New Yorkers continue to vote against charging drivers to cross East River bridges as shown by a recent Quinnipiac University survey released this Monday. 71% of voters opposed the idea of charging a toll to cross such bridges as the Brooklyn Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge among others on the east side. 23% were in favor of the proposed toll. "New York City voters from every borough reject the idea, as they have for years, even as a possible partial remedy for congestion," said Maurice Carroll of Quinnipiac University.
The numbers do change when voters are informed of the reduction of traffic that would result on the bridges between the outerboroughs, like the Triborough and Whitestone. The support of such a toll increases to 41% for those in favor. This is positive news to Alex Matthiessen, director for Move NY, who believes the new tolls would fund better transit and infrastructure work. He sums it up by saying, "Once New Yorkers understand that they can get something in return for new tolls, support for such a plan rises dramatically," he said.
Drivers are not the only New Yorkers opposed to the idea of a toll on east bridge crossings. Mass transit riders opposed it 71% to 24%. Meanwhile opposition among drivers and mass transit riders dropped to 51% and 49%, respectively, when told it would ease the burden on outerborough crossings.
