The Port Authority's director of tunnels, bridges and terminals, Ken Philmus, recently told the Star-Ledger that while "We don't have toll increases in mind, but it's hard to imagine, with E-ZPass technology, that should one come along someday, value pricing wouldn't be part of it."

Philmus is apparently referring to a scenario similar to the one contemplated by the NJ Turnpike Authority, where the agency appears to be prepared to introduce different peak and off-peak toll rates when toll prices are increased. One option in such a case would be to hike only rush hour tolls, leaving off-peak tolls alone.

The NY State Thruway Authority, the NJ Turnpike and the Port Authority are all clearly leaning toward use of variable toll rates to manage congestion. But the agency most likely to discuss a toll increase in the near future -- the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which must find revenues for a new capital program -- has been the region's mouse in this regard. Hopefully, Governor Pataki will take note of this and direct the MTA to investigate innovative toll policy options before any MTA toll increase proposal is released.