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Toll Relief for Commercial Drivers Comes to Verrazano Bridge

By Nicholas Rizzi | June 17, 2014 11:29am
 Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the toll relief plan for the Verrazano-Narrows he put out earlier this year has been implemented for commercial drivers, who can expect to see a 20 percent discount on tolls for vehicles that cross the bridge more than 10 times per month.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the toll relief plan for the Verrazano-Narrows he put out earlier this year has been implemented for commercial drivers, who can expect to see a 20 percent discount on tolls for vehicles that cross the bridge more than 10 times per month.
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Flickr/S. Nirza

FORT WADSWORTH — Commercial drivers will start to see rebates for tolls paid on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge this week under Gov. Andrew Cuomo's relief plan.

Cuomo announced Tuesday that the toll relief plan he introduced earlier this year was now in effect for commercial drivers. They can expect to see a 20 percent rebate on E-ZPass charges going back to April.

"The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is tremendously important to Staten Island's economy and, by delivering this toll relief, we are unlocking the potential of the region’s businesses," Cuomo said in a statement.

"We believe this will have a significant impact on companies that use the bridge for business and we hope it will attract new businesses and opportunities to Staten Island as well."

In February, Cuomo announced the plan that would slash the cost of crossing the bridge for Staten Island residents and commercial drivers.

People driving regular passenger vehicles who had an E-ZPass enrolled in the program would pay $5.50 to cross, Previously, drivers who crossed the bridge more than three times a month paid $6, and those who crossed less paid $6.36.

The discount program opened for residents in late April and a portion of the tolls paid since April 1 were rebated to their accounts.

The plan was for commercial drivers — who've frequently complained that the high cost of the toll made it expensive to own a business in Staten Island —  slashes 20 percent off tolls if they make more than 10 trips per month over the bridge, Cuomo said.

The charges vary according to the axle size of the vehicle.

"As the highest tolled county in the entire nation, these discounts will help to put money back in the pockets of hard working Staten Islanders," Assemblyman Michael Cusick said in a statement.

Commercial drivers do not have to sign up for the discounts, and the rebate would be applied to their account automatically, Cuomo said.