Regional Briefs – July 1, 2018

Gas Prices Dip, But Analysts Warn the Decline May Be Over

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) – Drivers in New Jersey and around the nation are seeing a dip in prices at the pump, but analysts warn that the recent declines may soon be over as the July 4 holiday approaches.

AAA Mid-Atlantic says the average price of a gallon of regular gas in New Jersey on Friday was $2.87, down three cents from last week. Motorists were paying $2.28 for gas in New Jersey at this time last year.

The national average gas price Friday was $2.85 a gallon, down a penny from last week. The national average a year ago was $2.24 a gallon.

Cashless Tolls Coming to 2 More New York-Area Bridges

NEW YORK (AP) – Cashless tolling is coming to two more bridges in the New York area.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Thursday approved $52 million for a project to install the system on the Outerbridge Crossing and Goethals Bridge. Both spans connect New Jersey to Staten Island.

Motorists’ E-ZPass accounts will be automatically debited, and cash customers will be billed by mail.

The Port Authority estimates the bridges will be equipped by mid- to late-2019. The agency’s Bayonne Bridge began cashless tolling last year.

Bridges operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority already use cashless tolling.

Airport North of NYC Now ‘New York Stewart International’

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – Stewart Airport is getting a new name to emphasize its proximity to New York City.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday that the facility an hour north of the city is now officially known as “New York Stewart International Airport.”

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, approved the change this year in conjunction with a $37 million expansion and renovation.

The airport now offers direct flights to Europe.

Officials said last year nearly 450,000 commercial passengers used Stewart, up from approximately 275,000 total passengers in 2016.