Rockaway residents will have relief from the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge toll if Gov. Andrew Cuomo has his way.
In his 2012-2013 budget released on Jan. 17, Cuomo proposes legislation that would use state money funneled through the MTA to reimburse residents of Broad Channel and the Rockaway Peninsula who use an E-ZPass to cross the bridge. In November and December, State Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder and Congressman Bob Turner urged the
governor to do away with the toll for residents who cross the bridge daily.
“I am pleased that the Governor has heard our message that residents of the Rockaways and Broad Channel should not be penalized for traveling from one end of their borough to another,” Turner said in a statement. “The Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge provides the only practical access to shopping and services for these residents. This is a significant initial victory, but we must ensure that this proposed resident toll discount becomes a reality, and I will continue to fight for the complete elimination of this toll for local residents.”
Rockaway residents who use an E-Z Pass tag are currently charged a resident rate of $1.19 per trip for the first two trips in aday. After that, the toll is waived for any more trips made in the same day.
Between 1997 and 2010 residents had gotten a rebate for every round trip on their E-Z Pass.
Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-OzonePark) also applauded the governor’s proposal and said there’s still work to be done to make sure the rebate becomes a reality.
“The residents of Rockaway and Broad Channel are finally getting the break they deserve,” he said. “Over the next few months, I will be working side-by-side with our elected officials in Albany to make sure that the rebate is adopted by the State Legislature in the final budget. This is a big step in the right direction and I am optimistic that they will get the job done.”
The toll for nonresidents is $1.80 with an E- ZPass or $3.25 in cash.
By Jeremiah Dobruck
