State Senate passes Gounardes bill
Legislation would lower Verrazzano Bridge toll for some Brooklyn drivers
BY AIDAN GRAHAM
Going to Staten Island may soon
become slightly less painful.
The state Senate passed a bill that
would reduce the toll on the Verrazzano
Narrows Bridge by more than half
for Kings County drivers who frequently
cross the span into Richmond
County.
Sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes
(D–Bay Ridge), the Senate bill
passed the upper chamber by a decisive
55–2 margin on May 30.
The measure offers Brooklyn drivers
who cross the span 10 times per
month using E-ZPass a discounted
toll of $5.50, matching the reduced
fare that Staten Island residents already
enjoy when crossing the twoand
a-half-mile-long, double-decker
bridge.
Kings County drivers passing into
Staten Island currently pay $12.24 for
the Verrazzano’s one-way toll when
using E-ZPass, and a whopping $19
when relying on the city’s cashless
toll technology.
The bill’s passage follows an MTA
toll hike that jacked the Verrazzano’s
toll up to the second highest in the
country in March, making it second
in price only to Virginia’s 23-mileslong
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel,
which costs an astronomical $36
round trip at peak hours.
All eyes now turn to Albany’s
lower house, where the bill sponsored
by Assemblywoman Mathylde
Frontus (D–Coney Island) continues
to languish committee, although the
lawmaker’s chief of staff expressed
confi dence that the measure will pass
and become law in the wake of the
Thursday’s senate vote.
“We’re optimistic,” said Michael
Decillis. “It sailed through the Senate,
so that’s a good sign.”
The proposal mirrors the city’s decision
to eliminate the $2.29 E-ZPass
toll on the Cross Bay Bridge for all
Queens Residents last April.
At a press event announcing his
scheme to slash the toll for Brooklyn
drivers in April, Gounardes blasted
the Verrazzano’s exorbitant tax,
which has more than doubled since
2008.
“For the thousands of Brooklyn
residents who rely on the bridge for
travel to work, school and medical appointments,
these outrageous rates
are unaffordable, unacceptable, and
highlight the gross inequities of New
York’s transit system,” he said.
COURIER L 10 IFE, JUNE 7–13, 2019 M BR B G
IT’S ONLY FARE: Legislation to reduce the fare for Brooklynites who frequently cross the
Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge has passed the state Senate. The measure now awaits a vote in
the Assembly. Photo By Steve Solomonson
Freshman federal Rep. Max Rose,
who represents both sides of the
bridge, applauded the state Senate on
Twitter for passing the bill to even the
fares between his constituents.
“This is incredible news,” he said.
“We are one community, with family
and friends, jobs and appointments
on both sides of the Verrazzano. This
is a huge step towards providing
much needed relief to so many Brooklynites.”
Should the Assembly approve their
version of the legislation, it would go
to the Governor’s desk to be signed
into law.