In a letter sent last week to the NY State Thruway Authority, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign urged the agency to use some of the additional revenue it will reap from this year’s planned Thruway toll increase to bolster the operating budget for commuter buses operating between Rockland and Westchester Counties.

"It’s time for the Thruway Authority to become a transportation agency rather than simply a highway operator.  Investing some of the new toll revenue in more frequent Tappan Zee bus service would be a good mobility investment in the Hudson Valley’s most congested section of road," the Campaign’s Jon Orcutt said in a release.

It is possible that the Thruway’s authorizing law may not permit the Authority to directly fund transit bus operations.  If that is the case, a good first step would be a toll exemption for Thruway tolls collected at the TZ Bridge and Spring Valley for Tappan Zee Express buses, paratransit vehicles and commuters participating in vanpool programs. 

The Thruway Authority will conduct a hearing on its toll increase plan tonight, April 11th, in Rockland County.  See last page calendar for details. 

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