New York State Thruway Authority

[cpzilliacus]

N.Y. Times: As New Tappan Zee Bridge Goes Up (Along With Tolls), Funding Questions Remain

A new Tappan Zee Bridge is rising over a three-mile stretch of the Hudson River – the first pilings are in, looking like giant tree stumps growing out of the water – but a big question looms: Where will the $3.9 billion come from to pay for it?

Officials at the New York State Thruway Authority, the agency overseeing construction of the bridge, one of the country's biggest civil engineering projects, say that it will largely be financed with bonds that will be paid for by tolls.

"The intent is to pay for the entire cost of the project by increases at the bridge itself,"  Thomas J. Madison Jr., the authority's executive director, said in an interview.

But more than a few government officials, including members of the State Legislature and transportation finance experts, fear that increases in what is now a $5 round-trip toll may be too steep for daily commuters and thus politically untenable.

[Alps]

The Port Authority is the one with toll bloat. The TZ could be $8 or $10, certainly. I do agree that downstate travelers should be the ones paying. Two options:
1) Preferred - Raise tolls at the Yonkers plaza as well. This spreads the hurt out more and probably cuts off the severity of reactions.
2) Not preferred - Convert the truck-only WB-only plaza between Airmont and I-287 into a full plaza - or at least full WB. That would help balance the TZ (EB-only) tolls, but now you're introducing a toll where there was none before.

[hotdogPi]

Don't raise the toll. If it is increased to $8-$10, people will get the idea to increase the toll on US 6 and I-84.

[dgolub]

The Port Authority is the one with toll bloat.

Ditto for the MTA.  The Tappan Zee is cheap by comparison.

[dgolub]

1) Preferred - Raise tolls at the Yonkers plaza as well. This spreads the hurt out more and probably cuts off the severity of reactions.

If people don't want to pay it, they could just take the Sprain or the Saw Mill instead (except for trucks, of course).

[cpzilliacus]

The Port Authority is the one with toll bloat. The TZ could be $8 or $10, certainly. I do agree that downstate travelers should be the ones paying. Two options:
1) Preferred - Raise tolls at the Yonkers plaza as well. This spreads the hurt out more and probably cuts off the severity of reactions.
2) Not preferred - Convert the truck-only WB-only plaza between Airmont and I-287 into a full plaza - or at least full WB. That would help balance the TZ (EB-only) tolls, but now you're introducing a toll where there was none before.

Both would presumably help reduce the charge at the bridge itself. 

I remember (early 1980's) when the barrier at Spring Valley was a two-way operation and everyone had to pay in both directions (the "wide spot" on I-87S/I-287E is still visible in Google).  Car tolls were removed in the late 1990's. 

Even further back in time, Spring Valley was the end of the Thruway ticket system.

[xcellntbuy]

The Port Authority is the one with toll bloat. The TZ could be $8 or $10, certainly. I do agree that downstate travelers should be the ones paying. Two options:
1) Preferred - Raise tolls at the Yonkers plaza as well. This spreads the hurt out more and probably cuts off the severity of reactions.
2) Not preferred - Convert the truck-only WB-only plaza between Airmont and I-287 into a full plaza - or at least full WB. That would help balance the TZ (EB-only) tolls, but now you're introducing a toll where there was none before.

Both would presumably help reduce the charge at the bridge itself. 

I remember (early 1980's) when the barrier at Spring Valley was a two-way operation and everyone had to pay in both directions (the "wide spot" on I-87S/I-287E is still visible in Google).  Car tolls were removed in the late 1990's. 

Even further back in time, Spring Valley was the end of the Thruway ticket system.

I remember when Exit 14 at Spring Valley was the old end of the ticket system.  Perhaps the old coin tolls eliminated 20 years ago may be brought back.  One thing is for sure, in New York, if there isn't enough money, just raise taxes some more and drive out even more people.

[SidS1045]

If people don't want to pay it, they could just take the Sprain or the Saw Mill instead (except for trucks, of course).

No, they can't, because neither the Sprain nor the Saw Mill cross the Hudson.  Let's face it:  The Thruway Authority has drivers in Rockland, Orange or further upstate on the west bank of the Hudson over a barrel.  The narrow and off-the-beaten-path Bear Mountain Bridge is no alternative to the TZ, the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge is much too far out of the way for most NYC commuters and the GW and its approach roads are already overloaded.

[vdeane]

If people don't want to pay it, they could just take the Sprain or the Saw Mill instead (except for trucks, of course).

No, they can't, because neither the Sprain nor the Saw Mill cross the Hudson.  Let's face it:  The Thruway Authority has drivers in Rockland, Orange or further upstate on the west bank of the Hudson over a barrel.  The narrow and off-the-beaten-path Bear Mountain Bridge is no alternative to the TZ, the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge is much too far out of the way for most NYC commuters and the GW and its approach roads are already overloaded.

That was in response to Alps' idea to raise the toll at Yonkers, one of the most easy barriers to shunpike (for cars, anyways).  Between I-287, exit 7A, and the Cross County Parkway, switching between these roads willy-nilly is trivial.

[froggie]

That was in response to Alps' idea to raise the toll at Yonkers, one of the most easy barriers to shunpike (for cars, anyways).

His 2nd idea (to convert the truck-only toll at Spring Valley to a full toll) has more merit in this regard...no easy way to shunpike.  Recently took me 30 minutes to take NY 59 between Nanuet and Suffern...it's absolute hell through Spring Valley.