Staten Island transit has been an issue ever since people moved there. It's also a testing ground for various projects including the addition of bike racks to New York City busses. Plus, there's a giant Ferris Wheel coming that nobody wants to pay for-- at all. 

Nearly everyone thinks the commute into Manhattan-- or anywhere else --takes too long and has always been too expensive. Now it's even pricier. 

This year's last toll hike for Staten Island went into effect this past Sunday, and nobody's happy about it.

Port Authority raised the E-ZPass rates for its Staten Island bridges by 75 cents and cash tolls to $1. That makes it a whopping $15 to cross paying cash, and $10.50 for E-ZPass during off-peak hours, and $12.50 for peak crossings.

This latest hike also increases the Port Authority's Staten Island Bridges discount program with E-ZPass by 25 cents. 

If three or more trips are taken per month, the E-ZPass toll is now $6.25. With three or less trips taken in the month, the toll is still $10.50.

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All of these hikes, five total since 2011, are aimed at securing funding for the Authorities six bridges and multiple building developments, like World Trade Center. 

Bridge construction projects seeing money from toll hikes include the suspension cable replacements for the George Washington Bridge, Bayonne Bridge's "Raise the Roadway" project, and Goethal's Bridge replacement. 

Take a look at the Port Authority's toll table, including data from 2012-2015. 

Port Authority Toll Table 2012-2015

Because both the Trade Center Transit Hub and Raise the Roadway projects have overspent their budgets, the Authority remains strapped for cash, supposedly. 

The fact remains that since about 2010, cash tolls Port Authority bridges have almost doubled from $8 to $15. 

Check out the Commute Times from the Suburbs vs. NYC in One Simple Graph. 

[via SI Live]

[Feature Image Courtesy NJ 101.5]