What's happening
This bill gives Kings County residents who use the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge a 70% toll discount.
Why it matters
Targets a specific group. This bill directly benefits Kings County (Brooklyn) residents who regularly drive over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, providing significant cost savings for those who make at least six crossings per month with a personal vehicle and use an electronic toll payment method (such as E-ZPass).
Exempts from additional charges. In addition to the 70% toll discount, eligible residents would also be permanently exempt from any future surcharges imposed on the bridge toll—meaning the savings could increase if new surcharges are added over time.
May impact MTA/bridge revenue and policy. The bill mandates a substantial toll cut for a large population segment in New York City, potentially reducing revenue for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) or bridge authority, which could have downstream effects on funding for regional transportation projects or require adjustments elsewhere in the system.
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Who cares
Residents of Kings County (Brooklyn) who commute by car
These individuals stand to benefit directly from the reduced tolls and surcharge exemption when crossing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at least six times per month using an electronic toll payment method.
Transportation and Commuter Advocacy Groups
Organizations focused on lowering transportation costs for local residents and improving commuter equity will be interested in supporting, promoting, or scrutinizing the implementation of this discount.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Bondholders
The MTA, which manages bridge tolls and revenue, and its financial stakeholders (noteholders and bondholders), will care due to potential impacts on toll revenue and financial agreements.
- Likely concerns
Nonresident Drivers and Staten Island Residents
While not direct beneficiaries, these groups may be concerned about perceived fairness, possible revenue shifts, or calls for similar discounts for other boroughs and regular bridge users.
Headline styles
Discounted Verrazano Tolls for Brooklyn
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10353
IN SENATE
May 14, 2026
Introduced by Sen. CHAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to discounted tolls on the Verrazano-Narrows bridge for residents of Kings county using a personal vehicle
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 553-l to read as follows:
§ 553-l. Verrazano-Narrows reduced toll; Kings county. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, but subject to agreements with noteholders and bondholders, the authority shall establish a reduced toll for residents of the county of Kings as set forth in this section, which shall entitle such residents using a personal vehicle to crossings over the Verrazano-Narrows bridge at a reduced cost of seventy per centum of the regular crossing fare imposed on nonresidents of the county of Kings. In the event the authority shall impose a surcharge in addition to the regular toll for crossings over the Verrazano-Narrows bridge, such surcharge shall not be deemed a part of the regular crossing fare for purposes of this section, and such residents of the county of Kings shall be entitled to a permanent exemption from the payment of any such surcharge. The provisions of this section shall apply to residents of Kings county who utilize a personal vehicle with an electronic method of toll payment and who cross the Verrazano-Narrows bridge six or more times per month. Application for such discount shall be made in such manner as prescribed by the authority and shall contain such information as the authority may reasonably require.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15882-01-6
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to discounted tolls on the Verrazano-Narrows bridge for residents of Kings county using a personal vehicle
Purpose
This bill will provide residents of Kings County with discounted tolls on the Verrazano Narrows bridge.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends the Public Authorities Law by adding a new section 553-j that requires the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (the "Authority") to provide a reduced toll to Kings County residents for crossings over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The amount of the toll must be 70% of the otherwise regular cost of a crossing. If the Authority imposes any surcharges in addition to the regular cost of crossing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, such surcharge shall not be included in the regular cost of crossing the Bridge and Kings County residents shall be exempt from such surcharge. This provision shall only apply to residents of Kings County who use an electronic method of toll payments and cross the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge six or more times per month. The Authority is empowered to prescribe the manner in which application for the discount may be made.
Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take effect imme- diately.
Justification
On April 25th, 2014, Staten Island residents who pay electronically for crossings on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge were granted toll relief from the fifteen dollar toll imposed on bridge crossings. This bill will grant a similar discount to the residents of Kings County. Many resi- dents of both Staten Island and Brooklyn work in the other borough and the toll on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge makes commuting to work an expensive endeavor. Providing residents of Brooklyn relief that is already felt by residents of Staten Island is common sense and will entice more residents of these counties to patronize businesses in the other county leading to enhanced opportunities for economic development. Ultimately, the bill serves to alleviate an unnecessary economic burden off of residents of Kings County.
Legislative history
2017: S.1744 - Passed the Senate
2016: S.1468 - Passed the Senate
2015: S.1468 - Passed the Senate
2014: S.7490 - Passed the Senate
Fiscal implications
Minor loss in revenue to the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.