What's happening
This bill requires the New York State Thruway Authority to offer Rockland and Westchester residents a 60% Tappan Zee Bridge toll discount and surcharge exemption.
Why it matters
Directly lowers transportation costs. for Rockland and Westchester residents who frequently use the Tappan Zee Bridge, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars annually and making commuting or travel more affordable.
Guarantees permanent surcharge protection. by exempting eligible residents from any added surcharges imposed after 2017, providing financial predictability and shielding them from future toll increases specifically aimed at surcharges.
Could impact Thruway Authority revenue and funding. for bridge maintenance or upgrades, possibly shifting the financial burden to non-residents or requiring new funding solutions to cover lost toll income.
May set a precedent for regional toll discounts. in New York or other states, encouraging similar resident-focused toll relief on other major infrastructure and raising broader questions about equity and funding of public transportation resources.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Discount Tappan Zee Tolls
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Reported and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Discounted Bridge Tolls for Locals
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1407
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to allowing the New York state thruway authority to offer a discounted toll rate to residents of Rockland and Westchester counties for Tappan Zee bridge crossings
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 354-a to read as follows:
§ 354-a. Resident discount. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, but subject to agreements with noteholders and bondholders, the authority shall offer a discounted toll rate for Tappan Zee bridge crossings to residents of the county of Rockland and the county of Westchester and may, except as otherwise provided in this section, regulate the use thereof. The discount for residents of the county of Rockland and the county of Westchester shall entitle such residents to crossings over the Tappan Zee bridge at a reduced cost of sixty per centum of the regular crossing fare imposed on nonresidents of the county of Rockland and the county of Westchester. In the event the authority shall impose a surcharge in addition to the regular toll for crossings over the Tappan Zee bridge, such surcharge shall not be deemed a part of the regular crossing fare for purposes of this section, and the discount offered to the residents of the county of Rockland and the county of Westchester as herein provided shall also entitle such residents to a permanent exemption from the payment of any such surcharge in an amount equal to the amount of any such surcharge imposed during calendar year two thousand seventeen. Application for such discount shall be made in such manner as prescribed by the authority and shall contain such information as the authority may reasonably require.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01821-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to allowing the New York state thruway authority to offer a discounted toll rate to residents of Rockland and Westchester counties for Tappan Zee bridge crossings
Purpose
This bill will provide Rockland and Westchester residents with a discount resident rate for Tappan Zee Bridge crossings at 60% of the original toll.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Adds a new section 354-a to the public authorities law to permit the Thruway authority, subject to agreements with noteholders and bondholders, to offer a discounted toll, at 60% of the original toll, to residents of Rockland and Westchester counties for Tappan Zee bridge crossings.
Section 2. Effective date.
Justification
As the construction of the replacement for the Tappan Zee bridge moves forward, we must keep in mind the residents of Rockland and Westchester who will bear the burden of paying for anticipated increase in tolls. Rockland residents currently lack a one seat mass transit option to Manhattan and, given that many residents do not have an alternative mass transit option, a discounted toll is warranted. The County of Rockland currently pays more than $40 million to the MTA annually than it receives back in services. This value gap demonstrates the importance of the new Tappan Zee Bridge to the region and the need to address the lack of mass transit available to residents of Rockland and Westchester counties.
Legislative history
2015-16: S1659A/A1487A - Transportation/Corporations, Authorities & Commissions 2013-14: S1996-A/A1198-A - Transportation/Corporations, Authorities & Commissions 2012: S7094/A9881 - Transportation/Corporations, Authorities & Commissions
Fiscal implications
To be determined; there are currently commuter rates that are offered and this legislation would have similar impact.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.