Adding Tolls to Brooklyn Bridges?
Marty Markowitz was just on the Brian Lehrer show arguing against the Ravitch Commission’s proposal to add tolls to the three bridges in Brooklyn as well as the Queensboro Bridge as part of its solution to the MTA deficits. (Rosie Perez just called in agreeing with Marty too.) Are you in favor of adding the…
Marty Markowitz was just on the Brian Lehrer show arguing against the Ravitch Commission’s proposal to add tolls to the three bridges in Brooklyn as well as the Queensboro Bridge as part of its solution to the MTA deficits. (Rosie Perez just called in agreeing with Marty too.) Are you in favor of adding the tolls?
“Do you support adding tolls to the Manhattan, Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges?”
Only if I get a cut of the proceeds.
In terms of potential traffic, I’d imagine the city would utilize an electronic license-plate scanning system – such systems are already in use in other cities – as opposed to building toll booths and lanes. But I could be wrong.
sounds like penalizing one segment of the usership. what is the genesis of the mta’s budget woes? if poor management, clean house. if the decripit subway system, why should bridge users alone get hit?
for many who need to get to jersey for work and thus take 2 bridges/tunnels, the monthly hit could end up being $320. and no, this dream of people giving up their cars wont happen, and if it did, away goes the solution to raise money. just expect ridiculous gridlock (and more fuel consumption & pollution)
well a DC model would also be horrible for people who worked in manhattan and worked waaaay out in the outer boroughs. it would be TERRIBLE for them to have pay more in tolls.
*rob*
The city needs to seriously consider traffic congestion before implementing tolls. The Flatbush/Atlantic intersection is already a mess, and this would only make things worse. Sure a few people would stop driving in as the monetary burden of tolls adds up, but there is no way it would offset the added congestion.
Stuylvy is correct…that would be mass bedlam in NYC. It works in Tokyo and Hong Kong as well but everyone over there is much better behaved!!!
Christ, could you imagine the mess any worse at the 53rd & Lexington 4,5,6,E,V stop??
I’m generally pro-toll, pro-congestion tax, and “pro-anything that makes owning a car in the city more inconvenient.” So I certainly support tolls if it’ll keep public transportation prices down. I do agree with some of the concerns about traffic, but the hope is that the increased cost and difficulty of traveling into Manhattan by car will decrease the number of people who attempt to do it.
Yes, it’ll impact families with children who “need” a car more than those of us with no kids and no car … but since when was having children some kind of “get out of inconvenience free” card?
“Spoken like a true childless person, Dave. And, Biff, none of the money will go to restoring the bridges.”
Atlantic Frantic, what in DIBS’ post makes you say that? That was an odd leap you made.
While I would love to see the Brooklyn Bridge restored (I’m not sure if immediate structural fixes are required, but the need for more superficial maintenance like the peeling paint and rusting is quite apparent). Regardless, to DIBS’ point, if not used on the bridges, money is desparately needed for the budget (police, schools, hospitals, etc.) and needs to be raise somehow.
Rob – The subway system in Washington DC works like this already. The farther you live from the city, the higher your subway fare. The only way this can be enforced is having to scan your subway card both entering into the subway AND exiting the subway. Anyone who has ever commuted via subway in DC can tell you this leads to severe congestion in the AM rush hour, as some people don’t have enough money on their cards to exit the turnsiles! This would not be a good move for NYC.
It costs money to maintain these bridges so why should they be free? It should have been done ages ago. My only issue would be that they usually tend to go overboard with the amount they charge. I’d have no issue with a modest toll being enforced. There should be an accommodation made for commercial vehicles. Maybe they could be able to purchase monthly “unlimited passes”?