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Speed demons, beware—New York City’s bridges and tunnels are about to get a lot more watchful.
As part of the newly approved $254 billion state budget, Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers are expanding a construction-zone speed camera program to cover MTA’s busiest crossings, including the Verrazzano-Narrows, Robert F. Kennedy, Throgs Neck, Bronx-Whitestone, and Marine Parkway bridges, as well as the Queens-Midtown and Hugh L. Carey tunnels, per The New York Times. The new rule allows for automated ticketing of drivers who race through work zones, with cameras monitoring up to nine sites at a time.
If caught speeding, drivers will face a $50 fine for a first offense, $75 for a second within 18 months, and $100 for each subsequent violation. The initiative builds on a pilot program launched in 2021 and will now run through 2031 after lawmakers rejected Hochul’s push to make it permanent.
“Public safety is the governor’s top priority,” said spokesperson Kara Cumoletti, reports amNY; Cumoletti emphasized the program’s role in protecting road crews and everyday travelers alike.
Catherine Sheridan, president of MTA Bridges and Tunnels, echoed the sentiment: “This is another tool [to make sure our maintenance workers and contractors are safe].”
The move comes as the MTA continues its broader efforts to modernize and enforce safety across its network. It also dovetails with the agency’s congestion pricing efforts, which have faced significant legal struggles that could determine the program’s future.
In addition to speed cameras, the state budget includes a plan to expand automated weight enforcement on overweight trucks, with new sensors coming to several city bridges including the Queensboro and Greenpoint Avenue spans.
While the cameras aren’t up and running just yet, drivers should prepare for more surveillance on the road—and maybe ease off the gas pedal, especially in active construction zones. After all, the fine might be the least of your worries.