Congressional candidates duel over use of bridge toll

Staten Island's two congressional candidates presented dueling proposals yesterday for the best use of toll revenue generated by the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge "cash cow."

Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) said he'll push to have half the surplus generated by the $9 toll to be reserved for transportation projects in Staten Island and Brooklyn.

That surplus, which amounted to more than $267 million in 2005, has long been a sore point for Islanders bitter that a large chunk of the funds goes to subsidize the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's suburban commuter rail lines.

Fossella said he plans to introduce a bill to amend the National Highway System Designation Act to require 50 percent of the Verrazano surplus to be earmarked for the two boroughs.

Meanwhile, Stephen Harrison, the Democratic challenger for the congressional seat, took a different approach to providing relief for local bridge users. Harrison called for eliminating the toll entirely for all Staten Island and Brooklyn residents who live within the 13th Congressional District. Such a move would provide more cohesion for district constituents, he said.

State law requires congressional districts to be "compact, contiguous, and convenient," Harrison said, adding "those three things do not exist when you have a $9 toll separating this district."

Fossella's camp dismissed Harrison's idea as unlikely, but Harrison said he thinks it could work, and would rather be known for his willingness to dream big rather than continue to saddle Staten Island and Brooklyn commuters with one of the nation's highest bridge tolls.

"Of course everyone would love to abolish the toll on the Verrazano Bridge, but Vito's the only person in this race with a record on the issue," contended Matt Mika, Fossella's campaign manager. "Vito's also been at the forefront fighting the MTA to reduce tolls for residents and to invest more money in the borough."

Citing Staten Island's dubious distinction of having the longest average commute in the country, a condition that isn't much better for those living in the Brooklyn side of the district, Harrison stressed transportation as a number-one priority. Among his goals are the return to two-way, $4.50 tolls on the Verrazano, which he said would draw more revenue and spread out traffic that now goes through New Jersey to avoid the high tariff.

Harrison also listed fast ferries, the revitalization of the North Shore rail line, and a new tunnel built under Brooklyn's Gowanus Expressway as goals during a press conference yesterday on Narrows Road North between Targee Street and Richmond Road.

To help deliver his message, the Harrison camp held up a series of signs based on the 1950s-style "Burma Shave" advertisements to illustrate Island traffic woes and drum up support for the campaign.

Passing cars honked in support as drivers offered thumbs up, but at least one yelled out his window, "Good job causing traffic, Harrison," scolding him for slowing cars to read the signs.

Maura Yates covers transportation news for the Advance. She may be reached at myates@siadvance.com.