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“Just because the rebate is on pause like the rest of us, does not mean we will not fight to make sure it’s reinstated as soon as possible as we help our state recover from the crippling economic damage this pandemic has caused,” Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato (pictured here with Sen. Addabbo) said.
By Forum Staff
Due to the economic strain produced by a staggering decline in ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has decided that the planned toll rebate program on the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge will be suspended until further notice.
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) and Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) recently worked with the MTA to get the agency to provide a refund for all borough residents on the toll on the bridge thatconnects mainland Queens to the Rockaway Peninsula. Through EZ-Pass, drivers of vehicles registered in Queens will receive the money for the toll back as a credit on their bill. The program was supposed to go into effect this summer.
“I am disappointed that the MTA will be postponing the toll rebate program on the Cross Bay Bridge until further notice,” Addabbo said.“Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato and I worked diligently to get the rebate, but we understand how the virus has adversely affected financial need facing the MTA during this pandemic. We remain optimistic that once we have the coronavirus under control, the Cross Bay Bridge will be free for Queens residents, and encourage more people to visit the Rockaways and support the local businesses.”
Pheffer Amato added, “Just because the rebate is on pause like the rest of us, does not mean we will not fight to make sure it’s reinstated as soon as possible as we help our state recover from the crippling economic damage this pandemic has caused.”
