Disgruntled Commuters Resigned To New Tolls
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The Ravitch Commission Report's plans to close the MTA's budget gap has left some unhappy people on the trains and behind the wheel. NY1's Roger Clark filed the following report.
Thursday's unveiling of plans by the Ravitch Commission Report to help close the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's budget gap has left many commuters seeing red.
In particular, commuters at the Manhattan Bridge objected Thursday morning to the the plan to have drivers pay tolls to cross bridges over the East and Harlem Rivers.
"I think that's crazy," said a driver.
"I think it's a terrible idea," said another.
Some drivers worried that besides costing them money, adding a toll will increase congestion on the bridge and roads leading up to it.
"Traffic backed up, traffic all the way down Flatbush Avenue, definitely," said a driver.
The bridges will probably not have more congestion, since there will be electronic detectors to read E-ZPass tags and license plates, so drivers could pay without ever having to slow down.
Drivers' outrage goes along with a new Quinnipiac University Poll, where 68 percent of voters felt charging tolls on these bridges was a bad idea and only 28 percent supported it.
"I go to Manhattan every day, I will never go back again... not driving," said a driver.
Motorists may not like the idea of having to pay a tolls to keep subway fares low, but subway riders are not happy either.
Riders at the Borough Hall station in Brooklyn said they do not want any fare hikes.
The Ravitch plan would allow automatic inflation-adjusted fare increases every two years without public hearings.
"How many times can you raise a fare, stomping on the small people," said a subway user.
"I think that $2 is enough," said another.
"Not to bail MTA out. I'm sorry, I'm not very happy about it," said a third.
Commuters had a similar reaction at the 161st Street station in the Bronx.
"We pay too much money as it is," said a commuter. "Most people can't afford what we are paying now and the service is lousy and they're doing repairs on the same things and wasting money."
"I don't think it should be increased at all," said a second.
Most riders told NY1 that they know they will have to pay increased fares, regardless of their personal opinions.