Channel 13 Poll: Tolls on the East River Bridges?

By Aaron Naparstek
Dec 16, 2008

Channel 13 is promoting tonight’s episode of "New York Voices" with an online poll asking, "Should there be tolls on the East River Bridges?" I don’t know. Should motorists get a free ride into Manhattan while subway riders face massive fare increases? What do you think?

The show airs at 8pm:

Tuesday night’s New York Voices will look at some recommendations put
forward by a special commission to help the MTA confront its financial
crisis. One of those proposals is to create tolls on the East and
Harlem River bridges. These tolls could help the MTA avoid major
service cuts and fare increases, and would help pay for a new regional
bus service. Are they a good idea? Tell us what you think.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Pols Skeptical Ahead of Ravitch Report Release

By Brad Aaron | Dec 4, 2008

The much-anticipated report from the Ravitch Commission is scheduled to be released within the hour. The report is expected to include recommendations for an eight percent increase in transit fares along with tolls on East River and, possibly, Harlem River bridges — measures deemed necessary to avert the MTA "doomsday" scenario of a 23 percent […]

MTA Stares Down Billion-Dollar Deficit as Liu and Weiner Mock Bridge Tolls

By Brad Aaron | Nov 10, 2008

Coverage of this transit crisis brought to you by Toyota. MTA chief Elliot Sander announced this morning that the city’s transit agency is up against a $1.2 billion budget deficit, and needs government aid or new sources of revenue to avoid fare increases or service cuts. But an expected recommendation by the Ravitch Commission to […]

Shelly’s Toll Plan: Promise Beyond the Headlines

By John Kaehny | Mar 2, 2009

It’s too early to know if Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s answer to the Ravitch Commission MTA bailout plan, which includes $2 tolls on East and Harlem River bridges, will make it through the state legislature. But, despite raising less money and reducing traffic much less than congestion pricing or peak-hour tolling would, the plan is […]

Crain’s: East River Bridge Tolls Should Complement Commuter Tax

By Brad Aaron | Nov 25, 2008

On Sunday, the editors of Crain’s proposed that a reinstatement of the commuter tax, as called for by several local pols — including Sheldon Silver, who helped kill it in 1999 — should be considered in concert with, and not instead of, tolls on East River bridges. The editorial is behind the pay wall, so […]

Bill de Blasio Comes Out for $2 East River Bridge Tolls

By Brad Aaron | Apr 6, 2009

Late last week, Brooklyn City Council member and current candidate for public advocate Bill de Blasio released this statement on MTA funding: "In just two months, New York City commuters will face drastic fare hikes and service cuts unless our state government solves the MTA’s budget crisis. Time is running out and Albany needs to […]

Swap the Suburban Payroll Tax for East River Bridge Tolls — Deal or No Deal?

By Noah Kazis | Apr 25, 2011

Five Senate Republicans, led by Sen. John Bonacic, are making transit advocates an offer they can probably refuse. The payoff is appealing: state authorization for bridge tolls on the East River bridges. But the price they are demanding in return, the total repeal of the payroll mobility tax outside New York City, is too high […]