Cross Bay to be Free to All Queens Residents
By Katie McFadden
A wrong has been rectified. Starting in February 2024, the Cross Bay Bridge will be free to all Queens residents through a new MTA rebate program.
The bridge that connects the Rockaway peninsula in Queens to mainland Queens will finally be rebated for Queens residents with an E-ZPass. It comes with another rebate for Bronx residents on the Henry Hudson Bridge. The rebates are made possible by the Outer Borough Transportation Account, which was established in 2018 to provide additional resources for outer borough transportation improvements. Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato and Senator Joe Addabbo advocated for this rebate for many years.
“We are making travel easier and more affordable for working families in the Bronx and Queens who rely on the Henry Hudson Bridge and Cross Bay Bridge,” Governor Hochul said. “Whether it’s through this rebate program or the historic increases in MTA service we’ve implemented, I am committed to making travel more accessible to all New Yorkers.”
Drivers will be eligible for the program if they register for the resident rebate program with a valid New York Customer Service Center (NYCSC) E-ZPass account registered to a Queens resident for Cross Bay Bridge rebates. NYCSC E-ZPass customers whose accounts already meet the criteria for the rebate will be automatically enrolled by MTA Bridges and Tunnels and will be notified, while those who may be eligible but require action will receive instructions on how to properly register. The program is expected to begin in February 2024. Customers looking for more information can visit MTA Bridges and Tunnels Resident Programs.
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato said, “Promises made, promises kept – the Queens Resident Toll Rebate Program for the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge is happening! After years of hard work and perseverance, through the legislation I passed with Senator Addabbo, all Queens residents who utilize the NY E-Zpass program and register for the program will get full access to their entire borough, especially the Rockaway Peninsula. I thank the MTA and the Governor for implementing this system as we are removing a barrier to secure economic opportunities for everyone in Queens.”
Reaction to the news on social media was mixed. Some locals expressed concern over heavier traffic on the peninsula during the summer. Others celebrated more Queens residents coming to the peninsula in the winter to support Rockaway’s local businesses.
The toll by mail/ non-E-ZPass rate for the Cross Bay Bridge is $5.60. The E-ZPass rate for all drivers is $2.60. The current resident discount program, which 100% rebates the cost of the toll, applies to those with a valid resident address in Rockaway and Broad channel, falling under the zip codes: 11691, 11692, 11693, 11694, 11695, and 11697. Commercial vehicles are not eligible for residency plans. Residency status is subject to periodic review, meaning residents sometimes have to re-apply after proving current residency in those zip codes.
Further details on eligibility can be found at the MTA’s website, www.mta.info.
