The governor of the US state New York, Andrew Cuomo, said he wants to spend US$22 billion over the next five year on maintaining aging roads and bridges.
Cuomo also wants to give the agency responsible for maintaining the state’s major cross-state tolled freeway, the 920km Thruway, $1 billion so the agency – New York State Thruway Authority - can freeze tolls at their current rate until 2020.
US media reported that his plan would also eliminate tolls for agricultural traffic. He would also offer a tax credit worth 50% of tolls paid by passenger vehicles using the EZ Pass, a regional electronic toll collection system that can be used throughout New York State.
“It will make a real difference in people’s pockets,” Cuomo said. “It will make a difference in commuters’ pockets. It will make a difference in the pockets of businesses, and it will make yet another very loud statement to businesses that upstate New York is the place to do business.”
The toll freeze would also apply to the new $3.9 billion Tappan Zee Bridge, officially called the New New York Bridge. Like the old bridge, the new twin-span bridge is owned by the New York State Thruway Authority. It is part of the Thruway and is being constructed parallel to the existing old cantilever Tappen Zee Bridge that spans the Hudson River between Westchester and Rockland counties. The eastbound toll on the existing span is $5 but the state government has not said how much the toll will be on the new bridge when it opens in 2017.
Cuomo’s office said $700 million of the new $1 billion proposal would go toward Thruway infrastructure. It did not specify how much of that would be for Tappan Zee Bridge construction costs.
The state budget will be decided in April.
Meanwhile, construction continues on the new bridge. The agency recently reported that the I Lift NY “super crane” has been placing large girder assemblies across the river, averaging two placements a week. Around 50km of steel girders weighing more than 100,000 tons in total will eventually be installed. The bridge’s towers will rise nearly 130m about the river.
Cuomo also wants to give the agency responsible for maintaining the state’s major cross-state tolled freeway, the 920km Thruway, $1 billion so the agency – New York State Thruway Authority - can freeze tolls at their current rate until 2020.
US media reported that his plan would also eliminate tolls for agricultural traffic. He would also offer a tax credit worth 50% of tolls paid by passenger vehicles using the EZ Pass, a regional electronic toll collection system that can be used throughout New York State.
“It will make a real difference in people’s pockets,” Cuomo said. “It will make a difference in commuters’ pockets. It will make a difference in the pockets of businesses, and it will make yet another very loud statement to businesses that upstate New York is the place to do business.”
The toll freeze would also apply to the new $3.9 billion Tappan Zee Bridge, officially called the New New York Bridge. Like the old bridge, the new twin-span bridge is owned by the New York State Thruway Authority. It is part of the Thruway and is being constructed parallel to the existing old cantilever Tappen Zee Bridge that spans the Hudson River between Westchester and Rockland counties. The eastbound toll on the existing span is $5 but the state government has not said how much the toll will be on the new bridge when it opens in 2017.
Cuomo’s office said $700 million of the new $1 billion proposal would go toward Thruway infrastructure. It did not specify how much of that would be for Tappan Zee Bridge construction costs.
The state budget will be decided in April.
Meanwhile, construction continues on the new bridge. The agency recently reported that the I Lift NY “super crane” has been placing large girder assemblies across the river, averaging two placements a week. Around 50km of steel girders weighing more than 100,000 tons in total will eventually be installed. The bridge’s towers will rise nearly 130m about the river.
