East & Harlem River bridge tolls to be proposed for MTA - NY Times

The New York Times reports that the Ravitch Commission will propose tolls on the currently free East River and Harlem River bridges to raise a net $600m/year to help cover the growing losses of the New York area rail and bus system of the NYMTA (New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority). The Ravitch Commission was appointed by the state governor David Paterson to advise on how to fund a burgeoning deficit in city transit.

Under the plan as outlined by the Times - due to be officially released until Dec 5 - the New York transit system would get an infusion of cash from higher fares and tolls, a new 0.5% tax on corporate payrolls, and tolls on all the remaining free crossings into Manhattan.

This includes the presently free crossings into Manhattan

- from Queens and Brooklyn boroughs over the East River

- from Bronx borough to the north over the Harlem River

(Neither of these are rivers. They are sea channels, misnamed by early Dutch settlers.)

The East River bridges to Brookyln are big old suspension spans:

- Brooklyn Bridge

- Manhttan Bridge

- Williamsburg Bridge

The 59th Street or Queensborough Bridge to Queens is an old cantilever truss bridge.

On the Harlem River are Willis Avenue, Macombs Dam, Third Avenue, Madison Avenue, 145th Street, University Heights, Washington, Broadway and Wards Island bridges, a continuing museum of  lower level lift or swing spans mostly, all with surface street connections.

The Ravich Commission is expected to recommend the transfer of ownership of these 13 city owned bridges to the MTA's subsidiary Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, also known as MTA Bridges and Tunnels. They would have to implement all-electronic tolling based on transponder and license plate camera reads.

TOLLROADSnews 2008-11-28