Atlantic City, NJ – Starting January 4, the Atlantic City Expressway will eliminate all cash toll payments and move to a fully electronic system that could cost some drivers twice as much to use.
The South Jersey Transportation Authority confirmed that the AC Expressway will switch to all-electronic tolling, meaning overhead gantries will replace toll booths. Drivers will either pay automatically through E-ZPass or receive a Toll-By-Plate invoice in the mail, with the latter option carrying a 100 percent surcharge and additional processing fees. A full trip on the expressway will cost $13.60 for those billed by mail compared to $6.30 for E-ZPass users.
Officials said the change is designed to reduce congestion, increase traffic flow, and lower emissions by removing toll plazas that often cause backups. However, critics say the move will hit occasional drivers and out-of-state travelers hardest, especially those who prefer not to use E-ZPass.
The new system automatically photographs a vehicle’s license plate, then mails an invoice to the registered owner. Each Toll-By-Plate bill adds a $1 administrative fee, with a $5 late fee if payment is not made within 30 days. Continued nonpayment could result in escalating penalties or registration suspension.
Since 2020, tolls across New Jersey highways have risen by more than 37 percent. On the Atlantic City Expressway, rates have increased nearly 50 percent through 2025, and by the time the cashless system takes effect, drivers will see a cumulative 52 percent rise in just five years.
The expressway joins other major New Jersey toll roads—including the Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Delaware Memorial Bridge—in converting to cashless operations. A separate 3 percent toll increase is also scheduled for 2026, further raising costs for all drivers.
Transportation officials advise motorists to register for E-ZPass accounts to avoid surcharges and late fees once the system goes live.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) awarded TransCore a large contract to manage the state’s electronic tolling services.
New Jersey’s E-ZPass system is operated by TransCore, a U.S.-based company owned by Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engineering), which is itself owned by Singapore’s government-linked investment firm, Temasek Holdings, leading to recent national security concerns and controversy over foreign ownership and potential ties to China.
New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s (NJTA) controversial $1.7 billion contract awarded to TransCore set off a wave of criticism over ties to the Chinese Communist Party and despite them not being the lowest bidder.
