All-electronic tolling for TZ Bridge may start in 2015

[hrmjustin]

Khurram Saeed

SOUTH NYACK – The state Thruway Authority has hired a company to develop and install an all-electronic toll collection system for the Tappan Zee Bridge while the new crossing is being built.

The state will collect the tolls through E-ZPass or by taking a photograph of the vehicle's license plate and sending the owner a bill. Eastbound drivers will pass under a toll gantry at Interchange 10 on the Thruway in South Nyack, meaning they won't have to slow down to pay. There will be no toll booths.

More than 25 million trips requiring a toll were taken across the 3-mile bridge in 2013.

The steel frame housing the tolling equipment will be built early next year, the Thruway Authority told The Journal News.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/tappan-zee-bridge/2014/07/25/electronic-tolling-tz-bridge-may-start/13179195/

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Not sure if I agree with this...

To have an EZPass, you need a credit card. What about those who do not have said credit to gain a credit card->an EZPass? Are they to be harassed by the state when they had change in their pocket to pay the toll, but the toll basket was removed?

[hrmjustin]

2. It does seem unfair. It will certainly cause delays.

[Cooley Hurd]

3. I don't think it will cause delays in traffic...

...but the "bureau of collecting unpaid tolls" will have a hiring bonanza!

[hrmjustin]

4. It could if your trying to make exact change.

Yes it seems like a way fof some to make money off of this.

[yeoman6987]

7. I think it is a way to end the toll "takers" at the booths

Less jobs to pay for. Although maybe they will move into the office to help send letters to those who do not have an ez Pass which will be billed by letter using their license plate.

[hrmjustin]

9. Yeah, they are always looking to cut their labor.

[yeoman6987]

6. I hear they won't allow you to reregister your car if you owe toll bills

All the states figure out a way to make folks pay one way or the other.

[hrmjustin]

10. I bet friends of the governor are making money off it.

[yeoman6987]

5. It says they will send the bill to the registration address though the license plate

So nobody needs a credit card at all.

[hrmjustin]

12. so visitors to the state don't have to get an ezpass. that makes it easier but there will be job

losses.

[sabbat hunter]

8. This is the future

which will speed up traffic across the bridge as cars/trucks/etc won't have to slow down/stop at a toll plaza. It has already been done at some area bridges (Henry Hudson Bridge), where a picture is taken, and a bill sent to the address where the car is registered.

[hrmjustin]

11. So even if you are a visitor of tge state they can find you and send a bill to you?

[sabbat hunter]

13. probably

by just contacting your state DMV

[hrmjustin]

14. Wow! they really want their money.

[Cooley Hurd]

15. ...which is soooo Robert Moses/1950s

WHY NOT just roll the costs into a general tax paid by all NYers? Tolls are defacto regressive taxes that disproportionately affect the poor more than the rich.

[hrmjustin]

16. That sounds like a good idea.

Tolls on the Verrazano are too high.

[Cooley Hurd]

17. Bridge/Highway tolls always disproportionately affect the poor...

...especially the New York State Thomas E Dewey Thruway. They said tolls would be imposed for a few years, but then it would be a freeway... 60 years ago.

[hrmjustin]

18. Once they have the revenue they won't part with it.