During the recent three-way budget negotiations between the Legislature and the Governor, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo agreed to keep the resident toll for the Verrazzano Narrows at $5.50.

The MTA, back in February, agreed to a citywide toll and fare increase to combat revenue shortfalls and pay for upgrades and renovations to the subway system. Soon after the MTA posted on its website that the Staten Island Resident Rebate Program would be raised to $5.90, effective March 31, 2019.

During the passage of the 2019 Budget, congestion pricing or what is now being labeled as the Central Business District Tolling Program, defined as streets south of 60^th Street in Manhattan to the Battery passed. However, there were safeguards with the creation of a six-member Traffic Mobility Review Board to advise on tolls, exemptions and credits. Tolls will be adjustable and passenger vehicles will only be charged once per day. The tolling program will leverage $15 billion, which will be dedicated to MTA capital needs.

Additionally, the budget creates a dedicated lockbox to ensure that 100% of revenues goes to the MTA capital budget and prohibits the use of these revenues for non-capital spending. A Progressive Mansion Tax on the sale of properties valued at $25 million or above, estimated to raise $365 million will be deposited into the MTA’s Central Business District tolling capital lockbox and will be used to support up to $5 billion in financing for MTA projects. The Internet Sales Tax that was enacted will provide a consistent framework for the collection of required sales taxes by internet marketplace providers, estimated to annually generate $160 million in new revenue for local governments and $320 million for the MTA capital plan lockbox.

“This was a victory for Staten Island and I commend Governor Cuomo, Speaker Heastie and my colleague Assemblyman Michael Cusick for including me in the collaborative effort to secure the Verrazzano resident toll at $5.50.

With the passage of congestion pricing and securing additional revenue sources to fund the MTA, I will remain vigilant in working with the MTA to implement a North Shore Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, increasing bus service at the ferry terminal and assurances that there will be no further toll increases on the Verrazzano Bridge in the immediate or long-term future. These requests need to be implemented sooner rather than later,” said Fall.