MTA approves bridge, tunnel toll hikes

In an aggressive pitch to have New York drivers sign up for E-ZPass, the MTA Wednesday approved toll increases that would affect cash-paying drivers more than three times as much as those using the electronic device.

By a vote of 12-1, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board passed the new tolls - the fifth hike in tolls since 2003. The new prices, taking effect Dec. 30, aim to generate about 7.5 percent more in toll revenue for the agency to help close this year's $900-million budget gap.

The increase for E-ZPass users - who make up more than 75 percent of drivers in the region - is 5 percent. On major crossings such as theThrogs Neck Bridge and Queens Midtown Tunnel, E-ZPass customers will pay $4.80 rather than the current $4.57. On minor crossings, such as the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge in Queens, they will pay $1.80 rather than $1.71.

Meanwhile, cash customers will see an increase of about 18 percent, with tolls at major crossings climbing from $5.50 to $6.50 and those on minor crossings rising from $2.75 to $3.25.

To address the fact that some cash-paying motorists may not have credit cards or bank accounts to link to E-ZPass, the MTA also announced it will launch a program next year to allow customers to load up their E-ZPass devices through a debit-card system, using cash at "hundreds of retail locations."

MTA chairman Jay Walder noted that the MTA originally planned to increase tolls by a similar percentage for both E-ZPass and cash users, but heard from several people at public hearings that the MTA should take the opportunity to further encourage the use of E-ZPass, which allows for the better flow of traffic at toll crossings, reduces pollution and is cheaper for the MTA.

Some even advocated that tolls not go up at all for E-ZPass users. But transit advocates said that it would be unfair not to increase tolls for all drivers when transit users are all facing higher fares. "It would just be so unfair to let motorists off the hook," said MTA board member Andrew Albert, who represents the New York City Transit Riders Council.

Proposed toll hikes at MTA bridge and tunnel crossings:

E-ZPass customers

Robert F. Kennedy, Bronx-Whitestone and Throgs Neck bridges, Queens Midtown and Brooklyn-Battery tunnels: Increases from $4.57 to $4.80

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (westbound only): Increases from $9.14 to $9.60

Henry Hudson Bridge: Increases from $2.09 to $2.20

Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial and Cross Bay Veterans Memorial bridges: Increases from $1.71 to $1.80

Cash customers

Robert F. Kennedy, Bronx-Whitestone and Throgs Neck bridges, Queens Midtown and Brooklyn-Battery tunnels: Increases from $5.50 to $6.50

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (westbound only): Increases from $11 to $13

Henry Hudson Bridge: Increases from $3 to $4

Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial and Cross Bay Veterans Memorial bridges: Increases from $2.75 to $3.25