City and State Officials Decry East River Toll Plan

Photograph of City Comptroller William Thompson (center, behind the lectern) and other lawmakers and community advocates by Marla Maritzer

With Governor Paterson and the State Legislature working on a deal to help the MTA's finances—by way of introducgin $2 tolls on the East River and Harlem River bridges—lawmakers who oppose the plan have been speaking out. Yesterday, City Comptroller William Thompson and other lawmakers, such as Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat and City Council members John Liu and Robert Jackson, held a press conference to counter the bridge-toll plan.

Thompson said, "Harlem and East River tolls would burden many hard-working people who live in boroughs other than Manhattan and would drastically hurt small businesses, many of which already are struggling in this economy. Further, the bridge tolls include massive start-up and administrative costs and would drain an estimated $400 million from the $1 billion collected to construct and administer a toll collection system.” Espaillat questioned, "How can the MTA propose tolling the East River bridges while at the same time cutting outer-borough transportation services? This is counter-intuitive in my opinion, especially in light of the City’s effort to encourage more people to ride trains and buses.”

Their proposed solutions include a commuter tax, higher registration fees for vehicles. City Councilman Liu added, "The payroll tax is more than sufficient to plug the MTA’s operating deficit and fund much of the next capital plan, according to the Ravitch Commission."

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By Jen Chung in News on March 2, 2009 10:10 AM

Comments [rss]

garyk545

I haven't seen any comment about toll collection methods. They proposed using the EZ Pass express to avoid traffic backup.

What about all those strange people without EZ Passes? Would the MTA send out a bill everytime they passed through, spending millions on postage, hoping that the car owner would pay?

More likely they would be uncollected like the millions of dollars in outstanding traffic tickets.

ANGRYGOD11

Forget the poor, for a minute.

There are millions of working homeowners and small businesses in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx who must wonder: Why are we part of NYC? We pay the same taxes and still have to pay for the privilege to drive into Manhattan like New Jerseyians?

Steve321

What about the Staten Island residents? They pay NYC taxes and they have to pay for the privilege of driving to Brooklyn. Either it's tolls for everyone or no one.

The politicians should raise the tolls to $10.00 one way during rush hour on all bridges and tunnels to discourage driving into Manhattan. The money collected from the tolls could be used to improve and increase subway and bus service. And if you don't want to pay for the privilege to drive into Manhattan, don't...USE MASS TRANSIT. It's better for the environment. Tell that to your politician.

Think2wice

Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat is a traitor to his district. How can a Manhattan Assemblyman representing neighborhoods with history of childhood asthma be opposed to this.

Northern Manhattanites, time to beat down the doors on this character and school him on who he supposed to represent.

Think2wice

The libertarian in me supports the bridge tolls and the higher registration fees for vehicles. If at all possible, user fees are preferable to blanket taxes like the commuter tax, gasoline tax etc.

thefacts

The poor pay a fire hike for a crowded subway under a river with view of the tunnel wall while the wealthier ride in comfort above for free on a bridge with a spectacular view?

What is wrong with this picture!

Qraymond

The East River Toll Plan makes sense. People need to get behind it or we will face massive service cuts and fare hikes.

Steve321

Politicians are a bunch of BS artists! Over a majority of their constituents in Brooklyn and Bronx do not drive or own a vehicle. They use the "poor" and senior citizen" on fixed income for excuses not to impose tolls on the East River and Harlem river bridges. Can one of these politicians tell me how their constituents can afford to purchase a vehicle, register the vehicle, pay insurance for the vehicle, pay maintenance on the vehicle, pay for parking the vehicle, and pay for gas if they are "poor" or "senior citizens" on a fixed income? Even if the MTA goes forward with the "Doomsday" budget, it would be cheaper for the "poor" and "senior citizen" to purchase an MTA monthly pass for $100.00 than to operate a vehicle in NYC. One of my friends who is a senior citizen in Manhattan sold his vehicle because he could not afford it.

BTW-Aren't these politician pro environment? Shouldn't they be encouraging their constituents to use mass transit in the city and discourage driving in the city?

Wza

Word! ^

FlowerGal

Actually, the loss of the commuter tax (thank you Sheldon Silver for your representation) was a complete farce and should be re-instated. I'm not happy about the fact that I, as a NYC resident, pay commuter tax in CT and NJ if I have the pleasure of working in their state while my CT/NJ friends pay no tax to NYC if working in our fine city.

The commuter tax needs to be reinstated before we even begin to discuss East River tolls and the amount of $$$ it will take to re-configure the bridges to accept tolls. Thompson is on the right side of this argument. Funny how Mike B. is no where in sight.

Oh - and may we please take a look at the real MTA books to discover what they are really doing with the cash.

Tower18

Oh right, it's about the poor, working people. Those people that drive to and from Manhattan every day and pay $400-$500 for parking, but are too poor to afford an additional $4/day.

lemon

Well $4/day x 20 days per month = $800 per month. That's almost twice the cost of parking.

jibbly

EPIC FAIL comment of the day.

rcltrh

Were you a graduate of the NYC school system? Math must not have been your strong point. 4x20=80

whitecastlerock

lemon must work for the MTA's accounting department

Tower18

Looks more like $80 to me.

drewo

Interesting these politicians don't make as much noise about subway and rail metrocards going up. Whatever happened to sharing the pain?

Think2wice

That is sooo on the mark. Send a copy of that to their email or voicemail accounts.

whitecastlerock

these fucktards wouldn't use public transportation of their lives depended on it

MrManhattan

I usually frown on the use of the word "fucktard" because most use it willy~nilly without any appreciation of its neuance or context.

Mr Rock's use is both accurate and appropriate.

Well said sir.