Nov 8, 2008 3:24 pm US/Eastern
Sources: MTA To Toll All East River Bridges
Cash-Strapped MTA About To Drop Hammer On Everyone
Congestion Pricing May Also Be Back On The Table
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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If the MTA has its way, there will soon be tolls on all four East River bridges, including the fabled Brooklyn Bridge.
© by Dave Frieder, All Rights Reserved
Believe it or not, there is even grimmer budget news.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is swimming in a sea of red ink and sources tell CBS 2 HD drivers in the city might not like the bailout plan.
Nearly half a million cars go back and forth over the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and 59th Street bridges every day for free. Some people think that's not right.
"We already have tolls at the Battery Tunnel, Midtown Tunnel, the Triborough Bridge let's put pricing on all of the crossings in between," said Sam Schwartz, one of the leading transportation engineers in the country.
Guess what? State and city officials now seem to agree. Sources tell CBS 2 HD that putting tolls on some or all of the East River bridges is part of the bailout plan being considered for the MTA.
"People coming into the city should be paying for some of the service they get," Schwartz said.
Tolling all four bridges may be a heavy lift for Mayor Michael Bloomberg right now, which is why it's possible tolls could be put on just two.
Another option is to have tolls only during morning and evening rush hours.
Sources say putting tolls on all four spans could raise almost $1 billion for mass transit.
"That's crazy," said Alex Shaw of the Bronx. "We're taxed enough. They've got to get the money from someplace else. Stop putting it on the motorists."
Added James Yglesias of Brooklyn Heights: "You can't punish us for driving."
"For me, it's not good," said Jorge Morena.
Surprisingly, not everyone is against the new tolls.
"People that don't live in the city should pay a little bit extra," said Debrah Levy of Greenwich Village. "People that are in the city need the break on the subways."
"I don't like it at all. I think that's ridiculous, but I mean, hey, if it's going to better our city in any way," said Torey Guite of Flatbush.
"I wouldn't be in favor of it, but if this is something we have to do to stimulate the economy then I'm all for it," added Angela Grant.
But it may not stop with the East River tolls. A top transit source told CBS 2 HD the mayor's full congestion pricing plan is also back on the table.
On Monday, the MTA will reveal just how much in the red it really is.
Even with the East River tolls, a fare hike on bus, subway and commuter rails is expected.
A payroll tax on employers is also being considered.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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