E-ZPass is ‘well on its way’ at Atlantic Beach Bridge

The road was bumpy for the Nassau County Bridge Authority when it announced tolls were increasing for the Atlantic Beach Bridge last December for the first time since 2007, which caused outrage from bridge commuters.

Tolls for passenger vehicles went up from $2 to $3. Truck tolls would bump up from $4 to $8 or $8 to $16, based on vehicle size. The planned upgrades for the 70-year-old bridge are moving forward.

“The Authority is in the most important early stages of the project,” authority board commissioners wrote in an email, “which will replace the current obsolete and inefficient toll system with a modern, efficient electronic toll collection system.”

The bridge authority, which is only in charge of one bridge, said that the E-ZPass system, an electronic toll collection method, would be the first time implemented on the bridge in its history. An expected $5 million will go towards installing E-ZPass.

In February, the bridge authority reached an agreement with TRMI Systems Integration, a service that specializes in electronic toll systems, for implementation. The authority will also be sponsored by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, allowing them to become an affiliated member of E-Z Pass.

Raymond Webb worked 30 years with the MTA as its regional director before becoming the bridge authority’s executive director. He explained what the affiliation means for the authority.

“MTA Bridges and Tunnels sponsorship provides us, and most importantly our customers, with all the benefits of the New York E-ZPass Customer Service Center,” Webb stated in an email. “MTA Bridges and Tunnels is an industry leader in E-ZPass operations with almost thirty years of successful E-ZPass tolling at their seven bridges and two tunnels.”

“We also have plans to renovate, refurbish and paint the existing 70 plus year-old toll plaza structure,” the board stated in the email, “for safety improvements for our customers and employees and to support the new upcoming E-ZPass System.”

That is expected to cost $6 million.

Samuel Nahmias, authority chairman, said the toll increase was also needed because the authority has no state or federal funding and its revenue is generated from tolls.

Expecting pushback on the toll uptick, the authority held a community meeting in December.

“The NCBA anticipated a public discourse,” the board said in an email, “at the onset of the 2023 toll increase.”

After disclosing it’s reasoning, the board said customers understood.

“By articulating the rationale for the increase, and through transparency and dialogue,” the board said, “the customers and communities have been very supportive, fully knowing the objectives and all-around improvements are ultimately for their benefit as bridge users.”

However, many still question the authority’s intentions and reasoning for the raise.

Earlier this month, a petition on change.org created by the Atlantic Beach & Neighbors and Coalition of The Civic Associations of the Barrier Island calls for the authority to repeal the toll hike. 228 people have signed.

Atlantic Beach resident Barry Ringelheim said the work being done for the E-ZPass was good to hear.

However, he still questions the authority’s motive on the raise.

“They are not being open to the public,” Ringelheim said, “they refuse to talk to you and I am very disappointed with the people who are on the bridge authority.”

Have an opinion on the toll increases or E-ZPass installation? Send letter to jbessen@liherald.com.