The last-minute proposals by Chairman John Estey and Vice Chairman Jeff Nash came as the DRPA board prepared for its first meeting since a storm of criticism erupted last month over DRPA ethics, perks, and spending.
Under unaccustomed scrutiny from within and without, the board will vote Wednesday on changes designed to limit conflicts of interest, increase accountability, and confront its pay-to-play political culture.
The proposed changes, demanded by Gov. Christie and Gov. Rendell, do not go far enough for some critics on the board and for lawmakers calling for a shake-up in top leadership and a change in the agency's federal charter.
The bistate agency, which operates four Delaware River toll bridges and the PATCO commuter-rail line, has long been able to raise and spend money without accountability to voters, since most board members are appointed by the governors of the two states.
But the board is likely to get an earful Wednesday on issues including executive pay and perks, nearly a half-billion dollars spent on "economic development," closed-door meetings, and the increasing cost of bridge tolls.
It was rising tolls that Estey and Nash sought to address Tuesday.
The DRPA board is "aware that current economic conditions have resulted in hardships for our customers, and keeping discounts in place is one way to help ease the burden," Estey said in a statement.
The senior E-ZPass discounted toll was set to rise to $2 on Sept. 1, and the other discounts were to end then.
Since the board had voted last December to delay for 10 months a $1 increase in car tolls, to $5, that was to take effect Sept. 1, "it makes sense to keep the discounts in place that were to expire or change on that date," Nash said in a statement.
