Astoria rally calls for tolls on all East River crossings
With the legislative session coming to an end June 16, 40 transit riders and transportation advocated called for passage of the MoveNY Fair Plan in Astoria Saturday.
In a rally near the RFK Triborough Bridge, members of the Riders Alliance and Transportation Alternatives pointed out that the bridge is one in five in Queens that would see a reduction in tolls if MoveNY were to pass in Albany adding tolls to all East River crossings with revenue going real investment in infrastructure, generating nearly $1.5 billion annually to fix roads, bridges and public transit.
An East Harlem Assemblyman introduced the bill in March and as of May it had 28 supporters who are hoping to get a Senate bill introduced.
“The new MoveNY plan represents an essential step in revamping public transportation in New York City,” state Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) said. “This bill will provide a much-needed, consistent revenue stream for our mass transit system, which is in decline despite the continued fare increases of the past few years. Through statutorily dedicated funds for Queens County, this bill goes beyond the vague promises that came with the last congestion pricing plan from a few years ago, offering a tangible path to change the system.”
Astoria, Long Island City and Sunnyside are inundated daily with traffic heading to and from the free Queensboro Bridge. City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) is leading the fight for improved safety measures on 21st Street, where traffic speeds from the Triborough to the Queensboro, but did not comment on the MoveNY Fair Plan.
State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) remains skeptical of the proposal, while state Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) said, “Traffic and transportation are complicated problems and I’m not sure that this proposal gets us where we want to go.”
State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) whose district includes the northern part of Astoria has endorsed the plan along with City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside). On Monday, Van Bramer unveiled new speed bumps on 28th Street in Dutch Kills in front of the Growing Up Green Charter School.
“People speed through Dutch Kills on their way to the Queensboro Bridge with little regard for the children and families trying to get to school,” Van Bramer said. He said the problem persists in many of the neighborhoods in his district.
“The communities that will benefit most from MoveNY are Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside and Hunters Point, since they are flanked by two toll crossings with one ‘free’ bridge in the middle,” MoveNY Engineer Sam Schwartz said. “Every day 40 to 50,000 cars, trucks, buses and taxis avoid the tolls of the RFK Bridge and Queens Midtown Tunnel and use the streets of those neighborhoods. MoveNY is about safety, improving air quality, reducing traffic congestion and fairness for both drivers and transit riders.”
He claimed drivers at tolled bridges would see tolls slashed 40 percent to 45 percent. The bill currently has 28 supporters in the Assembly, which has 150 members.
“In an era of crumbling infrastructure and unreliable action in Albany and Washington to fund repairs and expansion of transportation issues, the MoveNY Plan is a much needed breath of fresh air,” Community Board 5 member and Ridgewood resident John Maier said. “We need reliable and dedicated transportation dollars for the metropolitan area. The current legislation put forward in the Assembly based on Sam Schwartz’s MoveNY Plan can do just that.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
