The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) has announced it will not increase toll rates in 2026, a decision that sets it apart from many other transportation authorities. This marks a continuation of the authority’s financial discipline, as it previously maintained stable tolls for 13 years until a hike in September 2024. The DRPA Board of Commissioners approved the 2026 operating budget of $291 million on December 10, 2025, reflecting a $33.8 million or 10.5% decrease from the previous year’s budget of $324.8 million.
The DRPA oversees several vital transportation links, including the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry, and Betsy Ross bridges, as well as the PATCO rail line connecting New Jersey and Philadelphia. While the DRPA has opted to keep tolls stable, other regional agencies, such as the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, have approved toll increases for 2026. Additionally, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is scheduled to vote on a proposed toll increase on December 18, 2025.
Several factors contributed to the DRPA’s decision to maintain current toll rates. According to agency documents, the authority experienced higher toll revenues in 2025, with a reported increase of $46.85 million compared to the same period in 2024. This figure surpasses the authority’s forecast of $283.2 million in its 2025 budget. Spending was kept below budgeted levels, and the authority successfully refinanced debt to manage its financial obligations more effectively.
John Hanson, CEO of the DRPA, emphasized the importance of financial management in this decision. “This 10.5% budget reduction reflects the results of many years of disciplined financial management,” he stated. The agency has also reported a 4.9% increase in ridership on the PATCO rail line compared to 2024 and has spent $47 million less than initially budgeted for 2025.
The financial report from the CFO indicated that the DRPA spent $89.2 million less than budgeted for its operations, with payroll, overtime, and benefits making up $95.24 million of the operating budget. The authority has managed to keep 122 positions vacant, which has contributed to cost savings.
Significantly, the DRPA paid off $243.9 million in bonds issued in 2013 by refinancing them with new bonds. This strategic move resulted in a total reduction of $24.9 million in outstanding debt and is expected to save $39.6 million in debt payments between 2025 and 2039. Hanson remarked, “We have steadily reduced debt, maintained year-over-year expense growth below inflation, and fully implemented a pay-as-you-go model for capital investment.”
In November, the DRPA also approved a $189.1 million capital budget, which will fund significant projects across the four bridges and the PATCO rail line. The authority is actively seeking federal support, having applied for two grants from the Federal Transit Administration totaling $21.94 million for 13 PATCO improvement projects.
As the DRPA continues to navigate the complexities of transportation funding, its decision to keep tolls unchanged in 2026 has positioned it as a financially prudent authority amidst a landscape of rising costs for other agencies.
