With Congestion Pricing coming along, I began to think about toll "islands". These are areas that are simply unreachable without paying a toll. In many cases, these are literally islands, as all the bridges are tolled, but there could be other areas that are cordoned off and are unreachable like the current areas that are governed by congestion pricing schemes.
Where are the toll "islands" in the world?
I am familiar with Staten Island and Grand Island (near Buffalo) as being totally unreachable without paying a toll. Now the interior of Manhattan CBD (excluding FDR Dr and West Side Highway) is also a toll "island".
Are there any other areas?
Prince Edward Island, if you count the ferry cost as a toll
Thousand Islands
Key Biscayne comes to mind. Only one road leading there (a causeway) and it's tolled on the way to the island.
Some portion of Singapore has a congestion charge. What I don't know is whether the bridges/causeways from Malaysia are all tolled. At least one of them is.
Boca Grande and Sanibel in Florida, have only a connection by a toll bridge to the mainland. There are probably more of those gated community type of islands in Florida, but that was the first two to come to mind.
I'm wondering about the portion of Monterey that is gated off for the 17-Mile Drive. Not sure if there's a way in there to shunpike or not.
My knowledge there isn't a way in that doesn't take you past a guard shack. Even the Carmel entrance has a shack.
If you count ferries as having tolls, and only thinking about automobile access:
- Sugar Island, Neebish Island and Drummond Island in the St Marys River
- Harsens Island in the St Clair River
- Madeline Island in Lake Superior
- Beaver Island, Washington Island and Rock Island in Lake Michigan
- Bois Blanc Island in Lake Huron
Quote from: GaryV on January 23, 2025, 09:15:40 AM... only thinking about automobile access:
....
I assumed that limitation was inherent in the question posed by this thread because obviously there are ways to reach both Staten Island and Lower and Midtown Manhattan without paying a toll as long as you don't use a motor vehicle to get there. (That's true even if you count the fare for public transit as a "toll" because you can get to Manhattan for free on foot, by bicycle, or by skateboard or the like via various bridges, and you can then take the Staten Island Ferry for free.)
Yeah, a person can walk or ride a bicycle across the North span of the new Goethals Bridge. The Bayonne Bridge has a shared use path next to the Northbound lanes.
The Outerbridge Crossing and Verrazzano Narrows Bridge can't be crossed on foot or bicycle. Just another thing to make Staten Island more connected to New Jersey than NYC.
Good point. I forgot about that aspect of the new Goethals Bridge, probably in part because I haven't been over it (I have not driven to New York City since 2010).
Tulsa isn't entirely unreachable by free road, but it sure does feel like it is sometimes.
Jekyll Island, GA.
Quote from: GaryV on January 23, 2025, 09:15:40 AMIf you count ferries as having tolls, and only thinking about automobile access:
- Madeline Island in Lake Superior
The similarly-named Îles de la Madeleine in Québec also have a ferry, and it's an expensive one.
Wards Island in New York City. You must access from the Triborough Bridge unless on foot there is a footbridge ( the 103td Street Bridge) that pedestrians can use from Manhattan.
Michigan's upper peninsula, unless you want to detour 800 miles around Lake Michigan, which Google maps wont even bother trying when avoiding tolls.
Quote from: michiganguy123 on January 23, 2025, 03:03:20 PMMichigan's upper peninsula, unless you want to detour 800 miles around Lake Michigan, which Google maps wont even bother trying when avoiding tolls.
Pfft. This doesn't fit the OP's intention by a long shot.
Especially for the millions of people living west of the UP...
Quote from: michiganguy123 on January 23, 2025, 03:03:20 PMMichigan's upper peninsula, unless you want to detour 800 miles around Lake Michigan, which Google maps wont even bother trying when avoiding tolls.
Wow... you're... assuming that nobody goes to the UP from Wisconsin?
I have entered Michigan's upper peninsula one time, and there was no toll.
I have entered Michigan's lower peninsula four times, and two of those times required a toll.
Quote from: roadman65 on January 23, 2025, 01:45:56 PMWards Island in New York City. You must access from the Triborough Bridge unless on foot there is a footbridge ( the 103td Street Bridge) that pedestrians can use from Manhattan.
Not Randalls Island?
Quote from: kphoger on January 23, 2025, 03:08:33 PMI have entered Michigan's upper peninsula one time, and there was no toll.
Wasn't that cause you were hitchhiking, though?
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 23, 2025, 04:15:23 PMWasn't that cause you were hitchhiking, though?
I did hitchhike on that trip. But I would have counted the toll anyway, because the driver would still have had to pay a toll. In fact, I crossed into the UP on Greyhound, but the bus didn't have to pay a toll either, because the bridge from Marinette to Menominee is free.
One of the four times I entered the lower peninsula was hitchhiking south down the Mackinac Bridge. A toll was required. I counted it, even though the driver is the one who had to pay it.
(For what it's worth, I have paid a highway toll while hitchhiking. The first time I attempted a long-distance hitchhiking trip, I flew a sign at the on-ramp from IL-38 to SB IL-355 (Lombard, IL) that said "I-55 South / will pay tolls". A guy stopped, I paid the on-ramp toll, and then he let me out at Boughton Road.)
The entire Hudson River Valley south of and including the Castleton-On-Hudson Bridge is a toll island in the eastbound direction.
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on January 23, 2025, 06:32:01 PMThe entire Hudson River Valley south of and including the Castleton-On-Hudson Bridge is a toll island in the eastbound direction.
Pfft. Albany bridges aren't that far away.
Trains have to make the trek to Selkirk Yard to cross the Hudson...
Île de Ré in Western France.
Grosse Ile would be if anything happened to the free bridge.
Quote from: GaryV on January 23, 2025, 09:15:40 AMIf you count ferries as having tolls, and only thinking about automobile access:
- Sugar Island, Neebish Island and Drummond Island in the St Marys River
- Harsens Island in the St Clair River
- Madeline Island in Lake Superior
- Beaver Island, Washington Island and Rock Island in Lake Michigan
- Bois Blanc Island in Lake Huron
You forgot Mackinac Island and Isle Royale. You aren't getting to either one of those islands without paying.
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 24, 2025, 07:54:08 AMQuote from: GaryV on January 23, 2025, 09:15:40 AMIf you count ferries as having tolls, and only thinking about automobile access:
- Sugar Island, Neebish Island and Drummond Island in the St Marys River
- Harsens Island in the St Clair River
- Madeline Island in Lake Superior
- Beaver Island, Washington Island and Rock Island in Lake Michigan
- Bois Blanc Island in Lake Huron
You forgot Mackinac Island and Isle Royale. You aren't getting to either one of those islands without paying.
I don't think you're getting an automobile to either one of them, though.
Quote from: Rothman on January 23, 2025, 06:34:22 PMQuote from: RobbieL2415 on January 23, 2025, 06:32:01 PMThe entire Hudson River Valley south of and including the Castleton-On-Hudson Bridge is a toll island in the eastbound direction.
Pfft. Albany bridges aren't that far away.
Trains have to make the trek to Selkirk Yard to cross the Hudson...
Well, diesel locomotives do. Electric locomotives can still use the North River Tunnels to cross the Hudson.
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 24, 2025, 07:54:08 AMQuote from: GaryV on January 23, 2025, 09:15:40 AMIf you count ferries as having tolls, and only thinking about automobile access:
- Sugar Island, Neebish Island and Drummond Island in the St Marys River
- Harsens Island in the St Clair River
- Madeline Island in Lake Superior
- Beaver Island, Washington Island and Rock Island in Lake Michigan
- Bois Blanc Island in Lake Huron
You forgot Mackinac Island and Isle Royale. You aren't getting to either one of those islands without paying.
But you're not going to get your car there.
Does Port Fourchon in Louisiana count?
Lots of talks about ferries, but no one had mentioned all of the stops on the Alaska Marine Highway that aren't reachable from "Outside":
Akutan
Angoon
Chenega Bay
Chignik
Cold Bay
Cordova
False Pass
Gustavus
Hoonah
Juneau
Kake
Ketchikan
King Cove
Kodiak
Metlakatla
Ouzinkie
Petersburg
Port Lions
Sand Point
Seldovia
Sitka
Tatitlek
Tenakee Springs
Unalaska/Dutch Harbor
Wrangell
Yakutat
Quote from: JayhawkCO on January 24, 2025, 11:45:44 AMLots of talks about ferries, but no one had mentioned all of the stops on the Alaska Marine Highway that aren't reachable from "Outside":
Akutan
Angoon
Chenega Bay
Chignik
Cold Bay
Cordova
False Pass
Gustavus
Hoonah
Juneau
Kake
Ketchikan
King Cove
Kodiak
Metlakatla
Ouzinkie
Petersburg
Port Lions
Sand Point
Seldovia
Sitka
Tatitlek
Tenakee Springs
Unalaska/Dutch Harbor
Wrangell
Yakutat
Pfft. Whatever.
Mount Washington State Park in New Hampshire. To my knowledge, it's also the only state park in New England that is accessible only via a private road.
Quote from: 1995hoo on January 24, 2025, 08:21:17 AMQuote from: Flint1979 on January 24, 2025, 07:54:08 AMQuote from: GaryV on January 23, 2025, 09:15:40 AMIf you count ferries as having tolls, and only thinking about automobile access:
- Sugar Island, Neebish Island and Drummond Island in the St Marys River
- Harsens Island in the St Clair River
- Madeline Island in Lake Superior
- Beaver Island, Washington Island and Rock Island in Lake Michigan
- Bois Blanc Island in Lake Huron
You forgot Mackinac Island and Isle Royale. You aren't getting to either one of those islands without paying.
I don't think you're getting an automobile to either one of them, though.
Yeah that's true I didn't even think of that lol.
Great Britain?
Quote from: dantheman on January 24, 2025, 07:46:22 PMMount Washington State Park in New Hampshire. To my knowledge, it's also the only state park in New England that is accessible only via a private road.
Meh. I mean, NY has toll roads up mountains as well (e.g., Whiteface Mountain). Toll islands in the sky.
Quote from: Rothman on January 24, 2025, 10:50:40 PMQuote from: dantheman on January 24, 2025, 07:46:22 PMMount Washington State Park in New Hampshire. To my knowledge, it's also the only state park in New England that is accessible only via a private road.
Meh. I mean, NY has toll roads up mountains as well (e.g., Whiteface Mountain). Toll islands in the sky.
That road is designated (but not signed) NY 431 and is maintained by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Weird.
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on January 25, 2025, 05:22:20 AMQuote from: Rothman on January 24, 2025, 10:50:40 PMQuote from: dantheman on January 24, 2025, 07:46:22 PMMount Washington State Park in New Hampshire. To my knowledge, it's also the only state park in New England that is accessible only via a private road.
Meh. I mean, NY has toll roads up mountains as well (e.g., Whiteface Mountain). Toll islands in the sky.
That road is designated (but not signed) NY 431 and is maintained by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Weird.
Eh, it's not that cut-and-dry. NYSDOT has financed work on the road.
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on January 25, 2025, 05:22:20 AMQuote from: Rothman on January 24, 2025, 10:50:40 PMQuote from: dantheman on January 24, 2025, 07:46:22 PMMount Washington State Park in New Hampshire. To my knowledge, it's also the only state park in New England that is accessible only via a private road.
Meh. I mean, NY has toll roads up mountains as well (e.g., Whiteface Mountain). Toll islands in the sky.
That road is designated (but not signed) NY 431 and is maintained by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Weird.
NY 431 is signed (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.3893225,-73.8228187,3a,75y,32.21h,91.59t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1si-a6TqGyKE0lKFXPs5bx2A!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-1.5885341452387252%26panoid%3Di-a6TqGyKE0lKFXPs5bx2A%26yaw%3D32.21190134199098!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D), and its signage never struck me as particularly sparse, especially as it's only 8 miles long.
In Washington, Vashon Island and the San Juan Islands are only reachable by ferry, meaning there's no free way to get there by car or foot.
The same is true for many islands in BC, including Vancouver Island, which has to be one of the largest "toll islands". Ferry fares are quite expensive in BC, too (much more expensive than in Washington). There are even some areas that require 2 or 3 separate ferry rides (with separate fares) to access from the mainland.
From the BC Ferries route map (https://www.bcferries.com/web_image/h81/hcb/8805916246046.pdf), Hornby Island, Texada Island, and Cortes Island all require three ferries/"tolls" for access. I wonder if there is anywhere out there that has four or more separate tolls required for access from the nearest "mainland" area.
Quote from: 1995hoo on January 23, 2025, 08:09:42 AMSome portion of Singapore has a congestion charge. What I don't know is whether the bridges/causeways from Malaysia are all tolled. At least one of them is.
Hi! Singaporean here. Yes, I believe both the Woodlands Causeway and Second Link have tolls. Tolls are a part of daily life here in Singapore, there's no escaping them, especially since Singapore only has open road tolling since 1998.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on January 24, 2025, 11:45:44 AMLots of talks about ferries, but no one had mentioned all of the stops on the Alaska Marine Highway that aren't reachable from "Outside":
...
Tenakee Springs
An additional wrinkle is that you can take a ferry to Tenakee Springs, but you can't take your car there. Public service vehicles, like the fire truck, and golf carts or ATVs are the only motorized vehicles allowed on the town's short and narrow main street (http://www.alaskaroads.com/ATV+cart-on-TenakeeAve-DSC_7943.jpg). That's the only place on the Alaska ferry system where you can't take your car.
My local parking garage.
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 24, 2025, 07:54:08 AMYou forgot Mackinac Island and Isle Royale. You aren't getting to either one of those islands without paying.
Washington Island ferry, in Door County WI
Quote from: Rick Powell on February 12, 2025, 12:46:29 PMQuote from: Flint1979 on January 24, 2025, 07:54:08 AMYou forgot Mackinac Island and Isle Royale. You aren't getting to either one of those islands without paying.
Washington Island ferry, in Door County WI
Mentioned by GaryV.
The top of Mt. Blue Sky. Lots of national parks.
Quote from: dvferyance on March 04, 2025, 10:21:58 PMGrand Island NY. Only accessible from I-190 which are toll bridges.
Did you read the OP?
Quote from: dantheman on January 24, 2025, 07:46:22 PMMount Washington State Park in New Hampshire. To my knowledge, it's also the only state park in New England that is accessible only via a private road.
And I can attest that there was a fee for vehicles climbing up Mt Washington. I did it in 2021. I want to say it was $30 or $35 to do it. It is accessible by walking trails such as the Appalachian Trail.
Quote from: hobsini2 on March 06, 2025, 02:35:09 PMQuote from: dantheman on January 24, 2025, 07:46:22 PMMount Washington State Park in New Hampshire. To my knowledge, it's also the only state park in New England that is accessible only via a private road.
And I can attest that there was a fee for vehicles climbing up Mt Washington. I did it in 2021. I want to say it was $30 or $35 to do it. It is accessible by walking trails such as the Appalachian Trail.
Why is an attestation necessary when the ubiquitous bumper stickers say it all? :D
Quote from: Rothman on March 06, 2025, 05:11:22 PMQuote from: hobsini2 on March 06, 2025, 02:35:09 PMQuote from: dantheman on January 24, 2025, 07:46:22 PMMount Washington State Park in New Hampshire. To my knowledge, it's also the only state park in New England that is accessible only via a private road.
And I can attest that there was a fee for vehicles climbing up Mt Washington. I did it in 2021. I want to say it was $30 or $35 to do it. It is accessible by walking trails such as the Appalachian Trail.
Why is an attestation necessary when the ubiquitous bumper stickers say it all? :D
Fair point. I have that sticker on my recently junked car.
Don't forget the Lake Erie islands with regular ferry service for vehicles, namely Middle Bass Island, South Bass Island/Put-in-Bay, and Kelley's Island.
And then there's Cedar Point. I think they used to charge to get on the inbound causeway, but now the tollbooth is at the other end. Not sure if that counts, though, since the whole peninsula is essentially an amusement park/resort.