Resolution calling on the New York State Senate to pass S.4530A, the New York State Assembly to introduce and pass a companion bill, and the Governor to sign, legislation to provide toll exemptions on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and other bridges within the state for active duty Servicemembers and their families based in Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, and Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island

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Res. No. 558 ..Title Resolution calling on the New York State Senate to pass S.4530A, the New York State Assembly to introduce and pass a companion bill, and the Governor to sign, legislation to provide toll exemptions on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and other bridges within the state for active duty Servicemembers and their families based in Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, and Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island ..Body By Council Members Morano and Hanks Whereas, New York State Military Law grants free passage through bridges, tunnels, toll-booths, and ferries for members of the New York Military Force, including the New York National Guard, New York Air National Guard, New York Naval Militia, and New York Guard, when traveling on official government business; and Whereas, Historically, members of the New York Military Force have used government vehicles equipped with E-ZPass, or when using private vehicles, relied on a special government pass known as a “Tag 9,” which toll booth operators would stamp to waive tolls; and Whereas, Since the implementation of cashless tolling in 2020, Tag 9 passes are no longer usable because they are incompatible with the new gantry system that replaced toll booths along the New York State (NYS) Thruway, resulting in Servicemembers using private vehicles being charged hundreds of dollars each month; and Whereas, Servicemembers who regularly cross the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge are uniquely impacted by the implementation of cashless tolling, as for approximately 573 active-duty Servicemembers residing at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn and approximately 1,000 at Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, this bridge serves as the primary connection between the two installations; and Whereas, Fort Wadsworth and Fort Hamilton are among the oldest military installations in the United States and continue to serve as vital, enduring pillars of the nation’s defense infrastructure and a key military presence in New York City; and Whereas, To access this essential route, Servicemembers and their families are required to pay a toll of $7.46 per crossing, which can accumulate to hundreds of dollars each month for those who must travel frequently in the course of their duties and to access medical services; and Whereas, According to reporting by News10, the NYS Thruway Authority has stated that it will continue to honor Tag 9 passes by offering reimbursements when a Tag 9 is submitted along with a copy of a toll bill or E-ZPass statement; and Whereas, Despite this policy, no public updates have been provided regarding the effectiveness or timeliness of the reimbursement process since the implementation of cashless tolls, and advocates report that obtaining reimbursement from the Thruway Authority is often burdensome and time-consuming; and Whereas, To address this system failure, NYS Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton has introduced Senate Bill S.4530A, which would exempt active-duty members of the United States military, as defined in section one of the Military Law, who are based at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn and Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, from the payment of tolls when using a New York customer service E-ZPass account for travel within the state; provided, however, that such exemption would not apply to vehicles used for commercial purposes; and Whereas, This exemption would also apply to spouses and dependent children of such active-duty Servicemembers affiliated with Fort Hamilton and Fort Wadsworth, provided those family members reside in the same household as the Servicemember; and Whereas, If enacted, this legislation would provide much-needed financial relief to New York City’s active-duty Servicemembers and their families residing at the two forts who regularly incur toll costs because of their duty assignments; and Whereas, In addition to providing financial relief and reducing transportation barriers between Fort Hamilton and Fort Wadsworth, this legislation would also strengthen military readiness by facilitating timely access to training, operations, and other service-related obligations; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Senate to pass S.4530A, the New York State Assembly to introduce and pass a companion bill, and the Governor to sign, legislation to provide toll exemptions on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and other bridges within the state for active duty Servicemembers and their families based in Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, and Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island. LS #22742 7/9/2026 M.B.

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