Two Rockaway Bridges Will Go Cashless After April 30

QUEENS, NY — Cross Bay and Marine Parkway bridges are transitioning to cashless tolling on April 30 to improve traffic conditions in the area ahead of the summer season.

Toll booths will be replaced with the E-ZPass system, which allows commuters to drive through the booths without having to stop to pay. The E-ZPass tags installed inside the car are charged automatically.

The cashless tolling system will save drivers 21 hours of commute time annually. Fuel consumption will also decrease by one million gallons with less cars having to start and stop while they wait in line for the toll booth, saving commuters $2.3 million each year, according to a press release from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.

"The Rockaway Bridges are vital arteries for the Queens community and we are taking action to reduce congestion, increase safety and streamline the commute at these crossings," Cuomo said.

Cash and metal tokens will no longer be accepted on the bridges after April 29, but leftover tokens can be redeemed through the E-ZPass Customer Service. Cuomo assures that E-ZPass will provide the best rates for drivers.

Those who do not own an E-ZPass will be allowed to use the bridges through the Tolls By Mail system, which will use security cameras to snap photos of license plates and mail the bill to the car's registered driver.

All other MTA bridges will transition to cashless tolls by the end of the year. RFK Bridge and Verrazano-Narrows Bridge will transition this summer followed by Throgs Neck Bridge and Bronx-Whitestone Bridge in the fall.

"The accelerated schedule we are undertaking to bring Cashless Tolling to all of our facilities in 2017 underscores our commitment to investing in New York's transportation network to meet the needs of a growing City,” said Veronique Hakim, MTA interim executive director.

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