T.A. and the Mayor Still Want to Toll the East River Bridges
Tolls will reduce cut-through traffic to the free bridges in surrounding neighborhoods, reduce traffic and reduce air pollution.

Mayor Mike Bloomberg seeks East River bridge tolls and takes the subway to work.

Despite bitter opposition from Brooklyn and Queens politicians, Mayor Michael Bloomberg still wants to toll the East River bridges. In the last issue of Transportation Alternatives Magazine, T.A. provided detailed coverage of the political and policy issues involved. Not much has changed in the intervening months. Transportation Alternatives, along with the Mayor and every single major environmental, transportation watchdog and transit group in New York City, supports placing tolls on the East River bridges. Tolls are good transportation and environment policy.

Who is Driving? Who Will Pay?

A new report by Charles Komanoff of The Bridge Tolls Advocacy Project clarifies who is driving and what they will pay if the City charges tolls on the East River bridges. For the full report, see www.bridgetolls.org/whowillpay.

The most important finding is that only 100,000 or so New York City residents-fewer than 2% of New Yorkers of driving age-stand to pay dearly when the bridges are tolled. The other 98% of New Yorkers will spend, on average, less than $50 a year in East River bridge tolls. And, contrary to what some elected officials would have us believe, only 2% of Brooklyn and 2% of Queens residents commute to work by car over the East River bridges. The reality is that the vast majority of Brooklyn and Queens residents take mass transit, bicycle or walk to work.

Key Findings

2%: NYC residents who commute by car every day across the East River bridges.
2%: Brooklyn residents who commute by car every day across the East River bridges.
2%: Queens residents who commute by car every day across the East River bridges.
75%: Motorists using the East River bridges who are non-commercial drivers.
20 seconds: Average wait at MTA toll plaza.

Where Would Toll Revenue Come From?
By type of driver
25% Commercial drivers
25% Everyday commuters
50% Non-commute trips by other drivers

By residency of driver
78% NYC ($543 million, led by Brooklyn,
with $233 million)
18% Long Island ($129 million)
4% NJ ($28 million)

Putting it into perspective
New Yorkers are much more likely to take mass transit, bicycle or walk than to drive
over an East River bridge to get to work.

NYC
Mass transit: 29%
Bicycle or walk: 10%
Car trip on ERB: 2%
Brooklyn
Mass transit: 58%
Bicycle or walk: 9%
Car trip on ERB: 2%
Queens
Mass transit: 47%
Bicycle or walk: 6%
Car trip on ERB: 2%
Manhattan
Mass transit: 54%
Bicycle or walk: 24%
Car trip on ERB: 1%

Tolls Score Card

Supporters
Transportation Alternatives
Mayor-Leading Charge
State Senate Boss Joe Bruno
All Major Environmental Groups
All Major Civic Groups
All Transportation Reform Groups
Daily News, NY Times, NY Newsday

Opponents
AAA
Governor Pataki
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (what is his problem?)
Much of the Brooklyn and Queens City Council Delegation
Some Manhattan City Councilmembers (what is their problem?)

No Stated Position
City Council Speaker Gifford Miller
Majority of City Council Members
Majority of City Delegation to Legislature
Major Business Groups
Major Trucking Groups

Baloney Poll Question Obscures Truth
A February 27th Quinnipiac College poll found that NYC residents opposed tolling the East River bridges, 65% to 31%. But the poll did not include what pollsters call a "benefit statement;" this statement should have explained that the tolls could reduce traffic congestion and air pollution as well as what toll revenue might be spent on. It is well known that, without being given this context, the public opposes fees, fares, taxes or charges of any other kind. Indeed, a July 17, 2002 Quinnipiac poll found that NYC residents supported East River bridge tolls two to one over raising taxes to plug the city budget deficit.

Read the latest news on this subject.