Tappan Zee work started?

[PHLBOS]

The lower toll was a mistake. NYSTA has had transponder discrimination for years.

Well then, I have several years of E-ZPass statements containing this... mistake for my Tappan Zee Bridge crossings. 

The NYSTA stopped the E-Z Pass discount for out of state vehicles this year.

I think you meant out-of-state accounts.  Such would explain it.

[vdeane]

NYSTA only just started transponder discrimination this year.  The MTA, however, has discriminated for a long time now.  Where this becomes confusing is because most people don't take the time to note that roads in NY are maintained by over a dozen different agencies, so instead of saying "the MTA crossings engage in transponder discrimination", they'd say "NY engages in transponder discrimination".  The toll rates are set by the individual agencies, not the NY service center.

[cl94]

Very few people can keep track of the policies of the various agencies, even most of us road people. Too damn confusing. Even if NYSTA just started, MTA definitely discriminated and I think NYSBA has for a while. Don't think any of the Niagara Falls bridges do. That being said, people in CT have had NY accounts for years because of the MTA discrimination.

[RobbieL2415]

Very few people can keep track of the policies of the various agencies, even most of us road people. Too damn confusing. Even if NYSTA just started, MTA definitely discriminated and I think NYSBA has for a while. Don't think any of the Niagara Falls bridges do. That being said, people in CT have had NY accounts for years because of the MTA discrimination.

What will be interesting is if cashless tolling comes to CT.  Assuming the General Assembly creates a tolling authority that issues its own E-Z Pass transponders AND the institute an in-state discount, there will be a lot of in-state motorists with out-of-state tags paying more.

[empirestate]

In other news, the gap is closed:



iPhone

[Mergingtraffic]

Will they do a public walk through like they did when the new Q-Bridge opened in CT?

[cl94]

Will they do a public walk through like they did when the new Q-Bridge opened in CT?

I doubt it due to length and security concerns

[abqtraveler]

Very few people can keep track of the policies of the various agencies, even most of us road people. Too damn confusing. Even if NYSTA just started, MTA definitely discriminated and I think NYSBA has for a while. Don't think any of the Niagara Falls bridges do. That being said, people in CT have had NY accounts for years because of the MTA discrimination.

What will be interesting is if cashless tolling comes to CT.  Assuming the General Assembly creates a tolling authority that issues its own E-Z Pass transponders AND the institute an in-state discount, there will be a lot of in-state motorists with out-of-state tags paying more.

I don't foresee tolls returning to Connecticut any time soon for two reasons:  1) Republicans in the General Assembly are almost unanimous in their opposition to any form of tolling anywhere in the state, and 2) many Democrats oppose the stipulation that money collected from tolls be used solely for maintaining and upgrading Connecticut's highways (IOW they want to be able to raid the cookie jar whenever they feel like it to pay for stuff that should be covered by the state's General Fund).

[PHLBOS]

Apparently, the new bridge will be named after former-Governor Mario Cuomo; the current Governor's late father.

State Senate approves bill to name new Tappan Zee Bridge after former Gov. Mario Cuomo

It's worth noting that the original bridge's official name is Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge; the only signs that displayed the full name of the bridge were LGS' at each end.  It was named after the former governor in 1994; 20 years after he left office.

Personally, if the new bridge had to named after a former-governor; I would kept the Tappan Zee part & attached it to the former governor's name (i.e. Governor Mario M. Cuomo Tappan Zee Bridge) & signed it similar to how the current bridge was signed.  In short, don't go changing all the BGS' and put new LGS' at the ends of the new spans.

[kalvado]

Apparently, the new bridge will be named after former-Governor Mario Cuomo; the current Governor's late father.

State Senate approves bill to name new Tappan Zee Bridge after former Gov. Mario Cuomo

It's worth noting that the original bridge's official name is Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge; the only signs that displayed the full name of the bridge were LGS' at each end.  It was named after the former governor in 1994; 20 years after he left office.

Personally, if the new bridge had to named after a former-governor; I would kept the Tappan Zee part & attached it to the former governor's name (i.e. Governor Mario M. Cuomo Tappan Zee Bridge) & signed it similar to how the current bridge was signed.  In short, don't go changing all the BGS' and put new LGS' at the ends of the new spans.

Except for Mr. Cuomo II would love if the bridge would be known as "Cuomo bridge". Old name "Tappan Zee bridge" is so long, you know....

[SidS1045]

Apparently, the new bridge will be named after former-Governor Mario Cuomo; the current Governor's late father.

State Senate approves bill to name new Tappan Zee Bridge after former Gov. Mario Cuomo

It's worth noting that the original bridge's official name is Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge; the only signs that displayed the full name of the bridge were LGS' at each end.  It was named after the former governor in 1994; 20 years after he left office.

Personally, if the new bridge had to named after a former-governor; I would kept the Tappan Zee part & attached it to the former governor's name (i.e. Governor Mario M. Cuomo Tappan Zee Bridge) & signed it similar to how the current bridge was signed.  In short, don't go changing all the BGS' and put new LGS' at the ends of the new spans.

No it won't, at least not yet.  The bill failed to pass the state Assembly.

[kalvado]

Apparently, the new bridge will be named after former-Governor Mario Cuomo; the current Governor's late father.

State Senate approves bill to name new Tappan Zee Bridge after former Gov. Mario Cuomo

It's worth noting that the original bridge's official name is Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge; the only signs that displayed the full name of the bridge were LGS' at each end.  It was named after the former governor in 1994; 20 years after he left office.

Personally, if the new bridge had to named after a former-governor; I would kept the Tappan Zee part & attached it to the former governor's name (i.e. Governor Mario M. Cuomo Tappan Zee Bridge) & signed it similar to how the current bridge was signed.  In short, don't go changing all the BGS' and put new LGS' at the ends of the new spans.

No it won't, at least not yet.  The bill failed to pass the state Assembly.

It didn't fail, it was a preliminary check for response. Introduced during the last days of the session, it didn't have a chance to go for a vote. Since there was no loud outcry, I would expect it to be incorporated into some must-pass bill the next year

[SidS1045]

It didn't fail, it was a preliminary check for response. Introduced during the last days of the session, it didn't have a chance to go for a vote. Since there was no loud outcry, I would expect it to be incorporated into some must-pass bill the next year

A distinction that is indistinguishable in the minds of the public from "didn't pass."  The same bill, introduced only a few hours earlier in the Senate, passed easily.  The Assembly speaker said his chamber was "not ready to vote" on it without time for discussion.

A similar proposal, to correct a long-standing slight to Italian-Americans by adding a second "z" to the official name of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, trod the same path...passed the Senate and not the Assembly.

[cl94]

It didn't fail, it was a preliminary check for response. Introduced during the last days of the session, it didn't have a chance to go for a vote. Since there was no loud outcry, I would expect it to be incorporated into some must-pass bill the next year

A distinction that is indistinguishable in the minds of the public from "didn't pass."  The same bill, introduced only a few hours earlier in the Senate, passed easily.  The Assembly speaker said his chamber was "not ready to vote" on it without time for discussion.

A similar proposal, to correct a long-standing slight to Italian-Americans by adding a second "z" to the official name of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, trod the same path...passed the Senate and not the Assembly.

Precisely. It's a fail and this happens quite often. Heck, the bill outlawing child marriage took how many years to get through?

Granted, I like the proposal to name the bridge after Pete Seeger. From the area and he's the one who spearheaded the movement to clean up the river.

[Alps]

It didn't fail, it was a preliminary check for response. Introduced during the last days of the session, it didn't have a chance to go for a vote. Since there was no loud outcry, I would expect it to be incorporated into some must-pass bill the next year

A distinction that is indistinguishable in the minds of the public from "didn't pass."  The same bill, introduced only a few hours earlier in the Senate, passed easily.  The Assembly speaker said his chamber was "not ready to vote" on it without time for discussion.

A similar proposal, to correct a long-standing slight to Italian-Americans by adding a second "z" to the official name of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, trod the same path...passed the Senate and not the Assembly.

Which tells you that the Assembly has common sense and cares about things that actually matter.

[vdeane]

It's a fail and this happens quite often. Heck, the bill outlawing child marriage took how many years to get through?

Not quite.  Cuomo is likely to call the legislature back for a special session because of the big issue with NYC mayoral control of schools.  If that happens, the assembly could still vote on it.

Which tells you that the Assembly has common sense and cares about things that actually matter.

They're also the ones blocking things like mile-based exit numbers and a three foot law for passing cyclists (the current law is horribly vague and impossible to enforce).

[kalvado]

It's a fail and this happens quite often. Heck, the bill outlawing child marriage took how many years to get through?

Not quite.  Cuomo is likely to call the legislature back for a special session because of the big issue with NYC mayoral control of schools.  If that happens, the assembly could still vote on it.

Which tells you that the Assembly has common sense and cares about things that actually matter.

They're also the ones blocking things like mile-based exit numbers and a three foot law for passing cyclists (the current law is horribly vague and impossible to enforce).

While not yet official, looks like Cuomo Bridge is going to happen this week...

[MikeCL]

So that transponder discrimination is new then? It's really harsh IMHO.. I have two Maryland tags because well I thought I would be moving to Maryland they are my oldest tags having them for 11 years but after I noticed crossing the Whitestone I was paying the same as cash I stopped using the EZpass lane and used the cash.. My replenish rate was bumping up to $200

[vdeane]

It's new on the Thruway.  It's not new on the MTA crossings.  NY has a TON of authorities.

[MikeCL]

It's new on the Thruway.  It's not new on the MTA crossings.  NY has a TON of authorities.

Man it sucks I guess I better start using my NY tag now I would hate to close my Maryland one but I guess I'm going to have to do it now

[empirestate]

We now have an opening date–and it's my birthday!
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/transit/2017/07/27/tappan-zee-bridge-cuomo-sets-opening-date/515782001/#&utm_campaign=fbboost


iPhone

[kalvado]

We now have an opening date–and it's my birthday!
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/transit/2017/07/27/tappan-zee-bridge-cuomo-sets-opening-date/515782001/#&utm_campaign=fbboost


iPhone

Shouldn't we get used to calling it Cuomo bridge?

[PHLBOS]

Shouldn't we get used to calling it Cuomo bridge?

Maybe they're either waiting for all the traffic to shift to the new span (the outbound traffic is moving to the new structure first) or they're waiting for both of the twin spans to open for such.  There's a lot of signs out there that would need to be changed; many of them being several miles away.

Looks like my first trips on the new span will be on Labor Day weekend when I head up to New England.

[cl94]

I'll probably be on it the day after it opens. Definitely won't miss the old one.

[SectorZ]

Good lord, they renamed the thing? Ridiculous...