In November, greater than 50,000 runners will run the New York Metropolis Marathon on an iconic route that features quite a few bridge crossings, together with, initially, the spectacular Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, which connects Staten Island with Brooklyn. Each higher and decrease parts of the bridge have been used for the marathon since 1988. As The New York Instances experiences, nevertheless, this 12 months, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (M.T.A.), is demanding that the New York Highway Runners (NYRR), who arrange the marathon, pay $750,000 for misplaced toll income whereas the bridge is closed to visitors.
This demand has sparked a standoff, with the M.T.A. initially threatening to restrict runners to the bridge’s decrease deck, then deciding to permit use of the higher stage, albeit contingent on a fee settlement.
NYRR, highlighting the marathon’s significance as a homegrown establishment and an financial boon for town, has appealed to Governor Kathy Hochul for intervention. It argues that the occasion’s advantages outweigh the misplaced toll income, citing elevated subway ridership on race day as proof. NYRR started paying the personnel prices of closing the bridge in 2021; final 12 months, the group says it paid $150,000.
Ought to the 2 teams not come to an settlement, NYRR says it could have to increase the size of the race to permit all runners to complete (leading to longer highway and bridge closures and extra rivals operating at midnight) or cut back the variety of contributors accepted.
