Tolling Overview
The Scudder Falls Toll bridge’s first completed span opened to traffic late July 9, 2019. The new bridge’s all-electronic toll (AET) system went into service early July 14, 2019. Tolls are assessed solely in the Pennsylvania-bound direction as vehicles pass at highway speeds beneath an overhead gantry outfitted with E-ZPass transponder readers and high-resolution cameras for TOLL BY PLATE billing of motorists without E-ZPass..
Tolling ensures that the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge users pay for the significant transportation infrastructure improvements resulting from the current construction project. The 4-1/2-year-long project is replacing the nearly 60-year-old “functionally obsolete” Scudder Falls Bridge while addressing safety issues, geometry deficiencies, and recurring traffic congestion problems at river crossing and its adjoining I-295 approach segments and interchanges in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Tolling Information
With All-Electronic Tolling (AET), motorists benefit from the convenience of non-stop travel. Tolls are assessed electronically as vehicles travel at highway speeds beneath a gantry outfitted with E-ZPass tag readers and high-resolution video cameras. There is no stopping or queuing to pay a toll, as there are no toll booths.
Motor vehicles with corectly mounted and operational E-ZPass transponders (tags) have their tolls collected in the same manner as at other E-ZPass facilities. The E-ZPass transponder is read and the toll is charged automatically to that individual’s or company’s account. E-ZPass-equipped motorists pay lower toll rates. Learn More
Vehicles without a valid E-ZPass tags have their license plate images recorded by the toll gantry’s overhead cameras and the vehicles’ registered owners is later sent periodic TOLL BY PLATE invoices in the mail. A video about the TOLL BY PLATE billing process may be watched by clicking here. TOLL BY PLATE customers are charged higher toll rates to cover the additional costs of identifying motor vehicle owners and mailing bills. Learn More
E-ZPass® is the nation’s largest electronic toll collection system, serving transportation agencies in 17 states with more than 35 million transponders (tags) now in circulation. The system enables motorists to pay their tolls electronically through pre-established accounts that are prepaid and replenished with a credit card or check. If you have an E-ZPass account, your tolls at the new Scudder Falls Bridge will be collected in the same manner as at other E-ZPass facilities.
The cost-saving benefits of E-ZPass® use at the new Scudder Falls Toll Bridge include the following:
- E-ZPass customers are eligible for lower toll rates.
- Passenger vehicle owners who have an E-ZPass account with the service center that processes the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission’s toll transactions (New Jersey E-ZPass Group) may qualify for additional frequent-travel-based savings under the Commission’s Commuter Discount program.
- Commercial vehicles equipped with any commercial E-ZPass transponder may qualify for off-peak travel discounts.
TOLL BY PLATE is the toll-collection method for non-E-ZPass customers traveling in the New Jersey-to-Pennsylvania direction on the new Scudder Falls Toll Bridge. Cameras mounted on the facility’s overhead toll gantry photograph the vehicles’ license plates as they travel below at highway speeds. Invoices are later prepared and mailed to the registered owners of non-E-ZPass-equipped vehicles for all tolls recorded within an applicable period. The system generates an initial invoice when the unbilled tolls on a respective vehicles reach $50 or 30 days from the first unpaid video transaction, whichever comes first. TOLL BY PLATE toll rates are significantly higher than E-ZPass toll rates due to the additional administrative costs involved in identifying vehicle owners, producing invoices, and mailing.
Payment Options: TOLL BY PLATE invoices may be paid online, by phone or through the mail using check, money order or credit card. The Scudder Falls Toll Bridge’s toll transaction processor is the regional New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center (a.k.a. the New Jersey E-ZPass Group). This regional toll processor, which is not a New Jersey state government agency, services seven transportation agencies operating in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Billing Process, Fees, and Penalties: The system will generate an initial invoice when a non-E-ZPass-equipped vehicle reaches $50 in unbilled tolls or 30 days counted from the first unpaid video transaction, whichever come first.
- Initial Invoice – The vehicle owner is responsible for paying only the respective accumulated tolls. The customer has 30 days to pay the toll(s) due from the date the toll bill was issued. (Note: This notice will advise the recipient to remit payment within 15 days, but the payment deadline is 30 days. If not received by this due date, additional fees can be applied.)
- Second Invoice – A second invoice is generated if payment is not received after 30 days. A $5 late fee is added to this second invoice to cover additional processing costs. The vehicle owner has 30 days from the date of the second invoice’s issuance to pay the applicable tolls and the added late fee.
- First Violation Notice – If the respective tolls and late fee are not paid by the prescribed deadline, the TOLL BY PLATE bill is escalated to a VIOLATION. A First Violation Notice is issued, including a $30 violation fee for EACH overdue toll transaction that is now in violation. The vehicle owner has 30 days from the notice’s issuance to pay the violation toll(s) and accrued fees.
- Second Violation Notice – The First Violation Notice gets escalated to a second-level violation is not paid within 30 days. Payment now must be received within 30 days from the date of the Second Violation Notice’s issuance.
- Collections – If the vehicle owner does not pay the violation toll(s) and respective fees by the prescribed due date, the violation is then escalated to a collection agency to collect payment for the violation toll(s) and all associated fees.
Toll Rates
Tolls are assessed on motor vehicles entering Pennsylvania on the first completed span of the new Scudder Falls Toll Bridge. E-ZPass customers pay the lowest rates than TOLL BY PLATE customers who don’t have E-ZPass. To save on tolls, get E-ZPass now. A 40-percent, frequency-based Commuter Discount also is available for eligible customers with passenger-vehicle transponders issued by the bridge’s toll processor — the regional New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center, a.k.a. NJ E-ZPass Group (minimum 16 tolled trips across the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge or other DRJTBC toll bridges in a calendar month).
Toll Rates and Discounts for the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge
E-ZPass® is a toll-collection system that enables motorists to pay their tolls electronically through pre-established accounts that are prepaid and replenished with a credit card or check. If you have an E-ZPass account, your toll will be collected in the same manner as at other E-ZPass facilities.
Cost Saving Benefits Of Using E-ZPass® include the following:
- E-ZPass customers pay the lower tolls.
- The new bridge’s toll transactions will be processed by the New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center, which services seven transportation agencies operating in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Passenger vehicle drivers with E-ZPass transponders issued and administered by the New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center (aka NJ E-ZPass Group) may qualify for additional savings under the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission’s frequency-based E-ZPass Non-Commercial Commuter Discount program.
- Commercial vehicles equipped with any commercial E-ZPass transponder may qualify for an off-peak discount (10-percent toll reduction 9:01 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. (next day).
*Map of E-ZPass Interagency Group member agencies spread among 17 states. A subset of these agencies are affiliated with the smaller, regional New Jersey Customer Service Center (a.k.a. NJ E-ZPass Group.)
