To the editor (regarding the ):
The real comparison for toll increases on the Tappan Zee should be to the Beacon Newburgh Bridge, and not to the George Washington Bridge, which goes into a major city and commerce area.
This is aside from the question of whether the tolls on the latter have been diverted for uses other than for the maintenance—an issue now under investigation and litigation.
Apparently, no outside agency (like the Army Corps. of Engineers) has been brought in to verify the future costs of maintaining the TZB, or whether it could be widened as was done to the Beacon Newburgh Bridge years ago. Moreover, I believe current income (tolls) should be used for maintenance purposes and not for capital replacement items, which are a long-term liability (and should be bonded as such).
I have emailed my above issues to the NYS Thruway Authority.
—Arthur Winoker, Nanuet
