On the eve of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge’s 50th anniversary, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is considering the 16th toll hike on the span to help close a budget gap.
The Authority unveiled two proposals on Nov. 17, one that would raise tolls for all users and another that would put most of the burden on big trucks and Staten Island E-ZPass members.
The first proposal would boost cash tolls for cars by $15 to $16 and hike E-ZPass tolls from $10.66 to $11.08.
The second proposal maintains cash tolls at $15 but still raises E-ZPass fees to $11.08.
Under either option, large trucks would shoulder most of the hike with five-axle trucks paying $86 cash — a $6 increase — while E-ZPass-using truckers would pay $54.62 under proposal one or $58.82 under proposal two, up from $52.52.
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge opened on Nov. 21 1964 with a toll of 50 cents each way.
The transit agency, which controls bridges, tunnels, and public transit, has a $15.9 billion hole in its $32 billion five-year capital plan. Fare and toll revenues cover 52 percent of the Authority’s $13-billion annual operating budget.
Transit honchos plan to cut $1.5 billion from annual spending by 2017, according to a press release, but will rely on toll and fare increases to make up most of the shortfall.
The Authority’s board will vote on the toll-hike proposal in January. Before the vote, it will hold eight public hearings on the matter, including one on Dec. 11 in Brooklyn.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority fare increase public hearings at Walt Whitman Theater at Brooklyn College (2900 Campus Rd. at Hillel Place). Dec. 11 at 6 pm.
