NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- The MTA plans to charge the New York Road Runners, the organizers of the New York City Marathon, $750,000 every year in an attempt to make up for lost toll revenue from closing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge for the marathon.
“New Yorkers love Marathon Sunday, but taxpayers cannot be expected to subsidize a wealthy non-government organization like the New York Road Runners to the tune of $750,000,” MTA Bridges and Tunnels President Catherine Sheridan said in a statement.
During the marathon, runners cover both levels of the bridge. However, this comes at a cost, and now the MTA is asking for that money to cover the lost tolls.
If the NYRR declines to pay, the MTA said that they would restrict use of the bridge which would significantly reduce the number of marathon participants, according to the New York Times.
During initial talks, the MTA first warned that marathon runners, starting from Staten Island, could only use the bridge's dim lower deck for the race unless the NYRR paid. The NYRR haven't agreed, leading the MTA to initially limit the race to the lower deck. However, the MTA recently softened its stance, offering the upper deck as an option for the marathon if the NYRR preferred.
The MTA persisted that they would not allow both decks to be used without a payment agreement.
“The MTA is prepared to continue working towards a final agreement with the NYRR, provided it leads, over time, to full reimbursement for the lost revenue,” Sheridan said.
This year, over 50,000 runners are expected to participate in the marathon which will take place on Sunday, Nov. 3.
The marathon has been running over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge since 1976 when it first became a five-borough marathon and is the only NYRR race that does.
"We value our partnership with all the City and State agencies that allow us to stage all of our events, including the marathon," Crystal Howard, senior vice president of NYRR said. "We remain willing to negotiate, but any resolution should reflect the significant value the MTA derives from the marathon, including the increased ridership over marathon weekend."
The news comes as a judge in New Jersey is set to listen to arguments in New Jersey's case against New York's congestion pricing, which will charge cars $15 to enter downtown Manhattan starting in mid-June.
New Jersey is challenging the plan in court, wanting a detailed study on how it might affect the environment.
"You are not eliminating pollution, you are just displacing it from Manhattan to New Jersey," Murphy said during a press conference on Tuesday. "And you're charging our commuters an exorbitant fee on top of that."