Rose Introduces Proposal to Allow Toll Revenues to be Used for Commuter Discounts

Statement

Congressman Max Rose introduced new legislation this week to eliminate an outdated federal restriction that prevents entities such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) from using toll revenue to provide additional discounts to commuters with no other choice but to use their bridges. This archaic regulation has forced local elected officials--including Congressman Rose--to fight yearly to protect discounts in tense budget negotiations due to the MTA and PANYNJ's inability to set aside dedicated funding from toll revenue.

"For decades, the MTA and Port Authority have used an obscure federal law as an excuse for why they can't make our toll discounts permanent. This bill eliminates that excuse once and for all," Rose said. "We shouldn't have to fight every year for some semblance of toll relief, and when this bill is law, we will be one step closer to permanent discounts."

Currently, tolling authorities like the MTA and PANYNJ can only allocate toll revenues from federally-funded projects for certain purposes such as maintenance work, servicing debt obligations, and meeting public-private partnership agreements. Rose's legislation would allow these revenues to be directed towards providing discounts or rebates to commuters with no reasonable alternative to the tolled route. Existing discounts on Staten Island bridges are funded through yearly allocations from the Port Authority and New York State budget, secured by Assembly Member Michael J. Cusick, State Senator Andrew Lanza, and Governor Andrew Cuomo.

"Despite living on a physically disconnected island with limited mass transit options, Staten Islanders are perpetually forced to defend resident toll discounts on bridges and crossings in the borough," Borough President James S. Oddo said. "Congressman Rose's proposed legislation can perhaps end this inane cycle at a time when residents and local businesses are most vulnerable. As our borough moves forward to restore some semblance of normalcy, having to haggle for relief amidst the threat of yet another toll hike is something I am sure all Staten Islanders could agree to leave behind."

"This is common sense legislation that will protect the resident toll discount we fought so hard to secure," State Senator Andrew Lanza said. "In the face of the escalating costs for crossing a bridge to return home to Staten Island we have been forced to seek creative solutions to lessen Staten Islanders' toll burden. Congressman Rose's legislation will help to ensure that these tolling authorities can no longer use an obscure federal guideline to stand in the way of tolling discounts for those who most rely on these bridges."

"Each year my colleagues in the legislature and I have fought to keep tolls at $5.50 for Staten Islanders," State Senator Diane Savino said. "As we work towards recovery after the devastating effects this pandemic has had, Congressman Rose's legislation will provide further relief that our commuters deserve."

"For six years I have worked with my colleagues in the State Legislature, including Senators Andrew Lanza and Diane Savino, and the Governor to ensure the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge resident discount keeps tolls at $5.50 for Staten Islanders," Assembly Member Michael J. Cusick said. "We have been vigilant every budget cycle to ensure the funding remains to provide for the Island and regardless of where the money comes from, I will continue to work to ensure tolls do not increase for residents. This bill by Congressmember Rose makes sense because it will give further discounts to commuters on Staten Island who have no choice but to rely on bridges."

"There is no denying that Staten Islanders pay among the highest transportation costs in the nation," Assembly Member Michael Reilly said. "Now, so much more than ever before, we deserve toll relief to ease that economic burden. I appreciate Congressman Rose's initiative to amend federal law to get this done."

"This legislation is certainly a move in the right direction for all Staten Islanders," Assembly Member Charles D. Fall said. "Each year, I along with my state colleagues negotiate to have the resident toll remain discounted. This federal legislation would put us one step closer in making sure that resident toll discounts are permanently secured for the many residents who rely on crossing the bridge for work and leisure."

"We fight too hard for the tiniest bit of relief from exorbitant tolls which we have no choice but to pay if we want to travel outside of our borough," Council Member Joe Borelli said. "I'll support anything that will bring down the financial impact suffered by Staten Islanders for simply having access to the other four boroughs."

"Resident toll discounts on our bridges are a matter of transportation equity, and our lawmakers should not have to fight for them year after year," Council Member Debi Rose said. "I applaud Congressman Rose for introducing this commonsense legislation to wipe away outdated regulations and protect the discounts that Staten Islanders rightly deserve."

Rose has led efforts to end the commuting nightmare for Staten Islanders and South Brooklynites and lower toll costs. Earlier this year, Rose introduced the Tax Relief for Bridge Tolls Act, which earned broad, bipartisan support from local lawmakers at all levels of government, that would save Staten Islanders and South Brooklynites hundreds to even thousands of dollars each year.

Since taking office, Rose has prioritized improving transportation for his constituents, including passing into law a repeal of the ban on split tolling for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which will take 4,000 out-of-state cars off the eastbound lanes each day without raising the cost of tolls; supporting federal funding for the Staten Island Ferry and South Brooklyn buses; calling for expanding the Staten Island Expressway; and supporting the North Shore and West Shore Rapid Transit projects. Rose also successfully led the bipartisan push for the Port Authority to rescind their proposal to eviscerate the Staten Island Bridges Discount.