Traffic at the Port Authority's bridge and tunnel crossings climbed 4 percent last year, bumping up toll revenue to $515 million and helping the agency post a record $161 million in net income. PA officials touted the earnings results and pledged to keep tolls at current levels. Tolls made up almost 2/3 of the PA's total revenue last year. 

Higher traffic volume will mean longer waits on toll lines, however, even with the implementation of E-ZPass. As the economy recovers, traffic is expected to continue to increase unless alternative strategies are pursued. By keeping tolls stable rather than implementing congestion relief pricing at its crossings, the PA is increasing its revenue while doing nothing to solve traffic jams. Its major non-transit building project would attract even more traffic to the region. The Goethals twin, still on hold, would increase the number of vehicles using the crossing by 30%, according to the project's environmental impact statement.

The PA earnings results expose an inherent conflict over how the bi-state agency views increasing traffic at its crossings. Inducing more cars to come into NYC boosts the PA's bottom line but adds to gridlock. Tolls could be used as both a revenue generator and a means of managing the region's chronic traffic congestion. Implementing congestion relief pricing on its crossings would bring down traffic volumes while keeping revenue steady or even increasing it. The extra money could be used for other purposes, such as keeping PATH fares stable. PA Executive Director Robert Boyle confirmed that a PATH fare hike is to be studied in the coming year. The PATH system, despite ridership increases, ran a deficit of $169 million in 1997. But it is used by many riders who also pay a fare on NJ Transit or NYC subways. Congestion relief pricing would be easy to implement, given the growing acceptance of E-ZPass. Past studies on congestion relief pricing, however, continue to gather dust. No apparent progress is being made between the PA and the MTA on reviving a dormant Request For Proposal to study pricing initiatives.