p1 tolls Verrazano Bridge

Just days before the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the Metropolitan Tansportation Authority announced it is considering raising the one way cash toll for cars from $15 to $16 in 2015. When the bridge opened in 1964 the toll was $50 cents. (Staten Island Advance/Steve Zaffarano)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- From 50 cents to $16 in 50 years.

Say it isn't so.

Only days before the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Monday announced it is considering a proposal that would raise the one-way cash toll for cars on the bridge from $15 to $16. When the bridge opened in 1964, the cash toll was a mere 50-cents each way.

Subway, bus and express bus fares would also go up, as well as tolls on other MTA crossings, including the Hugh L. Carey/Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel linking Brooklyn and lower Manhattan, under the proposals put forth Monday by the MTA.

Under the proposals, tolls and fares would rise 4 percent over two years, or 2 percent each year through 2016.

"The MTA is keeping its promise to ensure fare and toll increases are as low as possible, and these options are designed to minimize their impact on our customers," said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast.

"We have cut more than $1 billion from our ongoing expenses, but a modest fare and toll increase is necessary to balance our budget against the increased costs of providing the bus, subway, railroad and paratransit service that is the backbone of the region's mobility and economic growth," he said.

Here are the proposed Verrazano Bridge toll increases:

The one-way car cash toll would rise from $15 to $16.

The non-resident EZ Pass toll would rise from $10.66 to $11.08.

The Staten Island resident EZ Pass toll would rise from $6 to $6.24 for drivers making more than two trips per month, and from $6.36 to $6.60 for drivers making fewer than three trips per month.

The toll using a Staten Island Resident Token would rise from $8.53 to $8.86.

Tolls for commercial trucks and vehicles would rise between $2 to $4, depending upon the number of axles, and EZ Pass use.

Here are the proposed bus, subway and express bus fare increases:

One-way local bus and subway fares would rise from $2.50 to $2.75.

One way express bus fares would rise from $6 to $6.50.

30-day MetroCards would rise from $112 to $116.50.

7-day express bus MetroCards would rise from $55 to $57.25

Access-a-Ride fares would rise from $2.50 to $2.75.

The new fare and toll proposals will be the subject of public hearings in December.

The Staten Island public hearing will take place Wednesday evening, Dec. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m., in the Williamson Theater, Center for the Arts building at the College of Staten Island, 2800 Victory Blvd., Willowbrook. Registration is required; doors will open at 5 p.m. for registration.

Comments can also be submitted via e-mail through the MTA website, www.mta.info, or by letter to MTA Government Affairs, 347 Madison Ave., New York, 10017. More information on the toll and fare proposals is also available on the MTA website.

The MTA Board will review public input and may opt to modify the toll and fare hike proposals before voting on them in January 2015.

The hikes are scheduled to take effect in March 2015.