Rockland Republican lawmakers oppose Port toll hike
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- January
- 7
All six Republicans in the Rockland Legislature today called on Gov. Eliot Spitzer to veto the Port Authority’s toll increase that is set to begin March 2.
In their letter, the lawmakers called the hike “onerous, unfair, and unnecessary” to Rockland’s working families. The toll increase will affect the Port’s six tunnels and bridges; PATH fares will also rise under the plan.
The Republicans were particularly upset that drivers would be hit the hardest, even though most of the money from the toll increase isslated for rail projects and the airports that are covered in the agency’s $29.5 billion long-term capital plan.
The lawmakers said that drivers would see a 60 percent toll increase while rail riders were facing a daily fare increase of only 8 to 16 percent.
Legislator Ed Day, of New City, said forcing E-ZPass users to pay full freight ($8, up from $5) during morning peak times was understandable to minimize the morning rush, but he said that the maximum toll would also be charged during weekday afternoons (4 to 7 p.m.) and on weekends (noon to 8 p.m.).
“The PANY/NJ is looking to sell a congestion pricing plan by engaging in ‘peak and off-peak double speak’ that slams people, many of whom are emergency services workers, looking to do the right thing and avoid the morning rush,â€? Day said in a statement, adding that “the conspiratorial toll structure foisted upon us by the PANY/NJ and the MTA would cost Rockland families nearly $18 just in tolls alone for weekend visits to friends and family in the outer NYC boroughs.”
Both Spitzer and N.J. Gov. Jon Corzine have a week left to veto the increase.
Neither has indicated any desire that they will do so.
This entry was posted
on Monday, January 7th, 2008 at 5:24 pm by Khurram Saeed.
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Yeah, why do peak tolling times include “12 noon-8 pm” Saturday and Sunday?
(As if there are any real mass transit options on the weekends…)
Where’s our Long Island Sound tunnel?