September 16, 2008
Tolls for Manhattan, Williamsburg Bridges Proposed
At a hearing about how the MTA could address its budget problems, some old and new ideas were tossed around. One notable suggestion, from former city transportation commissioner Luicius Riccio, was, per the NY Sun, "that the city should consider selling the Williamsburg and Manhattan bridges for $1 to the MTA, which could then charge tolls on commuters and use the revenue to finance mass transit improvements." Theodore Kheel, of Nurture New York's Nature (and good friend of Charles Rangel), also suggested some components of congestion pricing and reiterated his call to make the subways free. The Ravitch Commission, convened by Governor Paterson, will reportedly look at all the ideas--including "congestion pricing lite"--and will issue a report later this year about the state's growing transportation issues. Two more hearings will be held this month.
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Makes sense with these sensible taxes we pay.
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Because, ya know, the MTA does such a bang-up job keeping the subway in a budget why not make them responsible for all the fiscal health of the city's infrastructure?
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Drive around the bridges and avoid the toll.
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I hope the talk of seceding from the city picks up amongst the boroughs.
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blabla, i did that once but my car got SOAKED.
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Privatization along with congestion pricing is the Republican agenda.
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Welcome to Staten Island's world. The ferry is the last holdout on paying to get on this god for sakin' Island. And we get lost in all the hairy BS that goes on in this city.
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dumbest idea ever
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The answer to raising money is always lets tax more and jack up the prices.
Let the MTA have more money so can they waste it more. Nice idea.
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MT and Steven said it best.
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If some have to pay $2 to ride the subway, others should pay $2 to ride the bridge.
"Ass, gas, or grass. No one rides for free".
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For what it's worth, the MTA already owns a bunch of bridges.
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here's a good idea:
Congestion Pricing!!!
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here's a list of already owned MTA bridges and tunnels:
* Triborough Bridge
* Throgs Neck Bridge
* Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
* Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
* Henry Hudson Bridge
* Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge
* Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge
* Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel
* Queens Midtown Tunnel
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Man! These guys at the MTA just won't quit. They're just looking for ways to bleed New Yorkers for all they can. If there isn't a way, they'll "invent" one. Too bad they're not this creative when it comes to balancing their budget, and not squandering their funds.
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#14: The MTA may own the Triborough Bridge, but they've yet to acquire the Robert F. kennedy Bridge.
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You know it wouldnt be bad if the tolls were fucking reasonable. All across America to cross a toll bridge or take a toll road it takes from 45 cents to a buck or so. Hell, I can drive the entire length of the NJ Turnpike from the Holland Tunnel to Delaware Bridge for around $6 end to end. Not a big deal. Here it costs 8 fucking dollars just to go to Staten Island or run across the river to Jersey to the mall. Put another $8 on either of these bridges and you're talking $16 just to leave the state. Ridiculous. The MTA is as bad as the wall-streeters who led to the current crisis. GREED fucking GREED. But at least I'm not bitter.
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I don't know if there's a government agency I detest more than the MTA, and that's saying a lot.
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Put the toll on the Brooklyn side. Make them pay to come into Manhattan.
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"Ass, gas, or grass. No one rides for free".
I'd like to see that toll booth.
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GOLD IN THEM THAR BRICKS
The Brooklyn Bridge could easily
Put a billion in the treasury;
No reason why motorists should get
A free ride in crossing over the wet
To The City, as Brooklyn natives call it.
And a toll pays big, so let’s install it.
Of course the private sector does better
Than government, a hopeless debtor,
So it’s incumbent on the mayor
To sell to an experienced purveyor.
Now George Steinbrenner, the Yankees’ owner,
Is known for taking the loopiest boner
And turning it into a solid gain–
No waste, procrastination or pain.
Ole George’d be happy to buy the bridge–-
If he had a billion in his fridge.
No problem. A simple subsidy
(It’s done all the time)is the remedy.
And he’d collect the tolls and split
Them with the city, as finances permit.
His Yankee Stadium accountants can
Be counted on for a fairness plan.
In gratitude we’d rename the span
To honor this unique great man.
The Steinbrenner Bridge! It has a ring,
Like good old-fashioned Civic Sting.
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Bridge tolls = fine.
Privatization = fine.
Trusting the MTA = stupid.
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