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Delaware River Port Authority Votes On a Raft of Reforms

The Delaware River Port Authority held its regular monthly meeting today, after which things could drastically change in the bi-state agency now embroiled in political controversy.

KYW's David Madden reports from Camden, NJ that DRPA board members seem convinced that changes are needed here.

Commissioners (above) were voting on 23 different resolutions dealing with everything from independent audits (by both Pennsylvania and New Jersey) to an end to most perks within the agency.

DRPA chief executive officer John Matheussen has been working without a contract for a month, and if there's any major displeasure with him, only board member John Dougherty has actively called for his resignation.

They were also considering a plan to put on hold an end to discounts for commuters and senior citizens.  The board has decided to take on that question later, perhaps next week.

Those discounts cost the agency about $1.4 million per year, and financial experts at the agency were concerned about how the bond markets would react if those discounted were preserved.  The discounts are now due to end on September 1st.

The DRPA operates the Ben Franklin, Walt Whitman, Betsy Ross, and Commodore Barry bridges, and the Patco high-speed line.

(Photo by KYW's David Madden)

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