“Sham.” “Charade.” “Railroad job.” “Shadow government.”

Are these the kinds of words we want associated with our public authorities? Absolutely not! But these have been the best ways to describe standard operating procedure at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey for far too long.

As if to underscore their virtually unchecked power, the authority’s commissioners enacted five toll increases with one vote. Massive toll hikes at PANYNJ bridges and tunnels went into effect in September, and will force drivers to dig deeper each December through 2015. That 10 public hearings were held on one August day, hearings that most authority commissioners didn’t even attend, shows the PANYNJ’s regard for public opinion.

Where all this toll revenue is going isn’t any of our business, either, the authority’s actions say. After all, the PANYNJ started collecting drivers’ money long before there even was a capital plan. (And at this writing, there still isn’t one.) We believe that the authority’s real estate projects—not our crumbling transportation infrastructure—will be the big beneficiary. But as with so much that the PANYNJ does, these are “shrouded in secrecy.” That’s among the reasons AAA New York and AAA North Jersey filed suit against the authority in federal court earlier this year.

It’s time for change. As a bi-state agency, the authority reports to Governors Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie. Both chief executives talk about government “accountability, transparency” and “disclosure,” and they must insure that the authority isn’t exempt. As a new director of the agency comes in, so, too, should a new era of openness.

We agree with State Senator Andrew J. Lanza (Staten Island) who has called for bi-partisan, bi-state legislation to bring “accountability to this authority that is really running wild.” Honest, open public hearings. Toll charges that are reasonable, not rip-offs. Disclosure of a capital plan. And an authority that works for the people, not the other way around.

When the state legislature convenes in January, reforming and reining in the authority should be among its highest priorities.

Make your voice heard on this issue. Go to AAA.com/SpeakOut.