More than 200 people marched across the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge in the Rockaways Tuesday evening to protest the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's newly added toll for local residents.
The bridge is the only direct link from the Rockaways to the rest of Queens, and crossing it used to be free for residents.
Back in July, the MTA started charging $1.13 for residents' first two trips of the day over the bridge with E-Z Pass. All subsequent trips that day are then rebated.
Drivers paying in cash are charged $2.75.
"It's unfair. We don't see this anywhere in the United States, only in Rockaway. And we have been the dumping ground for the last 60 years. And we're not gonna take it no more," said one Rockaways resident.
"It is almost unheard of to have tolls go from one side of a community to another. And we're hopeful that the sheer force of the wisdom here, and a lot of people will get the MTA to change their mind," said Congressman Anthony Weiner.
The MTA has not responded to the protest.
They agency has said in the past that adding the toll was necessary in order to help them plug an $800 million budget deficit.
You can view the NY1 video of this demontsration here.
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