In March of 1975, Long Islanders took to the embankment next to the Southern State Parkway toll plaza, united in protest. Their cause: a hike in the parkway toll from 10 to 25 cents. It was a seemingly small increase, but it sparked a major response from the local community, reflecting frustrations over rising costs and the impact on daily commuters.
The toll booths were originally situated between exits 13 and 14, a point of frequent use for those traveling across the island. But the protest, fueled by anger over the toll hike, was just one chapter in a much larger story. This was the beginning of a 20-year battle for the removal of the tolls, a fight that would only end when the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) took over maintenance of the Southern State Parkway in 1978.
By that time, the toll booths had already been removed, marking the end of an era that saw tolls as part of the parkway’s daily operation. According to reports from the time, the toll increase that led to the protest was a tipping point. Just three years after the hike, the toll booths were dismantled, giving commuters one less thing to worry about during their daily drive.
The protest of 1975 is a vivid reminder of how small changes can ripple through communities, sparking action and bringing about change. For those who were there, the removal of the toll booths after decades of struggle was a well-earned victory.
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