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Verrazano Bridge Could Cost $16 to Cross Under MTA's Proposed Fare Hike

By Nicholas Rizzi | November 18, 2014 3:02pm
 A proposed toll increase would raise the price to cross the Verrazano Bridge from $15 to $16 cash in 2015.
A proposed toll increase would raise the price to cross the Verrazano Bridge from $15 to $16 cash in 2015.
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Flickr/S. Nirza

FORT WADSWORTH — The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge could cost $16 to cross under the MTA's new fare hike proposal, the agency announced on Monday.

Tolls at the bridge — which celebrates its 50th anniversary on Friday — could rise from $15 to $16 for people crossing without an E-ZPass if the proposal gets voted through, the MTA said.

"The MTA is keeping its promise to ensure fare and toll increases are as low as possible, and these options are designed to minimize the impact on our customers,” MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast said in a statement.

“We have cut more than $1 billion from our ongoing expenses, but a modest fare and toll increase is necessary to balance our budget against the increased costs of providing the bus, subway, railroad and paratransit service that is the backbone of the region’s mobility and economic growth.”

The MTA released two proposals for toll increases on bridges across the city, with one raising them only for E-ZPass users and the other raising the price for E-ZPass and cash drivers.

For non-Staten Islanders with an E-ZPass, the toll under both plans will increase from $10.66 to $11.08.

In April, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a program for residents that would let them pay $5.50 with an E-ZPass to cross the bridge. E-ZPasses signed up to that program with have smaller toll increases under the MTA's proposals.

The cash toll was raised to $15 in 2012 after a heated public meeting where residents begged the MTA not to increase it. Civic groups rallied by the bridge in response to the hike.

The MTA will vote on the proposals in January and will host a public session on the plan at the College of Staten Island's Springer Concert Hall on Dec. 10 starting at 6 p.m.