New York City Marathon Is Being Asked to Pay $750,000 to Cover the Lost Toll Revenue for Using Verrazzano Bridge

By Trisha Andrada

Apr 04 2024, 07:48 AM EDT

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) wants the New York City marathon to pay $750,000 annually, citing the significant loss in bridge toll revenues caused by the closure of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

According to CNN, the bridge connecting Staten Island and Brooklyn has been the race's starting point for many years.

MTA Seeks $750,000 From Organizers of New York City Marathon

In a statement, Catherine Sheridan, President of the MTA Bridges and Tunnels, said taxpayers should not pay the $750,000 to support wealthy non-governmental groups such as the New York Road Runners (NYRR).

"The MTA is prepared to continue working towards a final agreement with the NYRR, provided it leads, over time, to full reimbursement for the lost revenue," she noted.

The MTA demands $750,000 or $15 for every runner, given that around 50,000 runners are expected to join the marathon on the first Sunday in November. The Verrazano E-ZPass toll is worth $7.

The NYRR organizers claimed that the event would bring millions of dollars to the city's economy and that the amount demanded by MTA would make the race costlier.

"We remain willing to negotiate, but any resolution should reflect the significant value the M.T.A. derives from the marathon, including the increased ridership over marathon weekend," NYRR said in a statement.

NYRR noted that the 2023 marathon collected over $60 million for charity, while the office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the number of paid subway trips to the event was the largest in almost four years.

NYC Is the First US City to Implement Congestion Pricing

New York City became the first city in the US to charge congestion toll with a $15 fee after the MTA recently voted to approve it. Legislators claimed that the contentious congestion pricing scheme would reduce traffic and assist in financing essential infrastructure repairs.

Numerous challenges, including one filed by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, aim to thwart the tolling proposal, which is still ongoing despite its approval and anticipated implementation.