By Philip Newman
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s board narrowly voted Wednesday to take away free E-Zpasses from all city employees, including firefighters and police.
At its regular monthly meeting the MTA board approved taking away the tags, which provide access to bridges and tunnels by a vote of 7 to 6 after spirited debate.
MTA officials said they wanted to make clear that eliminating the E-Zpasses would in no way hinder police and firefighters on emergency runs.
The MTA said revocation of free E-Zpasses for municipal workers would bring the cash-strapped transit agency about $10 million annually.
The MTA, which oversees the city’s transit system, commuter rail lines, bridges and tunnels , has been striving to come up with money to offset a $900 million deficit and has called on managers to prepare plans for service cuts as a last resort.
The MTA is already calling for a raise in subway, bus and commuter rail fares next year, a proposal the agency will vote on in December.
