Verrazzano two-way toll bill passes Congress
BY KEVIN DUGGAN
The US Congress passed
legislation to reinstate twoway
tolls on the Verrazzano-
Narrows Bridge, three federal
Brooklyn pols announced
Tuesday.
The House’s Fiscal Year 2020
bi-partisan spending package
known as the Omnibus Budget
Package includes language ending
a three-decade ban on twoway
tolling at the massive span
between Brooklyn and Staten Island,
which will ease traffi c, cut
back on out-of-state truck traffi
c entering Manhattan via the
bridge, and bring much-needed
revenue to the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority, according
to one pol.
“Restoring split-tolling will
greatly improve traffi c and congestion
in Brooklyn and Lower
Manhattan, while also capturing
new vital funding for the
MTA from out-of-state trucks,
which no longer will avoid a
toll entering New York City via
Staten Island or dodge tolls on
the Hudson River Bridge and
tunnel crossings,” said Congressman
Jerrold Nadler (D–
Borough Park).
The senior Brooklyn Democrat
pushed for the legislation
along with representatives Max
Rose (D–Bay Ridge) and Nydia
Velázquez (D-Sunset Park).
Currently, drivers fork over
$19 on each trip from Brooklyn
to Staten Island, or $12.24
for travelers using the E-ZPass
system and $5.50 for Staten Island
residents, while drivers
coming to Kings County cross
the bridge for free.
The legislation will allow
the Transit Authority — which
determines the tolls — to cut
Great rates like ours are always in season.
6-Month
1.70%
CD or IRA CD APY1
$5,000 minimum deposit
12-Month
CD or IRA CD 1.85%
APY1
$5,000 minimum deposit
To qualify you must have or open any Flushing Bank Complete Checking account2 which provides you
with access to over 55,000 ATMs, ATM fee rebates, mobile banking and mobile check deposit. Plus, you
can qualify for additional cash bonuses of up to $300.3,4,5
Small enough to know you.
Large enough to help you.®
COURIER LIFE, D 10 ECEMBER 20-26, 2019
the rates in half, with drivers
paying half those fares each
way, i.e. $9.50 for standard trips,
$6.12 with E-ZPass and $2.25 for
residents of the Rock.
A cadre of state legislators
are trying to get the Authority
to also introduce reduced tolls
for Brooklynites who cross the
span 10 times or more a month.
The MTA’s chief Pat Foye estimates
this move will produce
between $10-15 million in additional
annual revenue for the
agency and offi cials hope it will
reduce heavy trucks’s wear and
tear on many of Brooklyn and
Staten Island’s roadways.
“All New Yorkers will reap
the benefi ts of the restoration
of two-way toll collection, from
reduced wear and tear on our
bridges and tunnels and fewer
trucks on the Staten Island Expressway,
Gowanus Expressway,
Manhattan Bridge and Canal
& Broome Streets in Lower
Manhattan,” Nadler said.
Brooklynites have also
called on the city to reduce
the lanes on the beleaguered
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway’s
repair in light of the twoway
tolls along with other measures
designed to curb traffi c,
such as congestion pricing.
The Verrazzano is the only
bridge in the country with federally
mandated one-way tolling,
which dates back to the
1980s when then-Representative
Guy Molinari (R–Staten
Island) introduced the law due
to traffi c build up and pollution
around the toll booths at
the Staten Island side, but electronic
tolling has since made
that law outdated, according to
another federal politician.
“The implementation of
electronic tolling made the old
system outdated, so it’s about
time that split-tolling was reinstated
on the Verrazzano-
Narrows Bridge,” said Senator
Chuck Schumer.
The Senate is expected to
pass the budget and President
Trump will sign it into law as
soon as Friday, after which it is
up to the MTA to introduce the
new tolls, according to Rose’s
spokesman Jonas Edwards-
Jenks.
The US Congress passed legislation to allow for two-way tolling on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge on Dec. 17.
Photo by Steve Solomonson
For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch,
call 800.581.2889 (855.540.2274 TTY/TDD) or visit www.FlushingBank.com.
1) New money only. APY effective December 2, 2019. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of
$5,000 is required. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. For new IRA and rollover accounts, the minimum deposit balance is $5,000. Premature withdrawals
may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. 2) New money required for new checking accounts only. A Flushing Bank checking account
with a $5,000 minimum balance is required to receive the advertised rate. Certain fees, minimum balance requirements and restrictions may apply. Fees may reduce earnings on these
accounts. A checking account is not required for IRA accounts. 3) New Complete Checking account with new money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. A new
checking account is defined as any new checking account that does not have any authorized signatures in common with any other existing Flushing Bank checking account(s). An existing
checking customer is defined as anyone who currently has or has had a Flushing Bank checking account within the last 24 months. New money is defined as money not currently on deposit
with Flushing Bank. 4) The Cash Bonus is limited to one (1) account credit per new Complete Checking account. To qualify for the Cash Bonus, a new Complete Checking account must be
opened with a minimum opening balance of $1,000 or more. The Cash Bonus credit will be based on the monthly average account balance of the first three (3) full months after account
opening. The monthly average account balance tiers and respective account credits are as follows: Tier 1: $1,000 - $4,999 a $10 account credit, Tier 2: $5,000 - $9,999 a $50 account
credit, Tier 3: $10,000+ a $100 account credit. The Cash Bonus credit will be posted to the account on or about the end of the subsequent month following the account’s three (3) month
anniversary. A 1099 will be issued in the amount of the account credit. The new Complete Checking account must remain open, active and in good standing for six months. If the account
is closed prior to six months or prior to receiving the credit, the account credit will be forfeited. Other fees and restrictions may apply. Notwithstanding the Cash Bonus offer, a minimum
deposit of $25 is required to open the Complete Checking account. 5) This offer is limited to one Complete Checking account per household. Minimum deposit required to open a new
Complete Checking account is $25. No minimum balance required to be eligible for the Bonus. Direct Deposit– You will receive $100 for signing up for and receiving a recurring direct
deposit. Each direct deposit must be $250 or more. Tax refund checks do not qualify as direct deposit. Direct Deposits must be completed prior to 90 days after the account is opened.
Debit Card Purchases – You will receive $50 for the completion of 5 debit card purchases. Each debit card purchase must be $25 or more. Online Banking bill payments – You will receive $50
for completing 5 online banking bill payments via Flushing Bank’s Online Banking portal. Each online bill pay must be $25 or more. Debit Card Purchases and Online Banking bill payments
must be completed prior to 60 days after the account is opened. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ANY CUSTOMER CAN RECEIVE IS $200. The compensation will be credited to the checking
account on or about the end of the month following the completion of the above qualifying transactions within the required time after account opening. A 1099 will be issued
in the amount credited to your account. Other fees and restrictions may apply. The promotion and offer are subject to change and termination without prior notice at any
time. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
/www.FlushingBank.com
/www.FlushingBank.com