April 03, 2023
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MTA Bridges and Tunnels Celebrates 90th Anniversary |
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Achievements Over Decades Reduces Collisions, Enhances Safety, Efficiency and Fortify Infrastructure Resiliency
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today celebrated the 90th anniversary of MTA Bridges and Tunnels, which operates and maintains seven bridges and two tunnels linking the five boroughs of New York City and is the largest bridge and tunnel toll agency in the United States. MTA Bridges and Tunnels was originally founded as the Triborough Bridge Authority (TBA) in 1933 by New York State to complete construction of the Triborough Bridge, which was renamed the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in 2008. In 1937, the agency’s first full year of operation, the agency recorded 11.2 million crossings, with only the Triborough Bridge under its operation at the time. Last year, the agency reported 327 million crossings – a nearly thirty-fold increase since its founding – and a record in surplus toll revenue of nearly $1.2 billion dollars to support the MTA’s public transit services. MTA Bridges and Tunnels has made dramatic advances in operating efficiencies leading to greater traffic throughput, road safety, and customer experience notably through one of its biggest transformations with the installation of Open Road Tolling (ORT) in 2017. Since implementation of cashless tolling, average daily traffic through B&T facilities has increased by 7%, customer travel time has been substantially reduced, and the rate of collisions has significantly decreased. “Joining Bridges and Tunnels around the agency’s 90th anniversary has underscored to me the impressive work which has been done at this agency,” said MTA Bridges and Tunnels Interim President Catherine Sheridan. “As an engineer, I’m excited to be leading an agency with infrastructure designed and built by some of the most significant bridge and tunnel engineers in history “I look forward to working with our talented team in maintaining our strong record and advancing future achievements.” Following Superstorm Sandy, the agency performed extensive resiliency work to the Queens Midtown Tunnel, Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, Cross Bay Bridge and Marine Parkway Bridge. To highlight:
Other significant milestones over the agency’s nine decades include:
Timeline of facilities’ opening years: 1936 – Robert F. Kennedy, TBA's first facility, formerly known as the Triborough Bridge 1936 – Henry Hudson Bridge Lower Level, became part of TBA in 1941 1938 – Henry Hudson Bridge Upper Level 1937 – Marine Parkway Bridge 1939 – Bronx Whitestone Bridge 1939 – Cross Bay Bridge, rebuilt in 1970 1940 – Queens Midtown Tunnel 1950 – Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, formerly known as the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel 1961 – Throgs Neck Bridge 1964 – Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge (today’s upper level) 1969 – Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge Lower Level Looking Ahead MTA Bridges and Tunnels is planning further enhancements to customer experience and road safety through safety improvement projects focused on reducing congestion. Additionally, in coordination with NYC Department of Transportation, Bridges and Tunnels plays a significant role in improving regional mobility for bicyclists, pedestrians and micromobility users through Extending Transit’s Reach, through the MTA’s recently released Bicycle, Pedestrian and Micromobility Strategic Action Plan. At the RFK Bridge where the TBA began in 1933, crews are building a 650-foot long stair-free ramp connecting the bridge’s walkway to the Manhattan Greenway being developed on the Harlem River. |
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