On Monday, The Cape May County Bridge Commission announced that an E-ZPass toll collection system will be installed on all of the Ocean Drive bridges in its system from Ocean City south to Grassy Sound near Wildwood. This includes the Townsend and Corson's Inlet Bridges in and out of Sea Isle to Avalon and Ocean City.
The new EZ-Pass system will allow more cars to pass through the tolls quicker on the County operated bridges, which are known to get backed up during the Summer season. The CMC Bridge Commission plan to have the new systems up and running before this 2017 summer. Cars will still have the option to pay cash as usual.
Along with the addition of the EZ-Pass systems, the Bridge Commission announced plans to raised tolls on the bridges from anywhere from $.50 to $1. With a $1 raise in the summer months and $.50 raise during the offseason, as not to burden year round residents as much. The raise would bring the toll to $2.50 in the summer months and $2 in the winter, and would be the first since 2009.
The Commission have a public hearing followed by a vote on the increase scheduled for April 27th. Sea Isle Council members and Mayor Desirderio have already spoken out against the toll increase at this past Tuesday Council Meeting.