Tolls for the Tappan Zee Bridge might be collected in Rockland in the near future — and possibly for good — and some are already bashing the plan.
The New York State Thruway Authority and its bridge contractor, Tappan Zee Constructors, are looking to put up overhead steel frames equipped with toll-collection equipment over Interstate 287 near Interchange 10 in South Nyack.
But several South Nyack officials on Wednesday said the idea is a no-go — at least the way it’s been presented — because they fear the toll collection site could become permanent and interfere with possible commercial redevelopment of the area.
“They better come back with a Plan B because this is not going to happen,†new South Nyack Mayor Bonnie Christian said.
Officials of the $3.9 billion project described the idea to village officials April 11. They are scheduled to meet again April 18.
“We have met with South Nyack officials and heard their concerns about the possibility of placing an all-electronic toll collection gantry at Interchange 10,†Brian Conybeare, a special adviser on the project, said in a statement to The Journal News. “While no final decision has been made, we are actively considering multiple sites for the new system and hope to find a mutually agreeable solution.â€
Setting up an all-electronic toll system is one of the first major tasks Tappan Zee Constructors is under pressure to achieve, according to the $3.1 billion construction contract. The Journal News first reported details of the 5,000-page document on Wednesday.
Because the Tappan Zee Bridge toll plaza in Tarrytown will be torn down, all-electronic tolling has to be in place by early 2015. Completely cashless tolling involves devices that read E-ZPass tags and take photos of licenses plates as vehicles drive at highway speed beneath steel frames, or gantries.
The contract imposes penalties on the builder if the Thruway Authority isn’t able to collect tolls during construction. Those damages could add up to $14,000 per hour if E-ZPass tolls can’t be collected during peak hours on weekdays.
The New York State Thruway Authority and its bridge contractor, Tappan Zee Constructors, are looking to put up overhead steel frames equipped with toll-collection equipment over Interstate 287 near Interchange 10 in South Nyack.
But several South Nyack officials on Wednesday said the idea is a no-go — at least the way it’s been presented — because they fear the toll collection site could become permanent and interfere with possible commercial redevelopment of the area.
“They better come back with a Plan B because this is not going to happen,†new South Nyack Mayor Bonnie Christian said.
Officials of the $3.9 billion project described the idea to village officials April 11. They are scheduled to meet again April 18.
“We have met with South Nyack officials and heard their concerns about the possibility of placing an all-electronic toll collection gantry at Interchange 10,†Brian Conybeare, a special adviser on the project, said in a statement to The Journal News. “While no final decision has been made, we are actively considering multiple sites for the new system and hope to find a mutually agreeable solution.â€
Setting up an all-electronic toll system is one of the first major tasks Tappan Zee Constructors is under pressure to achieve, according to the $3.1 billion construction contract. The Journal News first reported details of the 5,000-page document on Wednesday.
Because the Tappan Zee Bridge toll plaza in Tarrytown will be torn down, all-electronic tolling has to be in place by early 2015. Completely cashless tolling involves devices that read E-ZPass tags and take photos of licenses plates as vehicles drive at highway speed beneath steel frames, or gantries.
The contract imposes penalties on the builder if the Thruway Authority isn’t able to collect tolls during construction. Those damages could add up to $14,000 per hour if E-ZPass tolls can’t be collected during peak hours on weekdays.