50 to 100 percent toll increases on the Atlantic Beach Bridge

                                                                               

Atlantic Beach Bridge

As of September there was a new majority on the five-member board of the Atlantic Beach Bridge Authority, appointed by new Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

And now, for the first time since 2007,  there are increases in the tolls to cross the lengthy drawbridge that crosses the Reynolds Channel, connecting the Nassau Expressway in Lawrence to Park Street in Atlantic Beach.

The toll bridge is one of only three ways to drive off and onto the Long Beach island. 

A press release from the authority doesn't say when the board voted to raise the tolls or what the vote was. But it does say the toll for passenger cars will go up 50 percent on Jan. 1,  from $2 to $3.

After the planned roll-out of EZ pass in mid-2023, the toll for passenger vehicles registered outside Nassau County, such as New York City, will go up 100 percent; from $2 to $4. while the toll for most other vehicles will also double. (See schedule below).

For decades, critics have complained that the Bridge Authority is a patronage mill for whatever political party is in power in Nassau. But supporters say the tolls are need to maintain bridge operations without depending on property taxes.

Blakeman has an undoubted affinity for the Atlantic Beach Bridge because he lives in Atlantic Beach. 

Blakeman, who took office on Jan. 1, appointed Samuel Nahmias of Lawrence as chairman of the authority and Vincent Pasqua to the bridge authority board.

The appointments were controversial within Republican circles because Nahmias shoved aside Inwood Republican leader James Vilardi, who had been chairman for ten years. Vilardi became a board member while Tax challenge attorney Shalom S. Maidenbaum and Russell Rosenthal remained on the board.

In September, Vilardi resigned and Blakeman appointed Monica McGrath, the wife of lawyer Chris McGrath, who ran Blakeman's past election campaigns and was head of his transition team when
Blakeman won his bid for county executive.

Rumors from the start were that the new appointees were discussing raising tolls.

But it also was rumored that the authority had a multi-million dollar cash reserve.

A 2020 financial audit for the authority, posted online, indicates a $10 million cash reserve two years ago. Recent financial statements are not available on the authority's website.

The press release notes that the authority "may permit toll-free passage for any persons or vehicles required to cross the Bridge on official business as it shall determine proper in its discretion."

Does this include board members? Their families? 

Questions about the vote, the size of the reserves and the toll-free passage policy were emailed to the contact listed on the press release but no response has been received.

Here is the release: