MTA Approves Toll Hike for Bridges and Tunnels

The MTA board has approved increases on tolls at certain New York bridges and tunnels. Crossings that only collect one-way tolls will increase by $1, while round-trip tolls, like those on the Verrazano Narrows, will increase by $2. E-ZPass users will only see an increase of 5 percent.

The board approved the decision by a vote of 12-1 and the toll hikes will go into effect at the end of the year.

MTA chief Jay Walder says the board studied various proposals before settling on their final decision. “That consideration means running endless numbers of scenarios. Doing lots of work to be able to convince ourselves that we can implement things both administratively and management-wise, but also to protect the revenue stream that we know we need to protect,” Walder said.

The increase comes just weeks after the MTA board approved fare hikes on city subways, buses and commuter rails, including raising the unlimited-ride monthly MetroCards from $89 to $104.

Starting next year, drivers paying cash and crossing the Queens Midtown tunnel and Throgs Neck bridge will see their tolls go from $5.50 to $6.50, and drivers using E-ZPass will now pay $4.80, rather than $4.57, which they pay now.

The toll hikes will not include Manhattan crossings at the Hudson River tunnel and bridge because they are controlled by a different agency.