January 15, 2010 

Contact: Joe Donnelly (215) 862-7693 or Pete Peterson (215) 893-4297

STROUDSBURG, PA - The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is expanding its E-ZPass QuickStart program to the Stroud Mall, offering sign-up sessions for the first time there between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 20, and Thursday, January 21.

The QuickStart Sessions will be held in the food court across from the movie theater and near Sears store at the Stroud Mall in Stroudsburg, Pa. The mall is located on Route 611 and is easily accessed from nearby Exit 305 off I-80.

"We're excited about adding Stroud Mall to list of locations where the Commission is offering E-ZPass QuickStart account sign-up sessions for the motoring public," said Frank G. McCartney, the Bridge Commission's executive director. "This event couldn't be better timed because we are about to remove the gates at our Delaware Water Gap/I-80 toll plaza and shift to violation enforcement system of high-resolution cameras to identify and track toll violators. With the removal of gates, cash-paying motorists will have a significant new reason to get E-ZPass in their vehicles."

During the QuickStart program, Commission customer service representatives will be on location to help customers complete a simple application form. Customers are required to pay $25 by major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover) - which is credited to their respective E-ZPass accounts - and provide vehicle registration and license number.

The QuickStart program expedites the application process and enables commuters to sign-up for E-ZPass and drive away with an active tag and a $24 account balance in less than 10 minutes. (The Commission charges a $1 monthly E-ZPass account fee; with up to four transponders allowed to be registered to a single account.)

Commission E-ZPass account holders who frequently use the agency's toll bridges - individuals who make 20 trips within a 35-day cycle - are eligible for automatic 40-percent rebated discounts on their tolls, paying a 45-cent toll compared to the normal 75-cent base toll.

E-ZPass users reduce their commuting times and save gas as special E-ZPass only lanes process vehicles more rapidly, enabling travelers to proceed with their trips in a timelier manner.

Increased E-ZPass usage also reduces overall congestion at Commission bridges because the electronic system processes up to 1,000 cars per hour compared to 400 cars per hour at manual cash lanes.

Motorists who do not already have E-ZPass and cannot take advantage of the QuickStart program also can sign up by calling 1-800-872-5061or visiting www.ezpassdrjtbc.com.

Commission E-ZPass customers with questions about their accounts or the E-ZPass QuickStart program can contact the Commission's toll-free customer support line at 1-800-363-0049.

About the Commission

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission was formed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey in 1934. It operates seven toll bridges and 13 toll-supported bridges, two of which are pedestrian-only spans. The Commission's jurisdiction extends along the Delaware River from the Philadelphia-Bucks County line north to the New Jersey/New York border. The bridges carried more than 140 million cars and trucks in 2008. For more information about the Commission and its various initiatives to deliver safer and more convenient bridge travel for its customers, please see: www.drjtbc.org.