Tappan Zee Bridge Construction Could Change Where Tolls Are Collected
SOUTH NYACK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - Construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge could force tolls to be moved from the Westchester County side of the Hudson River to the Rockland County side, but some worry it may be a permanent move.
South Nyack Mayor Bonnie Christian told WCBS 880 reporter Paul Murnane that the current scheme to throw a system of E-ZPass gear in a steel gantry over the Westchester bound lanes at Exit 10 on I-287 is unacceptable.
Christian said it would interfere with a long-held dream for parkland and other development over the New York State Thruway, which would re-unite the divided village.
Tappan Zee Bridge Construction Could Mean Tolls On Rockland Side
"One village is on that side. One part of the village is on this side. We want to bring it together," she told Murnane.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's special adviser on the project, Brian Conybeare, said they want a mutually acceptable plan for electronic, gateless, cashless tolling that doesn't clash with South Nyack's long-term development vision.
"In the contract, it is not specified exactly where the toll gantry should go," he told Murnane.
He said they're looking at alternate locations and the two sides will meet again one week from today.
"No final decision has been made just yet to go to all-electronic toll lane on a permanent basis," he said.
