Atlantic Beach Bridge to accept E-ZPass by mid-December

The Atlantic Beach Bridge, Long Island’s only toll bridge and one of the last cash-only bridges, will start accepting E-ZPass next month, according to the Nassau County Bridge Authority.

The authority, which operates the toll collection and maintains the bridge, plans to activate E-ZPass by mid-December, said the authority’s executive director, Raymond Webb. It had been promoting the electronic system for the past year, after initially resisting it.

“We never put a hard and fast deadline on when it was coming, but we announced earlier this year it was coming soon,” Webb said. “We expect customer cost savings to be part of the E-ZPass program.

The bridge had been cash-only, and bridge operators raised its tolls last year from $2 to $3, the first increase since 2007, Webb said. Previously, it sold its own vehicle decals, which are being eliminated.

Commuters on the bridge using E-ZPass will still be billed $3 per trip but cash tolls are going up to $4. 

The drawbridge connects Lawrence and Atlantic Beach, passing over the west end of Reynolds Channel. It also provides direct access to the Rockaway Peninsula. The original bridge opened in 1927, with the current bridge opening in 1952 and being rebuilt in 1998.

It is crossed by vehicles about 6 million times annually.

A 2021 Nassau County comptroller's audit examined the bridge authority's funding and recommended it switch to electronic tolling. Tolls paid off the original construction bonds in 1975, but the bridge has refinanced long-term debt through 2040.

Residents of the barrier island, including Point Lookout, Lido Beach, Long Beach and Atlantic Beach, who register their vehicles with the bridge authority can receive a discounted rate of $2.50 per trip with the E-ZPass or $162 annually. Nassau County residents can register their vehicles for an annual discount of $199.

Non-Nassau County residents, including Suffolk and New York City residents, can register their vehicles for a $349 annual fee.

Fran Tuccio, 68, of Far Rockaway, lives a block over the bridge, but doesn't qualify for any discounts.

"Even though it's the only bridge in Nassau County that charges any toll, I used to use it for everything. I would go to the bank and shopping or lunch but now it costs too much to go over the bridge," Tuccio said. "Unless I have to be directly over the bridge, I drive through the Five Towns. Even if traffic is horrendous, it's free and just a longer trip."

E-ZPass readers, operated by the MTA, have been installed on the bridge and have been undergoing testing for the past several months, Webb said.

The authority reached an agreement with the MTA to join the E-ZPass program and collect tolls, while the MTA administers parts of the program, MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan said. But all tolls collected go to the bridge authority.

“The MTA is working with NCBA to assist their successful completion of transaction testing, ensuring customer tolls are accurately posted to E-ZPass accounts,” Donovan said.

The authority operated at a nearly $700,000 loss last year. Following the toll increase last December, the authority is estimating it will receive $1.6 million in net revenue from this year and $2.6 million in net revenue in 2024 with the E-ZPass system. 

“Revenue is up, but there’s been a lot of neglect through the years and a lot of maintenance was needed for many years, so we’re playing catchup,” Webb said.

About 99% of the bridge's revenue is generated from tolls, according to the audit. The authority's budget next year forecasts about $3 million in employee salaries and benefits. 

While the cashless tolling may bring more convenience to drivers, some local residents said they have been penalized by increased tolls. 

Barry Ringelheim, 77, of Atlantic Beach, said he is seeing increased costs being passed on from service calls of electricians and plumbers who use the bridge. Commercial vehicles and vans are paying $8 and trucks between $12 and $16, with the last hike in January doubling the rates. 

"I would like to know where the excess funds are going to go and where the money is going to be used," Ringelheim said. "It's not going to affect me, I’m a resident here. I didn’t mind the toll bridge, but I feel sorry for small businesses and trucks coming over the bridge when it's substantially more expensive."

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.