Richmond.com Would Like to See No-Tolls on Nickel Bridge
Richmond.com is doing what everyone is doing at the end of the year and making lists. The Nickel Bridge was number 8 on their Top Ten: Richmond in 2010.
A Toll-Free Nickel Bridge
It’s the only non-expressway toll in the city. Drivers who take the Boulevard Bridge aren’t taking it to shorten their commute or avoid traffic. They’re taking it because it’s the bridge that connects Westover Hills to that north side of the river … much like Huguenot residents take the Huguenot Bridge or Woodland Heights residents take the Lee Bridge or Manchester Residents take the Manchester Bridge. So why does Westover Hills and Forest Hill have to pay (not to mention sit in the traffic)?
That was the only one that was directly about H&H but a few others were in the ballpark including bikelanes (Richmond.com in favor), smoking ban (Richmond.com against), and development along the river (Richmond.com in favor).
Great idea…. not because of the tolls themselves but because the limited collection lanes mean you almost always get stuck behind two or three people who doesn’t have change and because the Smart Tag sensors in that middle lane often don’t work.
I might support such an initiative if Richmond.com might recommend how the City can afford to maintain the bridge without the costs falling on all of the property owners that don’t use the bridge.
The flip side of eliminating the toll is that, in all likelihood, traffic volume through Westover Hills would increase, which may or may not be a good thing.
Agree with tvnewsbadge, David and Stuffa. How about 50 cents for cash users, 20 cents for smart tag users? When do we start charging a premium for slowing overall traffic on a two lane bridge?
Why *shouldn’t* everybody pay for the bridge? We all pay for the road maintenance on a ton of roads we don’t use!
Not a city bridge. Owned and operated by RMA, chartered by the state.
The Forest Hill corridor has the *only* two toll bridges within the city limits — Powhite and Boulevard. 25% of the Powhite Parkway traffic exits at Forest Hill, which means that the Forest Hill community pays a disproportionate share of the load. Free the Boulevard Bridge!!
Just moved to the Forest Hill neighborhhod, a little bummed out about the traffic and bridge accessibility. I know the city could never implement this, but how about a free pass or low cost yearly pass for residents in Westover Hills, Forest Hills. A la the Fan Parking Permit. Ahhhh Utopia.
It used to be that way Williard… in fact the bridge was built to increase development in Westover Hills.
But Northsiders felt it was unfair that everyone didn’t have to pay tolls and sued and ruined it for everybody in this area.
This does bring to mind a question I’ve had for a long time: why is it that EZ Pass/Smart Tag rates aren’t discounted?
I’ve lived in other US cities as well as other parts of the world where purchasing a pass meant getting a discount.
Good question, Stuffa. I’d at least love to see a Smart Tag-only lane. Perhaps use the middle lane and switch the direction to accommodate the heavier traffic flow throughout the day.
Stuffa:
The tolls were discounted 10% from the inception of the SmartTag program until I-believe-it-was-September of last year, at which point all the tolls went up and the discount went away. Given my unwillingness to loan the RMA my money interest-free, I now dig for quarters.
FYI on the bridge (and I’m the one who wrote the piece and I live in the ‘hood) when it was first built the bridge was for residents – for free – they had a special plate that got them across for free. Non-South Richmonders (or Westover Hills residents) had to pay: http://www2.richmond.com/content/2008/apr/04/why-richmond-why/
Just look at the condition of the Huegenot Bridge, then tell me we shouldn’t fund the bridge we have. Just saying. As for the bridge accross to the West end; the west end has always gotten what they wanted. Rich Bast-tards. Southside RULES! (said in the style of the O’Doyles)
While I do not like paying a toll on the bridge, I think if we remove the toll the traffic issues would be a nightmare!
As someone above said, this is NOT a city owned bridge. It has nothing to do with funding the city for bridge repairs. It is a private entity chartered by the state, as is Powhite Expressway and Downtown Expwy. I think they own the Diamond as well and I want to say Main St. Station. The owned and operated public facilities and services fund existing and additional projects they have.It’s a business. So unless they are will to sell and the city/state wants to purchase it, there will be a toll.