Over the past year, acclaimed traffic engineer Sam Schwartz has been pitching a form of congestion pricing that would lower the tolls on bridges uptown and charge cars traveling the Queensboro, Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn bridges $7 ($5 with E-ZPass). The former traffic commissioner also wants to impose a surcharge on yellow and livery cabs heading over those bridges. This "congestion pricing" (or "Mucous Mulct," as we prefer to call it) would raise $1.2 billion annually. But part of that money would come from a 50-cent toll on cyclists crossing those bridges into Manhattan. more ›

Watching Wings reruns all day and telling your grandchildren how they never call are just a few of the joys of retirement. But if you worked for the Port Authority, you could also count on a free E-ZPass to cross as many bridges and tunnels as necessary in search of discount Metamucil. But last year, with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's blessing, the PA abolished the free E-ZPasses for retirees to save $1.5 million annually. 65-year-old former PA police sergeant Thomas Westfield believes it's unfair, and is suing. "It's a benefit that I earned and counted on. It was promised to us," he told the Wall Street Journal. No word on the Port Authority's promise to allow retirees to "skip the line at Port Authority Prom." more ›

The tenth anniversary of 9/11 is just around the corner, and though "there are no guarantees," the Department of Homeland Security doesn't think that Al Qaeda is working on an anniversary plot—but that doesn't mean there aren't folks out there pushing for some blown up buildings and bridges in our neck of the woods. For example, the monitoring service SITE (which was last in the news reporting the alleged targeting of David Letterman) says it has recently come across a posting calling for "those who love blasting and explosions" to strike Gotham landmarks. more ›

Commuters weren't happy about the Port Authority's obscene plan to raise tolls 50%, but now Governors Cuomo and Christie—who sit on the PA's board—are crying foul, saying they weren't told of the move despite reports that they had "confidentially signaled their grudging support." A source tells the Post that Cuomo was "shocked and less than pleased" about the proposal, which would hike E-ZPass holders' tolls up to $12 from $8 and cash tolls to $15 from $8. PATH commuters would pay an extra $1 a trip. But how much of this outrage is political theater? more ›

Having brushed aside its asbestos scare, Madison Square Garden is back at full strength, serving as host to a series of awesome concerts and not-quite-as-awesome Knicks and Rangers games. But the 42-year-old building is due for an upgrade; it hasn't had a proper makeover since before the Democratic National Convention in 1991, when Patrick Ewing was stalking its halls. And the latest makeover includes some new additions to the cultural complex: two spectator's bridges at the top of the building. more ›

As the MTA continues to struggle to close its $800 million budget gap, drivers will now have to dig deeper into their pockets to pony up the cash to cross the city's bridges and tunnels. In a measure approved 12-1 today by the MTA board, fares will increase in January by about 18% for drivers paying cash, but only about 5% for those using EZ-Pass. According to a statement sent out by the MTA, fares at the Queens-Midtown Tunnel and Throgs Neck bridge will increase by one dollar (to $6.50) for those paying cash and 23 cents (to $4.80) for those using EZ-Pass. Over at the Verrazano, the cash toll will increase by 2 dollars (bringing the cost of crossing the bridge to $13), and those using EZ-Pass will pay $9.60. more ›

As mentioned in our newsletter earlier this week, Monday was a big day for the pedicab industry in New York. That night an event was held aimed towards raising morale and funds for the legal battle to protect pedicabs and pedicab freedoms. Specifically, the drivers want to be allowed to cross the city's bridges, at least when their vehicles are empty. However, that same day Judge James Plotkin said that the city regulation banning pedicabs from being on a bridge extends to a driver "pedaling, pushing or coasting" an empty vehicle. more ›

Today marked the start of a long-awaited renovation project by the MTA to remove unused toll booths from the Verrazano Bridge. The $2.5 million, year-long project will see the demolition of eight east-bound toll booths on the Staten Island approach to the bridge that have not been used since one-way tolling was mandated by Congress in 1986. more ›

There have been plenty of nasty (and entertaining) battles over bike lanes and bicyclists, but you never hear about unicyclists liberating bike lanes from toxic cars while dressed as clowns (despite that being a kind of reasonable image to picture). Well, one reason might be that they're too busy: one group of unicyclists has been occupied trying to cross the least-cycle friendly places in NYC, its 2,078 bridges. more ›

The General Contractors Association already pointed out that our bridges are the worst, earlier this year, and now AAA is rubbing it in with their own list. They say the Tappan Zee, Kosciuszko and Goethals bridges are the worst in the state; with subpar steel, limited sight lines and small lanes amongst the list of hazards. The Post points out that all three bridges are up for reconstruction in the next decade... so we got that going for us. more ›

Nearly 50% of city bridges and crossings used by Amtrak trains have components rated in "poor" or worse conditions, according to inspection reports. The Post sheds harsh light on the "crumbling conditions" of spans over the Bronx River, thoroughfares like Dyckman Street, and bridges in Queens. One that crosses from 135th to 125th Street along Manhattan's West Side "received consistent 'serious' rankings for beams and other metal supports, along with several 'poor' floor problems." Amtrak officials, who downplay the results of the inspections, lament the meager budget given over for repairs, with only a fraction of the $1.4 billion budget in federal funds allocated for them: "Is $40 million enough to paint every bridge? No, it's not." more ›

While our city's bridges may be fantastic for falcons, they're unfortunately not so great when it comes to us humans. A new list, provided by the General Contractors Association, points out the worst bridges and elevated roadways right here in New York City. Drum roll please! more ›

In order for one of the most controversial suggestions of Thursday's Ravitch Commission report--tolls at all of the now-free East River crossings--to become a reality, it appears right there may be too many political tolls for them to become a reality. more ›

Yesterday state officials announced that they have chosen to forgo plans to repair the Tappan Zee Bridge and instead intend to build an entirely new one. The new bridge would also include new a new commuter rail line to link up with Metro North and high-speed bus lanes at a total cost of $16 billion. more ›

Between 2008 and the end of 2010, six New York City bridges will turn 100 years old, and the newly formed New York City Bridge Centennial Commission will be making sure they're adequately feted. The six centennial spans are the Madison Avenue, Manhattan, Borden Avenue, Pelham Bay, University Heights and Queensboro bridges. more ›