Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
Molinaro urges MTA to think “out-of-the-box” to address looming repair work delays on Verrazano
B.P. Recommends Removal of Existing Toll Arms at Bridge Plaza
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today called on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to do more “to address the serious traffic consequence which will result” from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge redecking project.
This morning, the MTA Bridges and Tunnels began a $58.5 million rehabilitation project to replace a portion of the original 40-year-old lower-level roadway deck, which will require round-the-clock closure of one lane in each direction for approximately 21 months.
In a letter to Acting President David Moretti, Molinaro wrote, “While Staten Island recognizes the urgency to complete this work, I believe more should be done to address the serious traffic consequence which will result.
“Each day, approximately 200,000 vehicles travel over the Verrazano,” Molinaro added. “Approximately 17,000 cars travel in each lane in a single day. With the closure of a lane in each direction on the lower decks, two of the lanes will be forced to absorb the displaced 34,000 cars and increase their total load to approximately 25,000 cars per day.
“We need to think out-of-the-box to develop more comprehensive ideas on how to address this looming problem,” Molinaro continued. “For this reason, I would like serious consideration to be given to the removal of the existing toll arms at the Bridge plaza.
“These arms are antiquated, and in today’s world of technology, are simply no longer useful,” Molinaro explained. “The removal of the arms will allow a more even and measured flow of vehicles across the plaza.”
Molinaro has also asked the State Department of Transportation to post a message for westbound travelers to maintain their speed as the grade change occurs past the toll plaza toward Clove Road, which would help to alleviate another long-standing traffic bottleneck.
June 5, 2007