For whom the bridge tolls: 
Bloomberg idea doesn't fly well in Queens and Brooklyn
The New York Daily News

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The city's consideration of a plan to slap tolls on East River bridges has caused bumper-to-bumper opposition in Brooklyn and Queens, from fears of choking traffic to cries of economic doom.

Mayor Bloomberg has floated the tolls as a way to curb next year's $5 billion budget gap. Bloomberg has said tolls, along with other traffic modifications, could bring in $100 million to the city in 2004 and $800 million by 2006.

Although the price of the proposed fees has not been discussed, current tolls on surrounding bridges range from $3 to $7, depending on when and where you're crossing.

"Some people will be hurt - but the number hurt will be less than the number benefited," said Charles Komanoff, a Manhattan economist who runs a Web site advocating bridge tolls.

Jon Orcutt of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign said his group strongly supports East River bridge tolls.

"If you walked up to Flatbush Ave. and asked someone sitting in traffic if they want tolls, they'd say, 'No.' But if you ask them, 'Would you pay $1.50 to get out of this mess?' they'd give you a different answer."

But the idea of putting tolls on the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro bridges is too taxing for drivers - and even nondrivers, opponents say.

"People don't want it, all over Brooklyn and Queens," said Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), Transportation Committee chairman.

"I'm dead set against it," said Liu, adding, "Tolling these bridges would have a disproportionate impact" on low income people.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz says tolls will compound the already high cost of driving for Brooklynites.

"If tolls are imposed, most [drivers] will continue driving over the bridges, except that now they would have to pay a hefty new tax, on top of paying the highest automobile insurance premiums in the state," Markowitz said.

Others say the city is going after the drivers to fix the budget.

"The toll comes right after we just had major hikes in parking and towing fees," said Robert Sinclair, New York spokesman for the American Automobile Association, noting that parking fines shot up to $105 from $55 recently. "People of all income levels would be impacted. New Yorkers already pay heavy gasoline taxes and vehicle registration fees," he added.

Would reduce traffic

John Kaehny, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, said tolls would be good for Queens and Brooklyn.

"They'd reduce traffic on the bridges and reduce delays on the bridges, and that means less stress and air pollution and better quality of life for everyone," Kaehny said.

Although the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queensboro bridges are not designed for tollbooths, Bloomberg said, E-ZPass technology - so-called boothless tolling - could make the fees easier to collect. The mayor also supports the idea of varying the price depending on the time of day - more at rush hour, less at off-peak times.

City Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Queens) said thousands of low-income workers trek into Manhattan to work every day and would not cope well with the fee.

In Brooklyn, Ellen Rios, 57, of Cobble Hill said tolls would force her off her work commute - and onto four trains to get to her nurse's job in Manhattan. But she isn't worried.

"I've lived here for 31 years. They bring this up every single time they need money," she said. "They always find dollars in other ways."

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