A vote on Wednesday by the MTA Board is expected to raise tolls across the bridges and tunnels the agency controls. It’s an an effort to raise more money to counter the authority’s $900 million budget hole.
Under the primary proposal the board is considering, the toll across the Verrazano Bridge would go up to at least $13.00 from $11.00, while other major crossings, like the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, would go up to $6.50 from the current price of $5.50.
Those prices would affect cash toll users only. The main proposal the MTA Board is considering is designed to encourage drivers to use EZ Pass, and would not raise the tolls that those drivers use.
That has some motorists echoing what some of the MTA’s critics are saying — that this increase hits hardest people who can’t easily afford it.
UPDATE From WABC:
The MTA is looking to take another big bite out of commuters’ wallets Wednesday.
The agency’s board approved proposed toll hikes at bridges and tunnels throughout New York City, including the Verrazano-Narrows, Throgs Neck, Whitestone and Triboro bridges and the Midtown and Battery tunnels.
The vote was 11-1 in favor of the toll increases, with one additional member absent.
The impact will be felt most by those motorists who do not use EZ Pass. Their roundtrip toll on the Verrazano, for example, will be $3.40 more than those who use EZ Pass.
In general, the cash tolls on the major crossings will increase by $1 on the crossings that collect one-way tolls, and by $2 on the Verrazano, which only collects a roundtrip toll.
Seventy-five percent of motorists use EZ Pass, and those motorists will see a much smaller increase of 5 percent, from $4.57 to $4.80 on the one-way tolls, and a corresponding increase on the Verrazano of 46 cents. Staten Island residents will continue to pay less.
The toll increases are set to take effect December 30.
The hikes are just part of the agency’s plan to draw more revenue and fill a reported $900 billion budget gap.
The MTA is also setting its sights on the LIRR and Metro North. The board is expected to vote on a 25-cent increase to all beer sold on the Rail Road’s Penn Station platforms and all beverages, including water and soda, on Metro North.
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14 Responses
“this increase hits hardest people who can’t easily afford it.”
Huh? Poor people can get a free EZPass ($25 deposit.) If they own a car already, and it’s free…
the whole concept they sold us ezpass on is a bunch of bull! they were supposed to only raise the cash rates since by having ezpass they save money by not having to hire toll takers. HA!
It’s one long chain raise tolls to fill the deficit – pple get ezpass – no more need for toll takers so fire them – pple lose their jobs – apply for govt benifits- govt goes into deficit…..
to #1,ben torah; for your information there is $1.00 charge monthly whether you use e-z pass or not. i think the majority of the cash customers dont use e-z pas for other reasons; dont wish to leave a trail,privacy concerns etc.
#2. So what’s wrong? By having ezpass everyone saves money!!
#4. Do you use a credit card? If yes then your also leaving a trail!!!!!!!!!!!!
#4 ras18 —
You can avoid the $1 monthly fee by getting an MTA EZPass. When you open a new EZPass account, use an address in the 5 boroughs and don’t sign up for the Port Authority carpool discount at the time you setup the new account.
This will get you a MTA EZPass account with no monthly fee. You can add the Port Authority carpool plan the day after you open the account and will still have no monthly fee.
Just another reason why it’s stupid to continue living in NYC. I got out in ’96, when the cash price had just gone up to 7 bucks.Why are you all defending ezpass over any other system.They are all systems to extort money from people who earn it to be able to continue to give it to people who don’t, just to get their vote. How else do you fund welfare?
whocares, the Bridge and Toll Authority just eats up our money and is constantly demanding more and more. If they would privatize the MTA, and eliminate the tolls and toll collectors, then Albany would see savings. Maybe you are a member of a municipal workers’ union so you want to see the people paying more and more, right?
Come to Los Angeles. We have a beautiful Kehilla. Yeshiva Toras Emes, Bais Yaakov and Yeshiva Gedola are all top notch! We have no tolls!. And we have parking. Traffic is nothing compared to NY. I was on the GWB for 3 hours this summer not moving! We would love to have you!
I agree with losangeleszaidy they say the chinuch in those schools are top notch with the best hanhala and rabbeim and talmidim although u can’t get every type of kliens ice cream on a typical day but its worth “SACRIFICING” for all the other ruchniyus benefits
LA Traffic is horrendous.
@ #12: get a bike. Its worth it for the fantastic chinuch system in place there.
BenTorah where in LA is traffic? As a frum Ben Torah, the 3 major religious neighborhoods are close together. We live in the “Pico-Roberterson” area, the Yeshiva is less than 3 miles away. Since we do not have bridges, no one way streets, if a street is busy, then it is EASY to move to the next parallel street and keep on moving. YES if you go on the 405 FWY during rush hour, then it can move slow, BUT NEVER a stand still. So you are moving 25 miles per hour instead of 55, but what frum yid is using the 405 FWY except the occasional times to the LAX airport, even then one must not have to take the 405 to get to LAX. The streets in BOro Park are very narrow. Lsiten I love NY too, it is a very frum Kehillah, however, it is nice to live where not everyone is on top of you. In LA you can rent or buy a house…in NY you buy a co-op apartment.