COMMISSION CANCELS WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY E-ZPASS QUICKSTART SESSIONS AT ROCKAWAY TOWNSQUARE

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

ROCKAWAY, NJ - The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission today announced the cancellation of the E-ZPass QuickStart availabilities that were scheduled for tomorrow and Thursday at the Rockaway Townsquare shopping mall.

The Commission decided to cancel the E-ZPass QuickStart sessions in the wake of the approaching snowstorm that is expected to drop as much as a foot of snow across New Jersey on Wednesday. The Commission is seeking to reschedule the two Rockaway Townsquare sign-up sessions for some time in March.

The Commission's began offering E-ZPass account sign ups at the shopping center for this first time earlier this month as part of a outreach effort to motorists who still do not convenient and time-saving E-ZPass transponders in their vehicles.

The Commission's effort is timed to coincide with the removal of traffic-control arms (gates) at the agency's four busiest toll plazas - I-80, I-78, Route 22 and Route 1 - early this year. The Commission is switching to a new system of high-resolution cameras and specially aimed lights to track and bill toll violators.

The biggest beneficiaries of the Commission's gate-removal project will be E-ZPass users, since they will no longer need to come to a complete stop in the Commission's toll lanes. The Commission is conducting an E-ZPass advertising campaign throughout its 140-mile jurisdiction and has extended its E-ZPass QuickStart program to a variety of new locations, such as Rockaway Townsquare.

During a QuickStart session, Commission customer service representatives are available 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.