Gone are the days of rummaging for cash or loose change to reach the $16 cash toll to drive through the Lincoln Tunnel from New Jersey to New York City.
As of yesterday, Sunday, the Lincoln Tunnel no longer accepts cash toll payments. The tunnel becomes the sixth and final of the Port Authority crossings to completely switch over to electronic billing.
The change-over to cashless tolling was previously completed on the George Washington Bridge in July, the Holland Tunnel in 2020, and all three Staten Island bridges in 2019.
Toll payments will now be collected through the E-ZPass system or Toll-By-Mail. Drivers without E-ZPass need not worry. Overhead cameras snap photos of the passing license plates, and a bill for the toll amount is sent through the mail.
The change -- a long time coming -- is expected to reduce commute times, emissions and the number of traffic accidents at the crossing. Traffic accidents at Staten Island bridges caused by stop-and-go and merging traffic has been reduced the 70% since removing cash payments, the Port Authority says.
The agency estimates the elimination of toll lanes and booths will be big savers. They said drivers will save roughly 1.3 million gallons of fuel a year and help reduce 11,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Cash toll booths were deactivated early Sunday morning. Sentimental drivers will see them for a bit longer before crews demolish the relics and remove them over a phased timeline to limit traffic disruption.
