State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said last Thursday that East River bridges tolls were a "strong possibility." As Bruno told a Crain’s forum, "We’re wide open on that issue. I think there’s merit in people that use particular facilities pay as they go."

Mayor Bloomberg has said repeatedly that he is for the tolls, and has included them as a future year revenue initiative in several city budgets.

However, in response to Bruno’s remarks, State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver poured cold water on East River tolls in comments to NY 1 News. Silver argued that new tolls would produce congestion on and around the bridges.

Silver should seek briefings from Mayor Bloomberg and transportation experts on state of the art roadway tolls. East River bridge tolls are in fact likely to reduce congestion at the now-clogged bridges. First, the mayor’s plan calls for barrier-free electronic toll collection. Second, the tolls would reduce traffic diversions to the East River bridges from traffic that would naturally use MTA East River tunnels and the Triborough Bridge. Third, higher rush hour rates will move some East River traffic out of peak periods and into less crowded times.

The tolls could raise $800 million a year and help the city close part of its $3.4 billion deficit.

Governor Pataki has not made any recent statements about new tolls, although his spokesperson last week said the governor would "prefer other options." 

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