Alex Zablocki is opposed tolls on East and Harlem River Bridges; Calls on the MTA and legislature to consider his “One City, One Toll” program if they do institute toll collection on East and Harlem River Bridges; Zablocki says his plan is fair for all New Yorkers

New York – Alex Zablocki (Republican), candidate for Public Advocate, announced a “One City, One Toll” plan today which would make tolling residents from New York City more fare.

            Under Zablocki’s plan, all City residents using E-ZPass would pay only the highest toll, if crossing more than one MTA bridge or tunnel within 2-hours.  Currently, many residents of the five boroughs pay two tolls to travel around their city. This plan would give a discount for using more than one crossing while charging for the highest toll.

                        The MTA controls nine bridges and tunnels within New York City: Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, Queens Midtown Tunnel, Throgs Neck Bridge, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge, Henry Hudson Bridge and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Currently, tolls range from $2.50 to $10 on these crossings.

             Zablocki said: “This is about toll equity.  There is no reason why a New York City resident should have to pay two or three tolls to get around the other five boroughs.  Such a burdensome toll system stifles economic activity and forces residents to pay much higher fees or travel outside the city, like New Jersey or Long Island. By sticking the bill to outer borough residents, the MTA is sending the wrong message to people who can barely make ends meet as it is and have no other mass transit options and are forced to drive.”

             On the eve of Speaker Sheldon Silver’s decision to toll East and Harlem River Bridges, Zablocki feels that it is important to keep tolling fair for all New Yorkers.

             Zablocki said: “For decades, the MTA budget has been fueled by the residents of the outer boroughs, which suffered with a lack of mass transit options and were forced in their cars, only to pay higher and higher tolls at MTA crossings. With new tolls being proposed on East River and Harlem River bridges, government must be mindful to all residents that use these crossings, sometimes without choice. My “One City, One Toll” plan would be a step in the right direction to help residents that have no other mass transit choice. Hard working New Yorkers shouldn’t have to pay two or three tolls to get around their own city.”

             Zablocki points out that some areas most affected by these new toll proposals are Staten Island, Southern Brooklyn, Breezy Point, Far Rockaway, Throgs Neck, Parkchester, Riverdale in the Bronx and Northeast Queens.

             Zablocki says the negative impact from these toll proposals on small business and the lower and middle class will be severe.  For example, a resident traveling from Rockaway to Manhattan, over the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge, using the currently free Brooklyn Bridge, pays $2.06 (E-ZPass resident discount) round trip and would pay another $4 to use the Brooklyn Bridge. The entire trip would increase the cost of a daily commute by $4.  Under the “One City, One Toll” proposal, this same resident would only see an increase of $1.94 per trip, as they would pay the highest toll only. Another example is a resident traveling from Throgs Neck in the Bronx to Staten Island, using the Throgs Neck Bridge and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and currently would pay $16.60 round trip (includes the E-ZPass discount).  Under the “One City, One Toll” proposal, this same resident would pay $12.45, a savings of $4.15 (the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is a one-way toll of $8.30 with the E-ZPass discount, and would be paid on the return trip. The return trip to Throgs Neck would be free).

             Alex Zablocki is against the MTA’s proposed toll increases as well as new tolls on the East and Harlem River Bridges. 

             For more information on Alex’s bid for Public Advocate, visit www.alex2009.com. Alex is seeking comments, concerns and suggestions from voters, civic groups, businesses and organizations across the five boroughs.  His campaign can be contacted at 718-734-1093 or at info@alex2009.com.

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