Staten Island: Highest Per Capita Road Tolls

Residents and visitors of New York City continuously face higher toll fees compared to the rest of the nation. While the southbound toll on Golden Gate Bridge is $6 for cash users, fees on any of the eastbound Hudson River crossing recently increased to $13 for cash users. In 2000, while the United States collected $6.6 billion in tolls, $2.0 billion came from New York state alone, while $711 million came from neighboring New Jersey. While tolls can be burdensome for commuters and tourists, nowhere is the burden heavier than on Staten Island, the city's "forgotten borough."

First, consider the tolls on bridge and tunnel crossings into Manhattan for standard cars. Note that fees vary depending on the timing and other circumstances (E-ZPass and residency discounts). Let's just consider peak-hour fees for cash payers without residency discounts, the worst-case scenario. For entering Manhattan:

• George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel: $12
• Henry Hudson Bridge (crossing Harlem River): $4
• 9 other Harlem River crossings: free
• RFK Bridge, Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, Queens Midtown Tunnel (all crossing East River): $6.50, although tolls are charged in both directions
• Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, Queensboro Bridge (all crossing East River): free

Now under the same conditions, for entering Staten Island:

• Verrazano–Narrows Bridge: $13
• Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge, Outerbridge Crossing: $12

Not only are the tolls on bridges coming into Staten Island more expensive on average, but there are also fewer (none, to be exact) alternatives. New York state collects about $105 in road tolls per person each year, which is over four times the national average of $23.45. But the burden is even more concentrated in Staten Island, which pays nearly $293 per person. The effects aren't just felt by the residents. Staten Island suffers competitive disadvantage, as business location decisions are largely influenced by tolls.

While some may point at the free Staten Island Ferry to Manhattan, public transport is still more inconvenient for commuters and impractical for businesses. The ferry completes the 5+ mile journey in around 30 minutes. Furthermore, the Staten Island Railway (SIR) only has one line situated along the southern portion of the city. With a population of nearly 500,000, Staten Island would be a mid-sized city in the country if separated. However, its 14 miles of rail service is shorter than service in a smaller city like Cleveland. The situation is not improved when residents remember that they are officially part of New York City, which boasts the nation's most sophisticated rail network. As a result, more residents have turned to cars, but they then face the highest per capita toll in the nation. The transportation situation in Staten Island strongly reinforces the mindset of its residents that they are part of the "forgotten borough" of the city.

Sources:

• http://www.cunyspsc.org/files/papers_o/p_TRA_2010_SI_Toll_Burden_White_Paper_v3_o.pdf
• http://www.mta.info/mta/pdf/approved_bandt_tolls.pdf
• http://www.panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/tolls.html