Editing Queensboro Bridge (section)

==Tolls==
{{further|Congestion pricing in New York City#Tolls}}

There was originally a ten-cent toll to drive over the bridge,<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 4, 1909 |title=White Maps New Bridge; Issues Bulletin of Instructions for Reaching Structure. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1909/04/04/archives/white-maps-new-bridge-issues-bulletin-of-instructions-for-reaching.html |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-date=October 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019200358/https://www.nytimes.com/1909/04/04/archives/white-maps-new-bridge-issues-bulletin-of-instructions-for-reaching.html |url-status=live }}</ref> although pedestrians walked across for free.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |first=James |last=Barron |author-link=James Barron (journalist) |title=To Fans, Queensboro Bridge Is a Steel Swan, Not an 'Ugly Duckling' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/nyregion/29bridge.html |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |page=A22 |date=March 29, 2009 |access-date=March 29, 2009 |archive-date=March 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323165017/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/nyregion/29bridge.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after the Queensboro Bridge opened, the city government conducted a study and found that it had no authority to charge tolls on the Queensboro and [[Manhattan Bridge|Manhattan]] bridges.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 7, 1911 |title=To Abolish Tolls On City Bridges; Mayor Gaynor Believes There Is No Legal Warrant for Taxing Vehicle Traffic |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1911/07/07/archives/to-abolish-tolls-on-city-bridges-mayor-gaynor-believes-there-is-no.html |access-date=June 28, 2019 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308225157/https://www.nytimes.com/1911/07/07/archives/to-abolish-tolls-on-city-bridges-mayor-gaynor-believes-there-is-no.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Tolls on the Queensboro Bridge, as well as the Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn bridges to the south, were abolished in July 1911 as part of a populist policy initiative headed by New York City mayor [[William Jay Gaynor]].<ref name=nyt19110719a>{{Cite news |date=July 19, 1911 |title=Prize Fund for Atwood; Talk of One After Washington Commerce Chamber Refuses to Help |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1911/07/19/archives/prize-fund-for-atwood-talk-of-one-after-washington-commerce-chamber.html |access-date=July 1, 2019 |postscript=none |archive-date=July 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701145503/https://www.nytimes.com/1911/07/19/archives/prize-fund-for-atwood-talk-of-one-after-washington-commerce-chamber.html |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |date=July 18, 1911 |title=Aldermen Abolish Tolls for Wagons on Bridges |page=1 |work=Brooklyn Daily Eagle |url=https://newspapers.com/clip/33421526/ |access-date=July 1, 2019 }}</ref> There were also proposals to charge tolls on the bridge in the 1930s, which were heavily opposed by local groups,<ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|1222137199}} |title=Board to Hear City Bridge Toll Protests Today: Brooklyn and Queens to Send Delegations Opposing Untermyer Proposal Call Idea Discriminatory Mayor Still Optimistic, On the Financial Outlook In Race for Mayor |date=May 31, 1933 |page=6 |work=New York Herald Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=June 12, 1933 |title=Bridge Tolls Seen as Blow to Realty; Rentals of 15 Modern Houses on 57th St. Are Endangered by Plan, Says Hackett |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1933/06/12/archives/bridge-tolls-seen-as-blow-to-realty-rentals-of-15-modern-houses-on.html |access-date=January 8, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref> and in the 1950s, which was rejected as overly expensive.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 22, 1954 |first=Dan |last=Noonan |title=Bridge Toll Impractical Now as in 1951—Moses |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-bridge-toll-imp/138991834/ |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=1}}</ref> 

In 1970, the federal government enacted the [[Clean Air Act (United States)|Clean Air Act]], a series of federal air pollution regulations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Within |first=Richard |date=April 15, 1973 |title=Shift on Emission May Cost Drivers |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/04/15/archives/shift-on-emission-may-cost-drivers-granted-2year-delay-compensation.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829081030/http://www.nytimes.com/1973/04/15/archives/shift-on-emission-may-cost-drivers-granted-2year-delay-compensation.html |archive-date=August 29, 2017}}</ref> As part of a plan by mayor [[John Lindsay]] and the federal [[Environmental Protection Agency]],<ref name="NYT 1977 mayor yields">{{Cite news |last1=Dembart |first1=Lee |date=June 16, 1977 |title=Broad Parking Ban in Manhattan Begins as Mayor Yields to Ruling |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/06/16/archives/broad-parking-ban-in-manhattan-begins-as-mayor-yields-to-ruling-206.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829122855/http://www.nytimes.com/1977/06/16/archives/broad-parking-ban-in-manhattan-begins-as-mayor-yields-to-ruling-206.html |archive-date=August 29, 2017}}</ref> the city government considered implementing tolls on the four East River bridges, including the Queensboro, in the early 1970s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Witkin |first=Richard |date=March 13, 1971 |title=City Bridge-Toll Plans |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/03/13/archives/city-bridgetoll-plans-plan-for-tolls-on-four-east-river-bridges-is.html |access-date=March 29, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 22, 1970 |title=Bridge Toll Study |page=13 |work=Newsday |issn=2574-5298 |id={{ProQuest|916064041}}}}</ref> The plan would have raised money for New York City's transit system<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 24, 1971 |title=He Calls Toll on Bridges a Benefit to Straphangers |pages=314 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-he-calls-toll-on-bridges-a-be/133295973/ |access-date=October 12, 2023}}</ref> and allowed the city to meet the Clean Air Act.<ref name="NYT 1977 mayor yields" /> While there were concerns that the bridge's city-landmark designation could prevent tollbooths from being installed,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lieberman |first=Mark |date=September 26, 1973 |title=No Tollgate on a Bridge to the Past? |pages=171 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98607545/no-tollgate-on-a-bridge-to-the/ |access-date=March 29, 2022}}</ref> planners said the tollbooths could just be installed on the bridge's approaches.<ref name="n98607720" /><ref>{{cite news |date=May 10, 1974 |title=Formal Landmark Status Is Given to Central Park |page=41 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |id={{ProQuest|120003956}}}}</ref> Specifically, a tollbooth would have been installed on the bridge's Manhattan approach.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 30, 1977 |title=Study Says New Tolls Ridiculous |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-study-says-new-tolls-ridiculous/133323496/ |access-date=October 12, 2023 |work=Newsday |pages=4 |via=newspapers.com |issn=2574-5298}}</ref> Queens borough president [[Donald Manes]] encouraged the state government to take over the bridge so tolls could not be charged;<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 20, 1977 |title=Manes: 2 Toll-Free Ways Over Queensboro Bridge |pages=560 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-manes-2-toll-free-ways-over/133298776/ |access-date=October 12, 2023}}</ref> according to Manes, the tolls would merely increase pollution around Queens Plaza.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 25, 1977 |title=Better Subways, Not Tolls Manes Pollution Solution |pages=450 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-better-subways-not-tolls-man/133322982/ |access-date=October 12, 2023}}</ref> [[Abraham Beame]], who became mayor in 1974, refused to implement the tolls,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Weisman |first1=Steven R. |date=August 6, 1977 |title=Beame, U.S. Reach an 'Understanding' on a Parking Ban |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/08/06/archives/beame-us-reach-an-understanding-on-a-parking-ban-court-gives-them-2.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829121700/http://www.nytimes.com/1977/08/06/archives/beame-us-reach-an-understanding-on-a-parking-ban-court-gives-them-2.html |archive-date=August 29, 2017}}</ref> and the U.S. Congress subsequently moved to forbid tolls on the East River bridges.<ref name="NYT 1977 mayor yields" />

A plan for [[congestion pricing in New York City]] was approved in mid-2023,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Strahan |first1=Tracie |last2=Siff |first2=Andrew |date=May 5, 2023 |title=Congestion Pricing in NYC Gets Fed Approval, Final Call Likely Weeks Away |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/congestion-pricing-in-nyc-gets-fed-approval-final-call-likely-weeks-away/4306697/ |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=NBC New York}}</ref> allowing the MTA to toll drivers who use the Queensboro Bridge and then travel south of 60th Street.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gannon |first=Michael |date=May 11, 2023 |title=Congestion Pricing Clears Federal Hurdle |url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/congestion-pricing-clears-federal-hurdle/article_0ffe0214-75c5-5de9-95aa-ab2893fb9bda.html |access-date=October 19, 2023 |website=Queens Chronicle}}</ref><ref name="Nessen 2024 t852">{{cite web | last=Nessen | first=Stephen | title=Which drivers get tolled under congestion pricing on the Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges? It's complicated. | website=Gothamist | date=April 15, 2024 | url=https://gothamist.com/news/which-drivers-get-tolled-under-congestion-pricing-on-the-brooklyn-and-queensboro-bridges-its-complicated | access-date=April 15, 2024}}</ref> Congestion pricing was implemented in January 2025;<ref name="Anderson o055">{{cite web | last=Hu | first=Winnie | last2=Ley | first2=Ana | title=New York City Welcomes Congestion Pricing With Fanfare and Complaints | website=The New York Times | date=January 5, 2025 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/05/nyregion/nyc-congestion-pricing-tolls.html | access-date=January 8, 2025 |postscript=none}}; {{cite web | last=Bridge | first=Rowan | title=New York becomes first US city with congestion charge | website=BBC Home | date=January 5, 2025 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjr2wn3zvqvo | access-date=January 8, 2025}}</ref> Drivers on the northern upper roadway are exempt from the toll, but all other Manhattan-bound drivers pay a toll, which varies based on the time of day.<ref name="Nessen 2024 t852"/> Although no toll is charged upon exiting the congestion zone, all Queens-bound drivers must pay a toll to access streets leading to the bridge, even if they drive only one or two blocks within the congestion zone.<ref>{{cite web | last=Williams | first=Doug | title=Some drivers on Queensboro Bridge have to pay congestion pricing tolls | website=CBS New York | date=January 17, 2025 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/queensboro-bridge-congestion-pricing-tolls/ | access-date=January 19, 2025|postscript=none}}; {{cite web | last=Nessen | first=Stephen | title=Frustration mounts among Queensboro Bridge drivers hit with NYC congestion pricing toll | website=Gothamist | date=January 17, 2025 | url=https://gothamist.com/news/frustration-mounts-among-queensboro-bridge-drivers-hit-with-nyc-congestion-pricing-toll | access-date=January 19, 2025}}</ref>