KINGSTON – Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach added his voice on Tuesday to those who oppose any consideration of a merger of the New York State Thruway Authority with the New York State Bridge Authority.
The Thruway Authority operates the Tappan Zee Bridge. The Bridge Authority runs the five Mid-Hudson bridge crossings. There is concern by opponents of a merger that it would lead to increased tolls on the Mid-Hudson facilities as a means of keeping tolls down on the new TZ Bridge.
In a letter to Acting Thruway Authority Executive Director Robert Megna, Auerbach said he is “generally a strong proponent of shared services and consolidation, but not if it negatively impacts the residents of Ulster County and our economy.” He urged Megna to “conduct a study to review not just the impact this will have in saving New York State money, but also the effect on the local economy.”
