelaware River JointToll Bridge complement thecommunity’s historical appeal, with updated traffic lights. The wasdesignedproject to replacing damagedsidewalk andcurbs, andinstalling Toll-Supported elements project include Bridge. Other Street between Market andtheRiverton-Belvidere involved of themilling andresurfacing Water Street 2009. Financed by grant, a$614,000CAI theproject outalong carried Water Street thesummerof during a multi-faceted road improvement that project was outaJunegroundbreakingcarried event to initiate downpour,Despite aheavy Belvidere, officialsin N.J. Toll Bridge. Trail’s crossing ontheDelaware Water (I-80) Gap with nonebeingmore famousthantheAppalachian trail links, asvitalwalking serve bridges other agency officials were onhand forthe occasion andnoted how footpath’s progression into Pennsylvania. Commission —David Gerstenberg, Riegelsville Borough Mayor infrastructure projects.” valuable tool forfinancinglocal transportation “The Commission’s CAIgrants are anenormously and 518. an unsigned roadway connector for Routes 29,179 crosswalkpedestrian across heavily usedRoute 165— installation ofatraffic signal anda relocation ofthe years, includingonefatality. The involved project the site of several accidents pedestrian serious inrecent 165/Swan Street intersection. The location hadbeen at project pedestrian-protection thedangerous Route October,In N.J. broke Lambertville, ground ona nine acres donated by PPL. groundwater. The newfacilitieswere on constructed that allows roof drainage to bechanneledinto the and otherplants, anditboastsastorm-water system panels, ithasa “living” porch roof planted withsedum green credentials. The buildingispowered by solar addedto theCommission’s Bridge—also Supported from theCommission’s Riverton-Belvidere Toll- The Welcome Center—located distance away ashort township andtheenergy generator PPLCorporation. involving effort the privateCommission, the partnering grant.$1.3 million CAI The was project auniquepublic- Park lot, bothofwhichwere andRide funded undera of a1,600-foot Welcome Center andcorresponding cuttingceremony ribbon a spring to completion mark in Officials Lower MountBethel Township, Pa.hosted elsewhere inthecommunity. that would match the featuresVictorian-era found ofcharcoal-grey-tintedthe pouring concrete sidewalks —Vanessa Sandom,Hopewell Township Mayor 29 75 Years of Service Upper Black Eddy-Milford Toll-Supported Bridge

Statement of Net Assets

Assets December 31, liabilities December 31, 2009 2009 Current Assets Liabilities Unrestricted Assets Current Liabilities Payable from Unrestricted Assets: Cash and equivalents $10,498,028 Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses $6,939,918 E-Z Pass Customer Liability 3,717,833 E-Z Pass Receivable 5,707,687 Compensated Absences Payable — Current Portion 125,000 Other Receivables 69,487 Total Current Liabilities Payable from Unrestricted Assets 10,782,751 Prepaid Expenses 1,478,030 Current Liabilities Payable from Restricted Assets Total Unrestricted Assets 17,753,232 Retainage Payable 7,471,988 Restricted Assets Accrued Interest Payable on Bonds 7,426,082 Cash and Cash Equivalents 48,097,624 Bridge System Revenue Bonds Payable — Current Portion 11,740,000 Investment Income Receivable 692,704 Total Current Liabilities Payable from Restricted Assets 26,638,070 Total Restricted Assets 48,790,328 Noncurrent Liabilities Total Current Assets 66,543,560 Compensated Absences Payable — Noncurrent Portion 1,963,563 Noncurrent Assets Bridge System Revenue Bonds Payable — Noncurrent Portion 434,262,675 Unrestricted Assets Total Long-Term Liabilities 436,226,238 Investments 157,692,535 Total Liabilities 473,647,059 Total Unrestricted Assets 157,692,535 Net Assets Restricted Assets Invested in capital assets, net of related debt 205,420,272 Investments 156,872,054 Restricted 41,506,374 Property, Plant and Equipment: Unrestricted 132,726,669 Completed (Net of Accumulated Depreciation) 363,728,096 Improvements in Progress 102,642,652 Total Net Assets 379,653,315 Deferred Assets: Total Liabilities and Net Assets $853,300,374 Unamortized Debt Issue Costs 5,821,477 Total Restricted Assets 629,064,279 Total Noncurrent Assets 786,756,814 Total Assets $853,300,374 75 Years of Service Years 75

31 Traffic Counts

Annual Average Daily Traffic* Toll Bridges 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Trenton-Morrisville 50,600 51,600 49,600 49,900 50,700 Route 1 New Hope-Lambertville 9,400 9,700 10,700 11,000 11,800 Route 202 Interstate 78 55,500 57,900 57,600 56,100 56,700 Easton-Phillipsburg 38,300 38,300 38,400 38,700 38,300 Route 22 Portland-Columbia 7,200 7,400 8,200 7,500 7,400 Delaware Water Gap 55,100 55,900 55,500 53,700 53,900 Interstate 80 Milford-Montague 8,500 8,500 8,400 8,400 7,700 Total — Toll Bridges 224,600 229,300 228,300 225,300 226,500 Partnering with Communities Partnering

Annual Average Daily Traffic* Toll-Supported Bridges 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Lower Trenton 9,700 16,100 18,600 18,400 18,100 Calhoun Street 18,500 18,100 18,500 18,400 18,400 Scudder Falls 55,100 56,100 58,400 58,300 57,100 Interstate 95 Washington Crossing 5,800 6,500 6,900 7,100 6,900 New Hope-Lambertville 13,600 13,900 14,600 14,000 13,400 Centre Bridge-Stockton 5,000 4,800 3,300 4,400 4,600 Uhlerstown-Frenchtown 3,900 3,800 3,900 3,800 3,900 Upper Black Eddy-Milford 4,100 3,900 3,800 3,400 3,700 Riegelsville 3,100 3,400 3,400 3,400 3,200 Northampton Street 22,300 22,900 23,000 21,500 21,600 Riverton-Belvidere 5,100 5,100 4,400 4,700 4,800 Total — Toll-Supported Bridges 146,500 154,600 158,800 157,400 155,700

Total Commission-Wide 371,100 383,900 387,100 382,700 382,200 Annual Average Daily Traffic Total Commission-Wide 135.5M 140.1M 141.3M 140.1M 139.5M Yearly Traffic * Incidences where there are lower traffic counts may be a result of construction, bridge closures, or data-collection issues. Data reflects traffic in both directions. 32 Easton-Phillipsburg Toll Bridge Preserving Our Past, Enhancing Our Future

2492 River Road New Hope, PA 18938-9519 phone: 215 862 5284 fax: 215 862 7665

www.drjtbc.org Frank G. McCartney Executive Director

Stacked (reversed out of black)

New Hope-Lambertville Toll-Supported Bridge

Bridge Name