I hope they will not charge Yellow Cab Drivers or maybe only if they have a fare...

Verrazanno is $10, actually.

And it's rusty as hell.

I wonder where the $10 goes.

#42- I didn't mention building and electrical supply for no reason.

Ever see somebody try to carry a bundle of EMT into the subway?

I'm saying that you are spouting the same kind of nonsense that killed off congestion pricing. And I would be careful who your are attacking, because you obviously don't know anything about deliveries. I would love for there to be less vehicular traffic so my trucks can get to the jobsite quicker.

If they could offer breaks to the pricing for commercial vehicles and taxis, I dont see why this cant work. Other cities that have done congestion pricing offer similar breaks and it has been fairly well received. Also, in theory the less traffic the easier their jobs will be. Delivery companies and taxis spend alot of money per year on tickets and fines that they get because parking and unloading forces them to double park and park in fire zones etc, which also increase traffic. If this can curb frivolous driving into manhattan by people who are just too lazy or think they are too special to take the train, It will be good for everyone.

How do you think the vast majority of food and drink gets into Manhattan? Hint: It isn't using the subway...

Yes, well, according to most folks here -- if they don't own cars nobody else shouldn't, either.

Less vehicles in Manhattan = less cars at metered parking = less money for the city = more traffic tickets to justify this move = greater expenses for citizens & tourists = stupid move.

Not to mention tolls at bridges = cars sitting idle for hours = more pollution = stupid move.

#35- I have no idea what I'm talking about?

You obviously don't know how it is to run a business that depends on vehicular traffic -- whether that means for customers, receiving shipments, or making deliveries. Do you?

It seems like you're assuming that local businesses only cater to their own neighborhood. Or can only depend on said neighborhood to stay afloat. It doesn't always work that way, not for all types of businesses.

Furniture stores, building and electrical supply, just to name a few.

all the idling cars waiting at tolls booths can't be good for air quality in the neighborhoods surrounding the bridges.

I would imagine that small businesses would do better as people stay within their neighborhoods to purchase items. If there is decreased incentive to drive I would think less people would do it, right? Thus, rather than driving to the biggest box mart they'll shop local.

While so-called conservatives claim that the MTA is a black hole without looking at the black hole that is our road system (wait, how are those roads funded again??) it looks like the MTA is coming under increased scrutiny of it's operations. Just the fact that its budget is short is going to make a big difference.

And The Edge #34, seriously. Where do you read this nonsense? You obviously have no idea what you're talking about.

This, as usual, would affect the middle/lower classes and the mom-and-pop stores more than anyone else. You think Home Depot, Staples, etc. are going to bat an eye?

You guys who only think "fuck drivers!" are just ignorant on so many levels.

Yeah, fuck all the 30+ year old small businesses that depend on vehicular traffic--for a number of reasons. Just don't bitch when they all end up going out of business. Hell, most of them already have.

And some of you people wonder why there are four Starbucks and Duane Reades in your neighborhood.

If people think they are avoiding increased tolls and fees by avoiding driving are only fooling themselves.

My point is that you should take your own advice and charge a market price, based on costs and externalities. Then "resources" (bridge access) will be allocated efficiently.

"Free" access is clearly economically inefficient, for numerous reasons, including those noted above.

Why conservatives lose their head when talking transit policy is beyond me . . .

#30,

What are you trying to say?

The market always allocates resources at a fair rate through prices.

Cool. Let's charge a price commensurate with its cost, then. Infrastructure doesn't maintain itself. Air doesn't keep itself clean.

Also - What if, during rush hour, Fresh Direct can deliver twice as much food in Lower Manhattan under traffic-mitigated circumstances than under current circumstances?

What if a tenant would pay more to live on Delancey if the street was safe and its air clean?

These are real economic benefits. Please visit the traffic-choked third world and see for yourself how well it's working out.

Tolls are not a tax, they are a user fee.

It's an excise tax. You can call it whatever you want, though.

Point being: Food, mail, and everything else will cost more.

People always paint conservatives as heartless, but we believe that excessive taxation always wipes out the middle class first. This is case in point. You think the city will allocate the capital better?

The market always allocates resources at a fair rate through prices. When it goes to gov't it's a black hole.

Yay, liberals!

Verrazano toll is now $9, by the way.

plugging the MTA's budget? how bout plugging the City's budget? why is the MTA involved? they're city bridges. where's the mayor? why so mum?

let the MTA raise the toll's on their bridges and tunnels.

It's important to assess this comprehensively. Assertions that tolling East River bridges is a bad economic decision are unconvincing. For starters, neighborhood beautification would attract professionals and human capital to the city. Positive externalities abound, and might very well outweigh the burden.