MTA demands NYC Marathon cough up $750K toll for crossing Verrazzano Bridge in latest congestion pricing scheme

NY Post ^ | 04/03/2024 | Emily Crane

[kiryandil]

Next up: charging the Boston Marathon for crossing the Verrazzano Bridge, and daring them to contest the charge.

[Alberta's Child]

You could eliminate all that, and the MTA would still be broke. The tolls are subsidizing a massive public transit system that has lost a huge portion of its ridership since March 2020.

[Delta 21]

Just negotiate it down to $5.00 per head. Its $300 to race any ways if you get chosen. Symbolic gesture of 75000 racers @ $5.00 is $375,000. Let it go.....

This flat lander needs to know if there is normally a toll for crossing this bridge?

[PghBaldy]

One would think the runners would be good for the City, and bring lots of revenue to it. NYC seems to be trying to keep away good people away, the way they cater to criminals and illegal aliens...

[Track9]

To fund their DEI payroll no doubt.

[RoosterRedux]

Same here. My first thought was, “God, how I love the Bee.”

[ridesthemiles]

What is the time spam for them to ALL cross?

IF NYC is making $750,000 a day in bridge fees-—they have no reason to be so broke.

[telescope115]

Lol! You and posterchild are on it!

[ridesthemiles]

What is the time spam for them to ALL cross?

IF NYC is making $750,000 a day in bridge fees-—they have no reason to be so broke.

[ridesthemiles]

THEY are already driving real estate investing away.

How long before NYC is a GHOST TOWN???

[coalminersson]

Yes cancel and the city will lose millions in day of spending by thousands of people. Bureaucrats and democrats always shoot themselves in the foot. Jersey would welcome the marathon or albany.

[Tanniker Smith]

Are they planning on allowing traffic on the upper level?

Because where are they going to go?

[pepsi_junkie]

You could eliminate all that, and the MTA would still be broke. The tolls are subsidizing a massive public transit system that has lost a huge portion of its ridership since March 2020.

Ah, NYC!

[Seruzawa]

You are expecting bureaucrats to see cause and effect. Never going to happen. They have the vision of dung beetles.

[wbarmy]

Man, I remember those days. Those of us based out of Ft Hamilton could see the runners above us.

[Grampa Dave]

“Each runner should be required to have an E-Z-Pass attached to his cap. Problem solved!”

The cost of the EZPasses will be based on lost toll income and other cost realities divided by the number of EZPasses.

[Salman]

Move the NY Marathon to someplace scenic upstate. Niagara Falls or Adirondack Park for example.

[HYPOCRACY]

Tell them ‘no’. Make the MTA cancel the marathon or block the bridge.

[Rummyfan]

Approximately 40K runners participate in the NYM every year. Add to that their families and friends and it’s a significant event for the city’s hospitality industry especially during today’s circumstances. I cant believe the MTA would try to blackmail the race organizers like this. OTOH, I suppose it fits right in with everything else going on in the city now.

[Rummyfan]

Well over an hour for all the runners to cross. But traffic has to be closed for a significant period before and after too. That’s irrelevant - this is just a government agency shaking down an entity with perceived deep pockets.