There are nine hearings today concerning the proposed toll hikes the Port Authority wants to impose on the bridge-and-tunnel crowd. They want your input – or at least want the public to have a chance to voice its opinion. (I’m skeptical about the “we want your input.”)

Photo/WikiCommons

The 6 p.m. hearings are at the GW Bridge Administration, 220 Bruce Reynolds Way, Fort Lee; Holland Tunnel Administration, 13^th and Provost streets, Jersey City; GW Bridge Bus Station, 4211 Broadway, Manhattan; and at JFK Airport, Port Authority Building 14. (Four took place at 8 a.m.; too late for that now.)

There’s also an online meeting at 2 p.m. at www.panynj.gov.

The hikes are steep – $4 bucks more to go through the tunnel or over the bridge during peak times with E-Z Pass, $2 more during off-peak, and people paying cash? You’ll pay $15 to go through the tunnel. PATH fares will go up, $1 each way, to $2.75, and from $54 to $89 for monthly passes.

Worse, the plan has built-in increases — cash tolls will be $17 in 2014.

The Port Authority defends these hikes as necessary to stay alive. But a little research into the NYNJPA reveals that it’s not exactly trying to cut costs. Overtime is rampant, and there have been many articles written about financial abuse within the agency.

I don’t drive to the city, but I know many who do (and I tag along). These hikes, however, will affect all of us, even the non-drivers. NJ Transit busses will be forced to raise fees to compensate for the toll hikes; the trains will likely follow.

And even if the trains don’t follow, it’s not exactly easy to take the train to the city. Sure, it’s easy enough during rush hour – and if you don’t mind standing. But off peak? Expect to wait an hour apart for the train, and don’t plan to stay in the city past 11 p.m.

I understand the need for less cars in the city; I’m a huge promoter of public transportation. But if the toll hikes go through, it’ll affect everyone who uses pubic transportation to get there, the Path especially.

Voice your opinion. Can we afford these hikes? No. Do we need the NYNJPA? Yes. But more transparency is a must.