Walt Whitman Bridge

Tolls set to increase on five bridges along Delaware River

The cost of driving out of New Jersey — at least the southern part —goes up a week from today.

Tolls will increase on five bridges between Pennsville and Pennsauken townships — the Delaware Memorial operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority and the Commodore John Barry, Walt Whitman, Benjamin Franklin and Besty Ross spans operated by the Delaware River Port Authority.

The base Delaware Memorial Bridge toll will go from $3 to $4. The base toll on the four DRPA spans will go from $4 to $5. There is also a 10 percent fare increase — an average of 30 cents per trip — for those using the PATCO High Speed Line operated by the DRPA between Lindenwold and Center City Philadelphia. Tolls on the five spans are collected westbound only.

Both agencies note the additional fares will go toward capital improvements on the bridges and train lines.

The DRBA expects to raise an additional $22 million annually — funds earmarked for improvements to the twin Delaware Memorial spans, its approach roads and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry that the agency operates. For example, the DRBA is expecting to spend $28 million on structural improvements to its eastbound bridge and $29 million on improvements to the section of Interstate 295 on the Delaware side that it maintains.

The DRPA expects the fare increase to raise $50 million annually — funds that will go toward a $1 billion capital program. The agency is in the midst of spending $128 million to redeck the Walt Whitman span, $26.3 million to rehabilitate the Ben Franklin bridge; $20.4 million for structural repairs to the Barry span; and $14.1 million for work on the Betsy Ross Bridge.

The DRPA is also spending $222 million on its PATCO line — $194 million to overhaul all 194 train cars, $28.6 million to replace power cables along the line and $1.5 million to resurface the lots at the Ashland and Haddonfield stations.

DRPA Chief Executive Officer John Mathussen said the projects “represent one of the largest jobs creation initiatives in the Delaware Valley, adding an estimated 30,000 private sector jobs.”

The new DRPA schedule eliminates discounts for frequent bridge users. It does maintain a 50 percent discount for senior citizens.

The DRBA will raise its commuter fare — from 75 cents to $1 — and its frequent traveler program — from $1 to $1.25.

The DRPA — back in 2008 - passed a resolution that permits it to peg future fare increases to the cost of living effective January 2013.

SunPower to build North America's largest rooftop solar system ...

Gloucester Marine Terminal has enlisted the help of SunPower to build North America’s largest rooftop solar installation on its refrigerated warehouse near the Walt Whitman Bridge in New Jersey. Construction of the 9MW system, situated on the banks of the Delaware River, is already underway and will be finished in autumn.

Comprised of 27,528 SunPower T5 roof tiles and spanning 1.1 million square feet, the development, titled Riverside Renewable Energy, will cost US$42 million and be nearly double the size of any other rooftop array in New Jersey. The system will cater for nearly 80% of the terminal’s power requirements. 

"This US$42 million, privately funded project is a testament to the strength of New Jersey's solar market," said Lee Solomon, president of the NJ Board of Public Utilities. "It is also consistent with the policy set forth in the recently released 2011 draft Energy Master Plan, which calls for photovoltaic solar arrays on commercial and industrial properties to lower their utility bills, improving competitiveness and reducing demands upon the electric grid."

In terms of financing, the project will rely, in part, on the availability of federal Investment Tax Credits and the continued support of Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), with Rabobank taking charge of raising the remaining funds.

"Rabobank is pleased to dedicate our resources and expertise to support this important project," said Ron Klein, managing director of Rabobank's Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Finance-Americas group. "This is a prime example of putting a previously unused asset, a rooftop, to work by hosting a renewable energy installation and bringing value to its owners."

The 12th Edition was published in May 2011. Highlights from this edition include Conergy’s in-depth study of MES in PV facilities; University of Konstanz heralds the return of UMG-Si; RWTH Aachen University details the gettering options available for selective emitters; TU Delft presents an overview of breakage issues for silicon wafers and cells; and the University of Toledo outlines the benefits of RTSE in polarized light metroscopy.

Manufacturing the Solar Future is the primary source guide for detailed information on the PV production process. This annual provides technical details on how the leading companies and research organizations worldwide are addressing this need by dramatically improving their manufacturing processes.

Hang-gliding from Helicon, new and selected poems, 1948-1988

A Companion to Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman's America, a cultural biography

Building the Walt Whitman bridge

Walt Whitman's Songs of Male Intimacy and Love, "Live Oak, with Moss" and "Calamus"