The finance committee of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board on Monday afternoon approved a discount for frequent users of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which connects New York City's Staten Island borough with Brooklyn.
The full board will vote Wednesday on the $7 million expense to cover lost revenue through the program, under which the authority and New York State will each contribute equally. Lawmakers in Albany must approve the state's half under the deal, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced three weeks ago.
Allen Cappelli, the chairman of the MTA's bridges and tunnels committee and Staten Island's lone resident on the board, called the "matter of personal prerogative," adding: "It's a long-time coming."
Although the program is not limited to residents of Staten Island, people who live on that borough stand to gain the most. Staten Island is the only of New York's five boroughs from which it is impossible to leave and return by car without paying a toll.
The finance committee rejected an amendment by board member Mitchell Pally of Long Island, who wanted to allocate an additional $3 million to enhance bus and transit service in other boroughs, and on Metro-North and Long Island railroads.
According to Pally, singling out Staten Island for a discount raises issues of fairness citywide.
"I have no problem at all with the transaction. I do have a problem with the narrowness," he said. "It seems to me there are situations all across the region where addressing fairness should be incorporated."
But board member and former Bronx borough president Fernando Ferrer responded: "This one's pretty straightforward. We've talked about issues unique to Staten Island for a long time. It's no mystery."
MTA officials, who need time to recalibrate the E-ZPass electronic tolling system, hope to have the discounts in place by April 1.
Staten Island E-ZPass drivers would pay $5.50 per trip over the Verrazano, while all commercial New York state E-ZPass holders will be eligible for a 20% discount once they make more than 10 trips per month over the bridge.
Residents now pay a discounted toll of $6 or $6.36, varying by frequency of usage. The non-resident toll would remain at $15, or $10.66 for cars with E-ZPass.
The bridge, which carries Interstate 278, opened in 1964 with a 50-cent toll. The toll is one-way, with drivers paying entering Staten Island.
According to Cappelli, state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-New York, and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Centre, are on board.
The MTA, with roughly $33 billion of debt, is one of the largest issuers in the municipal marketplace. Moody's Investors Service rates the MTA's primary credit, transportation revenue bonds, A2, while Fitch Ratings rates them A and Standard & Poor's rate them A-plus.
