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November 10, 2008

East River Bridges May Not Be Free For Long

brooklyn-bridge-1108.jpgThe city's fiscal crisis is such that nothing is off-the-table when it comes to raising funds, not even a sacred cow like the no-toll bridges over the East River. For some commuters, this would add up to $100 a week in extra taxes. "Where am I going to get that from?" said one man who drives his wife to and from work across the Williamsburg Bridge every day. While such a move is unlikely to be a crowd pleaser, "Desperate times require desperate measures," says Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers' Campaign.




Posted by Brownstoner at 9:46 AM | Comments (22)
Categories: Streets, Transportation

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Comments

A good reason you don't want a third term mayor.

Posted by: cb6 at November 10, 2008 9:55 AM

For all the people that -have- to drive into NYC. Think about it, do you -have- to drive for your commute? For the man that drives his wife to and from W'burg to the city every day. Unless she is in a wheelchair or 90 years old, is there not a subway option? My wife and I have a car. She works in the city. I work in all over the 5 boroughs. Only if I need to be in SI do either of us ever even think of commuting with the car.

I am NOT unsympathetic to those that have to drive. There are certainly tens of thousands of people, perhaps hundred of thousands of people who -have- to drive. But I have no sympathy for those that will choose to take the subway for their commute, just like the overwhelming majority of NYC commuters.

Posted by: Prodigal_Son at November 10, 2008 9:57 AM

I don't see how adding a new bureaucracy (East River Toll Collection and Enforcement Agency) is an efficient way to raise money for the city.

If the goal is to raise money, an existing tax should be increased, as there will be no new planning or bureaucrats needed to get the money. In fact, an existing tax should be increased, and some planners and bureaucrats laid off so you get both increased revenue and decreased costs.

No matter how much joy certain people would feel for punishing people for driving, that doesn't make it the best way to address the city's financial problems.

Posted by: northsloperenter at November 10, 2008 10:16 AM

or they could just actaully enforce fines that exist on the books but which they ignore.

(littering, dog poop).

Posted by: dittoburg at November 10, 2008 10:20 AM

I think its time to start taxing the East River bridges. Their maintenance is not free and should not be disproportionally paid for by non-users. Staten Island drivers pay $10 if they want to drive into the city, so you can't argue that everyone should have free driving access to Manhattan because it's already not the case. The rest of us pay $2 a day to take the train/bus. And really, the city should be making every effort to minimize driving into Manhattan where possible (spoken as a driver and car-owner in BK).

It's not clear to me why drivers over these bridges, and these bridges alone, should be subsidized by everyone else. Technology has certainly improved to the point where they could install quick-read EZpass, etc., and try to minimize traffic build-up.

Posted by: setancre at November 10, 2008 10:35 AM

Boo hoo ... no more driving the wife to work from Williamsburg. Take the subway like everyone else!

This is a good idea but should be implemented in a smart way. We don't want to hurt small businesses that need to cross the bridges multiple times per day. Businesses need some sort of big "EasyPass" discount for multiple daily trips.

For 95% of the private citizens that are driving to work now ... you want to keep driving into the most congested city in the US? No problem, but you need to pay a consumption tax called a toll.

The one way this could be a total disaster: Tolls are implemented without the necessary upgrades to mass transit (which is likely). That's my one reservation.

Posted by: Mr Joist at November 10, 2008 10:36 AM

Well said setancre.

Posted by: TownhouseLady at November 10, 2008 10:53 AM

Agree. Why should non-drivers subsidize the road and bridge repairs caused by a very specific set of people. We already breath their pollution and listen to their alarms and horn honking.

Ideally, tolls based on weight. $10 for every dumb ass in a hummer or SUV. $2 for a compact hybrid. $1 for a motorcycle (me!)

Fewer cars means a richer, safer, healthier New York.

Posted by: Johnny at November 10, 2008 10:55 AM

"Desperate times require desperate measures," says Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers' Campaign ...well of course an organization for subway riders would have no problem with the idea - --- but would he also say desperate times require desperate measures if was suggested subway fares rose 25 cents? Quoting someone who has been pushing for tolls in whatever economy - will of course use this as excuse.
I think people assume that driving over east river brdige means you are driving to manhattan location to work and subway is option - (which maybe the case for all the NYC govt employees with parking permits) - but I would wonder if most of the others are headed to NJ, Westchester, or areas not really practical to get to by subway on daily basis.

Posted by: Petebklyn at November 10, 2008 11:04 AM

I take the midtown tunnel in, in the morning because the 59th St Bridge is a zoo, I waste money if I have to wait for the bridge.

In the afternoon I return on the Brooklyn Bridge. I like that it is free but to be honest, I understand why a toll would be good and I support it.

Toll the bridges but please do it smart EZ Pass only no BS stop and go cash crap.

Posted by: BlueBerry at November 10, 2008 11:05 AM

"or they could just actaully enforce fines that exist on the books but which they ignore.

(littering, dog poop)."

They should, especially littering.

Posted by: DOW8000SP800 at November 10, 2008 11:06 AM

These were all toll bridges when they were built, so that is nothing new. Let's "Spread the wealth around", or is that PAIN they actually meant to say. The first of many tax increases are coming, local, state, federal, property, income, sales,etc. I can't wait for the granddaddy to come, the "Corporate Tax" increase. Watch your wallets and pocket books then because the cost of everything you buy, use, and rent will go up. You don't actually beleive corporations will lower earnings because the US Govt wants a bigger slice. Suck it up. You voted for it now pay for it.

Posted by: ou812 at November 10, 2008 11:09 AM

$5 peak times. If I need to drive into the city once a year to shop at container store and in chelsea $10 is going to hurt for a shopping trip. But honestly trying to build o toll collecting system with a cash lane at any river crossing is going to be a hazard, disaster and nightmare.

Posted by: funstraw at November 10, 2008 11:09 AM

I am finally getting around to reading The Wisdom of Crowds by New Yorker writer James
Surowiecki. He devotes a chapter to the congestion pricing issue and covers it well from both the theoretical and implementation angles.

Posted by: phripley at November 10, 2008 11:17 AM

Where's that asshole Sheldon Silver on this issue!!!!????

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 10, 2008 11:27 AM

I like having the option now of paying for the Battery Tunnel instead of waiting to get on the Brooklyn Bridge for free (from the FDR).

Posted by: greenwood slope at November 10, 2008 11:29 AM

Pay up drivers.

Posted by: Dora Chica at November 10, 2008 11:41 AM

How do people feel about starting to charge to the SI Ferry?

Posted by: spnder at November 10, 2008 4:46 PM

I should imagine all the zero brooklynites that commute to Manhattan via St. George would be up in arms.

Posted by: dittoburg at November 10, 2008 6:02 PM

What of the fact that from some neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens that it takes considerable time AND numerous bus transfers before you can even get to a subway to get to the city? Do Park Slopers realize that it can take over one and one half hours for some outer borough people to get to Manhattan via public transportation? I am opposed to east river tolls or congestion pricing UNTIL the New York transportation system actually grows up and becomes a world class one. Once it's like London's or Tokyo's then I'll be behind congestion pricing and East River tolls 100%. New Yorker's are far too complacent about how substandard the transportation system actually is!

Posted by: Minmin at November 10, 2008 7:12 PM

I worked in government for a while and I can tell you, most of what we did was to try to figure out new ways to tax the folks. That's all it was. Let's try taxing this....let's try taxing that....it becomes a sort of game of "you" meaning the Mayor's Office and all the bureaucracies under its command, and "them" meaning the poor saps who are working New Yorkers. That's what I recall. I doubt it is very different today.

Posted by: sam at November 10, 2008 9:07 PM

Better to toll the bridges than to cut money for education and health care!
Besides, even if it's expensive for those who want to drive, it'll make life a lot better for the 70% of us in downtown Brooklyn who don't own cars, and are sick of the drivers congesting our streets and spewing toxic waste into the air, so they can save $8 that they would spend on the battery tunnel.

Posted by: carfreenation at November 10, 2008 9:49 PM

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