Port Authority commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved a $10 billion operating budget and a sweeping $45 billion capital plan that will guide infrastructure investments across the region over the next decade, funding the effort largely through toll, fare and fee increases.
The 10-year capital plan includes major airport, transit and bridge projects in New York and New Jersey, while also advancing a series of scheduled price hikes affecting drivers, transit riders and air travelers. Port Authority officials said the agency, which does not receive state or federal operating funding, relies on user fees to finance both daily operations and long-term capital needs.
One concession was made for app-based for-hire vehicle drivers and passengers traveling to and from airports. Airport access fees for Uber and Lyft, which were slated to double immediately from $2.50 to $5, will now be phased in over three years. The fee will increase by $1 in March 2026, another $1 in March 2027, and 50 cents in March 2028.
Port Authority Chief Financial Officer Elizabeth McCarthy said the compromise required a $100 million reduction in planned JFK Airport terminal redevelopment projects. Even with the phase-in, the total access fee will still rise to $10 per trip, a cost that will be passed on to passengers.
McCarthy said the access fees are consistent with charges at other major U.S. airports. She noted that taxi fees are typically set lower to ensure adequate overnight and off-peak service for passengers.
Other proposed increases moved forward unchanged. Beginning later this year, car tolls at the agency’s six bridges and tunnels will rise by 3%, plus an additional 25 cents. Off-peak E-ZPass tolls will increase from $14.06 to $14.73, while peak E-ZPass tolls will rise from $16.06 to $16.79. Pay-by-plate rates for drivers without E-ZPass will increase from $22.38 to $23.05.
PATH fares will rise to $3.25 on May 3, followed by 25-cent annual increases in January 2027, 2028 and 2029, eventually reaching $4 for a single ride. After 2029, PATH fares will be subject to inflation-based annual increases similar to toll adjustments.
The plan also begins phasing out E-ZPass off-peak discounts starting in 2027. The difference between off-peak and peak E-ZPass tolls will shrink by 50 cents that year, with additional 50-cent reductions in each of the following three years.
The change is expected to generate about $75 million while maintaining a pricing advantage for E-ZPass users over drivers billed by plate. The Staten Island Bridges Plan will remain unchanged.
The capital plan’s largest share, roughly $20 billion, is allocated to aviation projects, including Newark Liberty International Airport. Planned investments include completing the airport’s monorail replacement, finishing the South Ward–airport access project, replacing the aging Terminal B, renovating Terminal C and expanding Terminal A.
Another $15.4 billion is earmarked for river crossings and bus terminals. Key projects include the $11 billion replacement of the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, funded through increased bus carrier fees, tolls and future development above the terminal; continued rehabilitation of the George Washington Bridge under the $2 billion Restore the George program; work on the Outerbridge Crossing; and rehabilitation of the Helix roadway leading to the Lincoln Tunnel.
PATH improvements outlined in the plan include operating all four lines seven days a week starting in 2026, expanded weekend service, additional midday and late-night trains, more rush-hour service between Hoboken and the World Trade Center, new track infrastructure on the 33rd Street line and upgraded fare gates to reduce fare evasion.
The plan also includes $1.2 billion to complete rebuilding the World Trade Center campus, including construction of Towers 2 and 5.