South Queens, NY –Last Thursday, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens), urged the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board (MTA) to NOT eliminate resident toll discount programs in upcoming potential budget cuts, and called out the agency to stop the outdated practice of bonding on the toll revenue on the only intra-borough tolled bridge in New York State - which would be the first step in eliminating the toll altogether. During the public hearing the MTA officials outlined measures they will have to take without federal assistance including the elimination of resident toll discount programs, raising fares, decreasing subway and bus services throughout the city, and proceeding with layoffs throughout the system.

“As I have said time and time again: The Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge is the ONLY tolled intra-Borough or intra-County bridge in our State. During the midst of an economic downturn, the MTA cannot raise tolls and fares and should not eliminate any jobs – and our rebate should not even be a part of the conversation,” Pheffer Amato said. “The toll has outlived its original stated purpose of paying for the bridge and has no justification other than supplementing, through bonding, the MTA’s budget on the backs of my constituents. New York City is the country’s -and arguably the worlds- most important economic driver and the federal government needs to recognize that and step up to provide assistance to the MTA before inflicting harm on our national economy, and on New Yorkers.”

In Pheffer Amato’s district, the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge (CBB) has a resident rebate program for Rockaway and Broad Channel residents. The program rebates residents back after each trip on the CBB by the MTA. Vehicles must be registered with E-Z Pass to a valid resident address in Rockaway/Broad Channel in one of the following zip codes: 11691, 11692, 11693, 11694, 11695, and 11697. The program was set to expand in April of this year to all Queens County residents but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s strain on the MTA budget.