It is an hour behind... but yes, I was up early this morning.

Jake

Bridge and tunnel tolls already subsidize the subways and buses.

What tolls exist on the Brooklyn, Manhattan or Queensborough Bridges? And, contrary to what you suggest, the taxpayers pay MASSIVE subsidies for the construction of ever more roads, interstate highways and bridges. It is about time a mass transit city like New York stopped soaking the taxpayers to subsidize gasoholics. Do you know how many gasoholics are arrested in this city after they hit pedestrians in crosswalks? The answer is: almost none.

The roads which are maintained by taxpayers' money are used by buses which are part of the mass transit system. These roads are also used by trucks which transport goods to stores in taxpayers' neighborhoods. Should your groceries be transported to your supermarket by subway and carted by hand from the subway station? Your last comment about hitting pedestrians in crosswalks is not relevant to my economic argument. And the fact remains that bridge and tunnel users (Triborough, Whitestone, Throggs Neck, Midtown, Brooklyn Battery) pay more in tolls than it costs to maintain the bridges and tunnels. The surplus is used to fund mass transit. Furthermore, there is no reasonable place to construct toll plazas on the other East River bridges which would not cause major traffic problems which would impinge on the surrounding neighborhoods which would raise major quality of life issues.

I can tell you this....the politicians who put tolls on the currently "free" bridges should get together a resume at the same time...cause its surely the last term for them. I've lived in Queens 36 years and would NOT want a toll on any of the free bridges. Think of how much more toxins you;ll be breathing in from the cars sitting and waiting to even get to the toll booth. The mid-town tunnel has tolls.....its frequently gets congested.
The 59th street bridge doesnt have them ....and frequently gets congested.
For the commuter who want tolls: I hope you have to wait for two or three trains before you finally find space to step in now that the ex-drivers are taking the train with you. Go back to wherever it is you came from and put a toll on your own bridges.
You are so eager to get on the case of drivers...if you want more revenue...get on the case of the lazy no good blood sucking leaches in the Board of Ed and other city Boards who drain the taxpayers of their money for fictitious work and no show jobs.......
It should be something the people should vote for.....which of course will never happen since we virtually have no representation in govt except on election day itself.
Tolls on the bridges?.....ridiculously un-New Yorkish and a recipe for political disaster.

And to the guy who remarked about people being hit in the crosswalk....perhaps if the pedestrians waited for the WALK sign they wouldnt get hit.....the notion that "pedestrians have the right of way" doesn't count anymore.