“The fear has always been that Cuomo will prop up the super-sized highway bridge with general fund dollars, especially since his administration has already caved on using tolls to cover the cost of roads.”
I agree with a couple of points.  The bridge shouldn’t be super-sized, with (in effect and possibly in reality) 14 lanes, and there is no reason not to add ramps from two bus lanes in the center to allow easier connections for transit.

But remember, people on this site objected to raising tolls to pay for the new bridge.  But it turns out the toll levels are very low compared with other downstate crossings.

And as for using general fund revenues to pay for the bridge, remember how we got into this mess.  Governor Andrew Cuomo’s father, faced with a fiscal crisis far worse than anything since, pushed through the “big ugly” budget that loaded debt on to the Thruway Authority to pay for the general fund.  (Governor Mario Cuomo was then not re-elected, and under his successor we had one big ugly budget after another, but that’s another story).

If was just the transit system that got raided and loaded with debt the past 20 years. They did the same thing with every revenue stream.  That’s why the existing Tappan Zee tolls can’t pay for a new bridge.

No one objected to raising tolls to pay for the bridge Larry. They objected to the fact that the new bridge was projected to be so expensive, tolls alone couldn’t cover the cost.

I recall some folks starting to stir up opposition to the bridge by pointing out how much tolls would have to go up.  That was not a good idea.

Anyway, whether for the roads or the MTA, the dedicated revenues are not going to be enough to cover required capital investments anymore, because so large a share of those revenues is going to past debts.

And this isn’t just the issue with transportation.  Just look at the recent developments with regard to Medicaid, with the federal government cutting $1 billion from New York’s funding and perhaps demanding $15 billion in repayments due to past abuses here.

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/U-S-begins-new-audit-as-Cuomo-tries-to-deal-with-4247643.php#ixzz2JwDvBF8w

“In a separate interview, state Medicaid Director Jason Helgerson said it is likely that the loss of up to $1.1 billion in annual Medicaid funding will require adjustments in aid to an array of recipients, not just those associated with the care of the developmentally disabled, and that a plan might be unveiled within a few weeks when Cuomo amends his proposed budget for next year. Helgerson said it would be “draconian” to apply the cuts only to the programs that received the excessive Medicaid payments, and wrong to shortchange services for some of New York’s most vulnerable patients.”

In fact, why not take money from elsewhere, as if elsewhere is flush with cash.

“Helgerson said he has been hoping that the state’s initiatives would produce money that would more than make up for lost funding. That reduced funding, he said, must be spread over many recipients of Medicaid.”

“The issue has representatives of hospital and union groups worried about immediate impacts; some are urging that many areas of the budget absorb some of the expected $1.1 billion in lost Medicaid dollars to spread the pain beyond the health care components, according to several people in the health care industry who spoke on condition of anonymity.”Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/U-S-begins-new-audit-as-Cuomo-tries-to-deal-with-4247643.php#ixzz2Jyt4lt9E

It’s pretty telling that once there was even the slightest bit of pushback against Cuomo’s TZ plans, he immediately shifted into stealth mode…. he seems completely unable to work with anybody that isn’t a complete toady.  How did this guy get elected governor again?!

@disqus_wlgcE8xXNg:disqus Why should support for high tolls for drivers surprise you?  Westchester towns are terrified by the emissions, increased car and truck volumes, and lack of transit on the bridge.  They realize that only a smaller bridge that has incentives for transit (i.e. higher car and truck tolls, longer travel times) will reduce the number of motorists coming over the bridge, and reinforce the TOD going on in downtown White Plains.  Assembly Member Abinanti, who represents the Greenburgh and the rivertowns along the east bank of the Hudson, has called for only one span being built (1/2 the lanes) and to keep the old bridge for BRT and ped/bike.