Res. No. 594
Resolution calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to toll motorcycles certified to participate in the MTA’s Resident Rebate Program a lower effective toll than passenger vehicles enrolled in the rebate program when crossing MTA managed bridges.
By Council Members Hanks and Carr
Whereas, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA” or “the Authority”) operates seven bridges and two tunnels in New York City, which carry over 336 million vehicles annually; and
Whereas, Current standard toll rates for MTA bridges and tunnels vary by vehicle classification, with passenger vehicles paying a higher toll rate than motorcycles; and
Whereas, The MTA offers a Resident Rebate Program, wherein certified residents using vehicles legally registered to a valid address in certain City boroughs or zip codes are charged an effective toll rate that is less than the standard E-ZPass and toll by mail rates set by the Authority, in order to offset high travel costs for neighborhoods that rely on MTA bridges; and
Whereas, The MTA’s Resident Rebate Program offers a 100 percent rebate to Bronx residents for the Henry Hudson Bridge and Queens residents for the Cross Bay Bridge and a discounted rate to Rockaway and Broad Channel residents for the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge (“Marine Parkway Bridge”) and Staten Island residents for the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge; and
Whereas, Although the MTA currently charges motorcycles a lower standard toll rate on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and Marine Parkway Bridge than passenger vehicles, both motorcycles and passenger vehicles are charged the same toll rate when the vehicle is enrolled in the MTA’s Resident Rebate Program; and
Whereas, Motorcycles impose significantly less impact on transportation infrastructure compared to passenger vehicles, occupying less physical space and weighing less than cars, which can reduce roadway wear and deterioration and contribute to less roadway congestion; and
Whereas, According to the United States Department of Energy’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, motorcycles have a greater average fuel economy than cars, averaging 44 miles per gallon, compared to 25.6 miles per gallon for cars; and
Whereas, Establishing a toll structure that ensures motorcycles are consistently charged a rate lower than passenger vehicles could encourage the use of smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles and promote fairness, efficiency, and sustainability, while reflecting the reduced impact on infrastructure and congestion that motorcycles have within the City; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to toll motorcycles certified to participate in the MTA’s Resident Rebate Program a lower effective toll than passenger vehicles enrolled in the rebate program when crossing MTA managed bridges.
JPB
LS # 23658
7/2/2026 1:20 PM