A bi-partisan pair of legislators is working together, trying to restore power the Department of Transportation once had to prevent unreasonable toll increases.
Rep. Michael Grimm of New York and Sen. Frank Lautenberg of N.J. created the legislation to help stave the negative impacts of allowing toll agencies to raise tolls however – and by however much – they see fit. The legislation gives the DOT control once again to override outrageous increases.
One such increase that has drawn much negative publicity is being pushed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Their proposal includes increased toll hikes considered by many to be exorbitant. The Port Authority says it needs the hikes to balance its budget and pay for a variety of non-transportation costs.