Name: MTA Pursuing Toll Hikes After Nixing Transit Fare Increases
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MTA Pursuing Toll Hikes After Nixing Transit Fare Increases

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Open in Our AppGet the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app.SHAREDrivers are not happy with the MTA's plans to move ahead with toll increases at its nine bridges and tunnels, while delaying a planned hike in the bus and subway fare."It's ridiculous. It's crazy," said driver Stephen Fanuka while filling up his car."This is not the time to do anything like that. This is where everyone is focusing on trying to pay their bills, get by, keep their businesses still in tact."The MTA announced late Monday night that it is temporarily shelving the transit fare hike planned for this spring, in deference to essential workers who ride the buses and subway.But the MTA board still plans to vote next month on the companion toll hike, which would raise about $126 million over two years.It would boost the toll for E-ZPass users 58 cents, to $6.70 at the major crossings.Drivers without E-ZPass would pay as much as $10.40, a 90-cent increase.The MTA could also charge more on Gridlock Alert days and nix resident discounts, like the popular toll break for Staten Islanders at the Verrazzano Bridge.MTA officials believe that with the pandemic raging and the economy in a slump, drivers who can afford cars can absorb an increase better than people who must take mass transit."While it isn't a cardinal rule, generally those folks may be coming from out of town, they may be more well to do, they may not be essential workers," MTA board member Andrew Albert said. "Most essential workers are using the transit system."Lawmakers representing car-dependent neighborhoods say the MTA should give essential workers who drive the same break as those who take transit."We see an enormous number of people who have to cross over that Verrazzano Bridge every single day or multiple times a week for work for school for family reasons,"State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, a Brooklyn Democrat, said."These are people who are also feeling economic hard times, they're also feeling a pinch," he said."Without that toll discount, you're actually gonna take away money from every Staten Island family," Assemblyman Mike Reilly, a Staten Island Republican, said. "It's all working-class families and it's gonna impact the overall economy in Staten Island the local economy."Those workers, he said, include city employees, police and fire fighters and the MTA's own workers.

Open in Our AppGet the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app.SHAREDrivers are not happy with the MTA's plans to move ahead with toll increases at its nine bridges and tunnels, while delaying a planned hike in the bus and subway fare."It's ridiculous. It's crazy," said driver Stephen Fanuka while filling up his car."This is not the time to do anything like that. This is where everyone is focusing on trying to pay their bills, get by, keep their businesses still in tact."The MTA announced late Monday night that it is temporarily shelving the transit...

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Dan Rivoli

Spectrum News 1 is a 24-hour local news channel exclusively available to Spectrum customers in North Carolina.

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MTA Pursuing Toll Hikes After Nixing Transit Fare Increases

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