Comments on: As Queensboro turns 100, a reminder of tolls gone by http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/06/01/as-queensboro-turns-100-a-reminder-of-tolls-gone-by/ A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:16:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rhywun http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/06/01/as-queensboro-turns-100-a-reminder-of-tolls-gone-by/#comment-61356 Rhywun Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:37:40 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=3017#comment-61356 I've never bought the "toll until the construction is paid off" excuse that anti-toll people like to use. What about maintenance? That doesn't pay for itself. I’ve never bought the “toll until the construction is paid off” excuse that anti-toll people like to use. What about maintenance? That doesn’t pay for itself.

]]> By: Benjamin Kabak http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/06/01/as-queensboro-turns-100-a-reminder-of-tolls-gone-by/#comment-61354 Benjamin Kabak Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:35:15 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=3017#comment-61354 Fair enough, Marc. I was employing a bit of hyperbole to make my point. I believe all of the East River bridges were tolled in order to pay off the bonds, and I believe that riders were not too happy about it back then either. Fair enough, Marc. I was employing a bit of hyperbole to make my point. I believe all of the East River bridges were tolled in order to pay off the bonds, and I believe that riders were not too happy about it back then either.

]]> By: Marc Shepherd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/06/01/as-queensboro-turns-100-a-reminder-of-tolls-gone-by/#comment-61353 Marc Shepherd Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:24:01 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=3017#comment-61353 I am strongly in favor of tolling the bridges, but I must point out one thing: My understanding is that the Queensboro Bridge was tolled only as long as necessary to pay off the construction bonds. So it wasn't exactly enlightened transit policy. It was just paying off the cost of the bridge itself, after which it became free. It was Robert Moses who introduced to New York the idea of tolling one structure to fund the construction of others. The idea of keeping tolls on the Triboro and other bridges long after their bonds had been paid off was considered an innovation at the time. Of course, he did this only for the bridges and tunnels he controlled, which of course did not include the Queensboro. I am strongly in favor of tolling the bridges, but I must point out one thing:

My understanding is that the Queensboro Bridge was tolled only as long as necessary to pay off the construction bonds. So it wasn’t exactly enlightened transit policy. It was just paying off the cost of the bridge itself, after which it became free.

It was Robert Moses who introduced to New York the idea of tolling one structure to fund the construction of others. The idea of keeping tolls on the Triboro and other bridges long after their bonds had been paid off was considered an innovation at the time. Of course, he did this only for the bridges and tunnels he controlled, which of course did not include the Queensboro.

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