KEEPING IT RAIL: A Manhattan parking lot stands nearly empty yesterday as higher tolls on the bridges and tunnels push commuters into crowded mass transit. (Katie Orlinsky)
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Thousands of cash-strapped motorists are saying no way to the whopping new Port Authority toll hikes enacted last week — opting to ditch their cars in favor of cheaper mass transit.
Thanks to the hikes, buses are now packed to the gills, NJ Transit and PATH trains are standing-room-only, and dust is gathering in Manhattan parking garages that used to be filled with commuters’ cars.
“I used to bring my car in twice a week. But I won’t do that anymore, because it’s too expensive,” said Peter Wrona, who commutes from Morris County, NJ, to Manhattan and now takes the bus.
Peak-hour tolls jumped on Sept. 15 to $9.50 for E-ZPass users. And people who pay cash — about 25 percent of bridge and tunnel users — must now fork over $12.
The price hike is taking a toll on parking garages near the Lincoln Tunnel. One has seen traffic drop from 70 cars a day to just 40.
“A lot of people are taking the train now,” wailed an attendant at a garage at Seventh Avenue and West 31st Street.
“Before, we made about $2,500 a day. Now we make about $1,800. It’s bad for me personally. We worry about our jobs. Maybe the business will have to make cuts, because nobody wants to drive anymore,” he said.
Port Authority bosses aren’t sure how much of an impact the gigantic hikes are having on the number of car commuters.
“It’s really too soon to tell. It just went into effect. It would be premature to say now if it is causing any decrease in traffic,” said Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward.
But history suggests the dropoff is likely steep — maybe steeper than the agency planned.
When the PA raised tolls in 2008, there was a 2.9 percent drop in the number of vehicles that used their bridges within a month of the hikes.
Though it will be awhile before the agency can accurately measure the toll’s impact, subway, bus and train commuters have already noticed a big difference.
“The trains are way more packed than usual,” said Nancy Perez, 35, of Hoboken.
Even occasional rider Geraldine Stewart, 32, was surprised by the crowd.
“I couldn’t get a seat, at 11 in the morning!” Stewart said.
“It’s the first time that has ever happened. I was shocked. The train was packed full.”
PATH commuter Alex Rodriguez, 34, said the new tolls are hitting his family on both ends.
Not only is he paying extra for a more crowded train ride from Jersey City, but his wife was forced to change her routine.
“My wife usually drives over the George Washington Bridge,” Rodriguez said. “She carpools now. It’s too expensive to drive by herself. ”
The pain for motorists is only going to get worse. As part of the plan, the Port Authority OK’d another toll hike in 2015, when cash tolls will jump to $15 and E-ZPass tolls will jump to $12.50.
“I used to drive in once or twice a week,” said Betsy Ceccio, 41, an art conservator from Montclair. “Now, I will never drive in unless I absolutely have to.”