Hudson River Crossing Tolls to Rise 25 Percent

Crossing the Hudson will soon take a bigger toll on commuters who are already struggling with skyrocketing gas prices.

The round-trip peak charge for the Port Authority’s bridges and tunnels is expected to go up by a steep 25 percent — from $8 to $10, The Post has learned.

“Two bucks by the end of the calendar year,” one PA official said.

The agency has been at work on a confidential plan to raise tolls since last year — and has gotten a green light from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a source said.

It’s not clear if Gov. Cuomo has been approached yet, but PA sources said they believe they can convince him to go along because, without the increase, the agency would have no money for new projects in New York state during his term.

Both governors would have to approve a hike.

Besides raising the top toll for cars — which is the same whether it’s paid with cash or an E-ZPass — the rates for hours when E-ZPass discounts are in effect are also expected to go up.

Truck tolls are also expected to increase.

PA officials declined to comment.

The agency runs the George Washington Bridge and Lincoln and Holland tunnels as well as the Goethals and Bayonne bridges and the Outerbridge Crossing.

The same tolls apply on all six crossings.

Peak hours are defined as 6 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and noon to 8 p.m. on weekends.

A toll hike would likely come with a proposal to raise fares on the PATH train.

It would not, however, include an increase in surcharges at the agency’s airports or seaports.

Once flush with cash, the agency’s coffers have taken huge hits in recent years and it badly needs the $300 million the $2 increase would bring in.

The biggest financial drains have been the growing expense of rebuilding the World Trade Center, which came as the recession caused a massive decline in tolls and other fees from commuting, air travel and maritime cargo.