Gov. Cuomo’s 2020 budget contains an alarming proposal for the Mid-Hudson Valley. Cuomo’s plan to merge the state Bridge Authority with the Thruway Authority is nothing more than a blatant money grab.

The Bridge Authority operates five Hudson River crossings: the Rip Van Winkle, Kingston-Rhinecliff, Mid-Hudson, Newburgh-Beacon, and Bear Mountain bridges. All have been carefully maintained and operated, with needed maintenance and replacement (such as the current project on the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge) done while keeping tolls at some of the lowest rates in the tri-state area.

To be clear, our opposition to this proposed merger is not meant as a dismissal of the work done by the dedicated employees of the Thruway Authority. However, a colossal sum of money has been spent on the new bridge connecting Rockland and Westchester and we’re looking at unknown future toll hikes there. Mid-Hudson residents should not be subsidizing tolls for bridges out of our area, which is exactly what we fear will happen.