The number of vehicles on MTA bridges and tunnels has plummeted over the past five years — but toll revenues have increased over the same time period following three crushing toll hikes.
Average amount of daily crossings have been decreasing almost steadily since an Oct. 2007 peak of 834,533 vehicles, reaching an almost record five year low of 776,632 in December of last year.
But during that downward spiral, the MTA’s toll revenue went up, climbing from $1.25 billion in 2007 to $1.5 billion in 2011.
The agency enacted toll increases in 2008, 2009 and 2010 — boosting the average toll from $4.11 in 2007 to $5.30 in 2011.
MTA bridge and tunnel bigs blamed the steady decline in daily users on the toll hikes, bad weather and steep gas prices.
Gas averaged $3.71 a gallon in 2011 — the highest level in the five year period.