If you’re planning on driving over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge today and paying cash, make sure you’re carrying an extra two dollars in your pocket. As of 2 a.m. this morning, motorists paying cash will now have to pay $13, up from $11. Staten Islanders who are signed up for the resident E-ZPass discount will pay only 28 cents more per trip across the Verrazano.
Non-Islanders’ E-ZPass tolls will rise from $9.14 to $9.60.
According to the MTA, about 78 percent of drivers at the Verrazano used E-ZPass last year.
The cash toll at the MTA’s other major crossings will rise to $6.50 in each direction, and the E-ZPass toll will rise to $4.80 each way.
Base local bus, subway, Staten Island Railway and Access-a-Ride fares will remain $2.25, and it will still cost $5.50 to ride an express bus.
A single-ride ticket, available only in vending machines, will now cost $2.50, and must be used within two hours of purchase.
The hikes will affect unlimited ride MetroCards, and the bonus will shrink to 7 percent on a minimum purchase of $10.
Commuters who buy the monthly unlimited card will pay $104, and a 7-day unlimited card will rise to $29. A 7-day Express Bus Plus card will now cost $50.
Unlimited cards purchased before the hike must be activated by Jan. 10.
The hikes were worked out as part of the state Legislature’s rescue plan to address the MTA’s gaping $900 million budget gap, caused by a drop in tax revenue and cuts to state funding. Service cuts were implemented over the summer to reduce costs further.
The Thursday phase-in was meant to avoid scheduling the changes on New Year’s Eve.
An additional $1 surcharge for purchases of new MetroCards will be phased in later in 2011 at a date to be announced. TLS/AP
GIVES YOU A GOOD IDEA WHAT 2011 IS GOING TO BE…
This is the definition of insanity. Pretty soon the cost will be more than people make in a single day. I believe that I finally feel the anger and frustration that the instigators of the Boston Tea Party felt way back in 1773. There is a time and a place for everything and right now, I believe that all people of the NY, NJ area need to stand up and do something.
Anything.
How come it costs only $4 for a round trip on the bridges between NJ and PA? The bridges are about the same size.
#3: A large portion of the bridge tolls actually goes to support mass transit.
These toll hikes are justified by the city of NY by claiming, it deters drivers from using their vehicles and opt for mass transit instead. This may hold true for all MTA crossings except for one, the Verrazano Bridge. I believe that the Verrazano crossing is the only one that is tolled at an unfair rate, given that motorists traveling between the borough of Staten Island and Brooklyn, have no ability to use the MTA subway system to connect from Staten Island to the other boroughs. A simple solution would be, is to have a commuter plan in place, similar to the ones offered by the Port Authority crossings
You might as well hold your complaining, It will just go up again next year. Typical MTA
Many people don’t know this, but you only get the discounted EZpass rate on the Verrazano if you have a NY ezpass. If you got your EZpass from NJ, you will pay the full fare of $13, instead of $9.60. You do not have the live in NY to get a NY EZpass. You can just go online to “ezpassny.com” or call 1-800-333- TOLL.
The crazy thing is….What’s your other choice Staten Island to Brooklyn? Swim? 🙂
Can you imagine what it would be like to just own one booth, ONE BOOTH! by the Verrazano Bridge?? How much money do you think you would rake in after a single day?