The full Metropolitan Transportation Authority board voted Wednesday to revoke free E-ZPass tags for city employees - a perk which has been offered for decades. The board barely passed the measure, 7-6.
The MTA's finance committee narrowly approved a plan earlier this week, which requires police, fire, and other agencies to get their own pre-paid E-ZPass accounts, just like other drivers.
For the last 50 years, the MTA has allowed other government agencies to pass through the tolls free of charge.
The MTA is facing a $900 million deficit, and officials say this will generate about $10 million a year. The deficit could also lead to cuts in subway, bus, and commuter rail service.
Meanwhile, a top city official warned on Wednesday that the�MTA was putting its relations with City Hall at risk by deciding to make official city vehicles, including fire trucks and police cruisers, pay tolls to cross the authority�s bridges and tunnels.
Despite the warning from the official, Mark Page, the city budget director, the authority�s board decided to go ahead with the new charges by an unusually close vote of 7 to 6. Among those voting against the measure were Mr. Page and the three other mayoral appointees on the board.
The move, which also applies to state and county agencies and even some volunteer fire departments - including Hatzolah - reverses a longstanding policy of giving many public agencies free E-ZPass tags. It is expected to bring the authority an additional $10 million in yearly revenue.
NOTE: Only Hatzolah ambulances have E-ZPass privileges, and not the more than 1000 volunteers.
(Source: NY1 / NY Times)
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=24028
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