Check out the EZ-Pass toll system now at the Atlantic Beach Bridge

EZ-Pass, the cashless toll system, in operation at the Atlantic Beach Bridge toll plaza since mid-December was officially celebrated with a ribbon cutting that included County Executive Bruce Blakeman, an Atlantic Beach resident.

“Welcome to the new Atlantic Beach Bridge and I say that because today we’re recognizing the fact that we’re kind of marrying history and the future together on this day with the implementation of the electronic toll collection system, also known as EZ-Pass,” Nassau County Bridge Authority Executive Director Raymond Webb, said at the Dec. 20 ceremony that also included cake.

As of Dec. 13, E-ZPass has been accepted in the bridge’s, formerly cash-only booths. It took the authority 362 days from the initial vote to install E-ZPass to get this system functioning for customers of the bridge, Samuel Nahmias, chairman of the NCBA board said.

“The board was faced with a decision of either investing similar sums for new technology for only cash, or rather a new system with the ability to accept EZ-Pass,” Nahmias said. “The decision was a no-brainer.”

As part of the celebration, Nahmias recognized Michael Merola, a longtime employee of the NCBA, who died suddenly on Sept. 14, during the planning and installation of the system.

“Mike’s career and valuable experience in all areas of the bridge maintenance and his deep knowledge in all facets of mechanical, electrical, pluming and emergency management response, is recognized on this day,” Nahmias said.

Webb and Nahmias thanked The Revenue Markets, Incorporated, a NCBA partner that produces electronic toll collection systems, and the company’s Chief Executive Officer Henry Kroll, Metropolitan Transportation Association Bridges and Tunnels, a sponsor and guide for the project and the association’s Assistant Vice President Michael Minunni, as well as Vice Chairman Vincent Pasqua, and Commissioners Monica McGrath, Anthony Licatesi and Arnold Palleschi.

“When I came into office, I wanted to make sure that we got this bridge up to where it needed to be, because I was very concerned about a lot of things, the maintenance, the engineering, the repairs, the finances,” Blakeman said.

He commended the board for their selection of Webb as their executive director.

“They didn’t just hire a professional, they hired the professional, someone who was the executive director of bridges and tunnels, for the MTA, probably one of the largest transportation organizations in the world, to run this bridge,” Blakeman said, adding he is satisfied with the NCBA investments in structural soundness and aesthetics as well as the efficiency of the E-ZPass system.

Atlantic Beach, as well as Lido Beach, Long Beach and Point Lookout residents can register their vehicles with E-ZPass through the bridge authority site NCBAABB.com or at the bridge authority at 160 Beach 2nd Street in Lawrence allowing them a $2.50 rate when crossing the bridge or $162.50 annually for unlimited access.

Nassau County residents can register their vehicle for $199 annually and non-Nassau residents can register for $349 annually. Non-Atlantic Beach, Lido Beach, Long Beach and Point Lookout residents will be billed $3 by using their E-ZPass to cross, or $4 cash.

Assemblyman Ari Brown, who represents Atlantic Beach as part of the 20th Assembly District, noted the operational upgrade.

“Efficiency for my constituents, it can’t get better than that,” he said of the new system. Brown also serves as the deputy mayor of Cedarhurst village.

County Leg. Howard Kopel, who represents the Five Towns, said EZ-Pass installation was a longtime coming.

“I wish they would have done it years ago,” said Kopel, who also serves as the Legislature’s deputy presiding officer.