GOP mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis called for a ten-year freeze on bridge and tunnel tolls after rapping rival Joe Lhota for increasing the levy before stepping down as MTA chairman in December.
“It’s a sin what they’re doing with the tolls. Somebody just left the MTA and raised the tolls going out the door,” Catsimatidis said, referring to Lhota.
The cash toll on the MTA bridges and tunnels goes up to $15 round trip on Sunday, though regular commuters –including Staten Islanders who can’t drive off the borough without paying a toll – get EZ pass discounts.
“The toll increase are beyond the call of duty,” Catsimatidis said before holding an event on the Brooklyn side of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge with Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, who endorsed him last week..
He said the tolls have skyrocketed well above the rate of inflation.
The toll revenues are used to subsidize the MTA’s capital program for subway and buses.
Catsimatidis did not recommend any alternative revenue sources to make up for loss of toll revenue.
Meanwhile, Lhota was on Staten Island earlier today, where he received the endorsement of state Assemblyman Joseph Borelli.
Lhota said in a statement, “The current system that controls NYC’s bridges and tunnels is broken. In fact, there is no reason for the almost $600 million surplus collected from our bridges and tunnels to be used to subsidize the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and the subways. This subsidization must change and I believe that control of the MTA’s bridges and tunnels should be transferred to the Mayor and City Council. High tolls impede economic growth and have become way too expensive for New York City residents and businesses. If you eliminated the required subsidy, the bridge and tunnel tolls could be significantly reduced.”