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Cross Bay toll plan hit by protesters

By Howard Koplowitz

Protesters stood at the Broad Channel side of the Cross Bay Bridge Tuesday to demand the Metropolitan Transportation Authority rethink its proposal to eliminate the so−called Cross Bay Bridge Rebate Program, which allows Broad Channel and Rockaway residents to travel over the crossing for free with E−ZPass.

The bridge is the only one in the city that charges motorists to enter another part of the same borough.

Borough President Helen Marshall, City Councilman Joseph Addabbo (D−Howard Beach), state Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D−Rockaway Beach), district leaders and residents said the toll itself was unfair, let alone rescinding the rebate.

“Does the MTA charge a toll to Manhattan residents to enter Midtown or SoHo? I don’t think so,” Marshall said. “The MTA should know they made this a bridge over troubled water.”