MTA officials met this morning to talk about a $1.2 billion budget gap, and possible tolls on East River bridges. CBS 2’s Magee Hickey reports from outside MTA headquarters in Midtown.
Putting tolls on some or all of the East River bridges — the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and 59th Street Bridge — is part of the bailout plan being considered.
Since both the city and state are basically broke, New Yorkers are also looking at fare increases, budget cuts, tax increases, and congestion pricing.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Jose 11.08.08 at 10:50 pm
As long as They give yellow cabs free way without paying a penny, I am for it. There are too many cars in Manhattan. We need a real plan how to move through the streets of the City without so many assholes driving or pretending They are driving. Yellow cabs should not pay any penny to cross this bridges. We are public transportation and the City has to recognize taht. Jose
Gil Avineri 11.09.08 at 12:13 am
Imagine the yellow cabs having to dish out toll money for every trip into Manhattan. Even before we have a passenger in the early mornings. Hell. But by all means, please do sting the civilian motorists so poisonously that they stop cramming our streets already.
Kate 11.10.08 at 12:29 am
Is this not the very SAME agency that three years ago said they had a HUGE surplus? They have been scamming us and this is just another route. You can’t raise both subway and motorist costs! The point of motorist tolls is to force people to mass transit, non? We’re already losing so many talented people from Manhattan to Brooklyn. This will drive more there to stay and Manhattan businesses will suffer. Clubs, employers, restaurants, everyone will lose revenue with fewer people coming into the city. Workers coming in won’t be able to afford it. To keep traffic moving on the Brooklyn Bridges it would be better to designate one bridge for trucks, one for taxis, and one for cars during certain hours. So everyone can get in and out easier and faster. Adding tolls costs money before it makes money. We can’t afford the development.