Rockaway and Broad Channel residents can breathe a sigh of relief – and keep more cash in their pockets.
A vote on Monday, May 11 decided that the residential rebate program for the Cross Bay Bridge will remain – meaning that residents of the Rockaway Peninsula and Broad Channel will continue to be reimbursed $1.03 each time they cross the bridge using E-Z Pass.
“Under [the MTA’s] doomsday budget, the rebate would have been cut, but because of the assistance from Albany, it will remain in place,” said Joyce Mulvaney, spokesperson, MTA Bridges & Tunnels. “Everyone is relieved in the Rockaways.”
Last year, she noted, the MTA rebated $3.6 million to residents.
“The Cross Bay Bridge is unique in that it is the only tolled bridge in the city that connects two communities within the same zip code,” said Community Board 6 District Manager Frank Gulluscio. “Just over 10 years ago, we joined together as a concerned community to fight for our rights and we were successful. Local families rely heavily on the bridge to commute to work, transport their children to and from school, shop for groceries, attend religious services, utilize their police precinct and visit their doctor.”
“It’s wonderful news,” said Community Board 14 District Manager Jonathan Gaska. “It will save local homeowners an average of $1,000 a year. The elected officials really came through for us.”
Still, tolls will be going up, according to Mulvaney.
Beginning at 3 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, those paying cash will pay a quarter more – $2.75; non-residential E-Z Pass users will pay $1.71, up from $1.55; and Rockaway resident tokens will go up from $1.40 to $1.54.
Even the rebated toll is set to increase, from $1.03 to $1.13.
Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer, who has been a vocal opponent of a repeal of the rebate program, said that her constituents were worried about fare hikes and service cuts before last week’s bailout of the MTA by the State Legislature, expected to lessen massive fare hikes and avert service reductions for thousands of transit riders.
The plan also includes a stricter auditing and monitoring system for the MTA’s finances, and Pheffer believes the transparency is a good thing.
“We’ll be able to know what’s going on,” she said.
Pheffer also noted that she will continue to fight to make the Cross Bay Bridge completely toll free.
“It’s a bridge that should not have a toll,” she said. “It’s a continuation of a street – it’s from Queens to Queens.”
She continued, “Hopefully now we’ll actually learn what they’re [the MTA] making on the Cross Bay Bridge and what it would be if we eliminated the toll.”
