STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – I’m convinced that more drivers will eventually get discounts or be totally exempt from the coming congestion pricing tax.
Call it a hunch.
Staten Islanders should be first in line for any of these discounts. In fact, we shouldn’t have to pay the congestion fee at all.
No, this isn’t another “woe is us in the forgotten borough” screed. There are very sound fiscal and historic reasons why Staten Islanders deserve a break.
Beginning next year, motorists driving into Manhattan below 60th Street will be charged a $15 toll.
Well, they call it a toll. I call it a tax.
Motorists who use an area tunnel during their journey will get a $5 discount on the fee. So that helps Staten Islanders who use the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel on their journey.
But there are lots of reasons why we shouldn’t have to pay the fee at all.
Reason #1: the subway
The money generated by the tax will go toward improving the New York City subway system.
But we don’t have a subway system here. The people in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx do.
Sure, Staten Islanders use the city subway system. But the residents of the other four boroughs are going to benefit far more on a minute-by-minute, everyday basis from any improvements made to the subway system.
So why should Staten Islanders shoulder an equal share of the burden when it comes to paying for it? Give us a break!
Reason #2: traffic
Congestion pricing is going to lead to more traffic on Staten Island’s roads. The MTA’s own environmental assessment says so. That’s because truckers looking to dodge the congestion fee will be looking for other routes in and out of the city. That includes the Staten Island Expressway.
So less congestion on Manhattan’s streets means more traffic on ours. And more pollution. And we already have plenty enough of both as it is. We’re going to feel the ill effects of congestion pricing while Manhattanites reap huge benefits. We deserve compensation for that. Show us the money.
Reason #3: the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
Staten Islanders using the Verrazzano have to pay a toll when they leave and when they re-enter their home borough. So even though we get a tunnel discount, we get no congestion pricing credit for the toll we pay on the Verrazzano. That’s not fair.
Never mind that we actually have to pay for the privilege of driving back to our homes.
And never mind that our Verrazzano toll money for years has gone to support the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, which very few Staten Islanders make regular use of.
Reason #4: those free East River bridges
It’s galling that anybody in this day and age gets to use a bridge for free. But motorists don’t pay a cent when they use the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queensboro and Williamsburg bridges. Must be nice. Whatever happened to toll equity? And they have a robust subway system, so they have an alternative to driving.
It’s not fair.
Either toll those East River bridges, charge those drivers a bigger congestion pricing fee or give the rest of us a steeper congestion pricing discount for our pain.
Reason #5: our terrible commute
Staten Islanders have some of the worst commutes in the city. And why? Because we don’t have the same mass transit options as the rest of the city. And why? Because we don’t have a subway system. That’s not going to change any time soon. Compensate us for it by eliminating our congestion pricing fee.
Add it all up and it’s obvious that Staten Islanders should be totally exempt from the congestion pricing fee.
Anything else is toll injustice.
5 good reasons why Staten Islanders should be exempt from NYC congestion pricing fee (opinion)
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31.12.2023
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – I’m convinced that more drivers will eventually get discounts or be totally exempt from the coming congestion pricing tax.
Call it a hunch.
Staten Islanders should be first in line for any of these discounts. In fact, we shouldn’t have to pay the congestion fee at all.
No, this isn’t another “woe is us in the forgotten borough” screed. There are very sound fiscal and historic reasons why Staten Islanders deserve a break.
Beginning next year, motorists driving into Manhattan below 60th Street will be charged a $15 toll.
Well, they call it a toll. I call it a tax.
Motorists who use an area tunnel during their journey will get a $5 discount on the fee. So that helps Staten Islanders who use the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel on their journey.
But there are lots of reasons why we shouldn’t have to pay the fee at all.
Reason #1: the subway
The money........
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