The New York State Bridge Authority the Origin of the Bridge Authority Was Embodied in the Great Depression During the 1930'S
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The New York State Bridge Authority Origin The origin of the Bridge Authority was embodied in the Great Depression during the 1930’s and ‘40’s. State finances were in short supply and an originally proposed plan for the state to build the Rip Van Winkle Bridge was vetoed by then Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt. A possible precursor to the ‘New Deal’, Roosevelt supported the creation of an Authority, separate from state finances, to let bonds for funding construction and repaying debt though the collection of tolls. In 1933, during the construction of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, the Authority acquired the Mid-Hudson Bridge, originally built by the State Department of Public Works in 1930. Of note, the toll for a round trip across the Mid-Hudson Bridge for a car with 3 passengers in 1933 was $2.20, more than the $1.25 charged today. The 1933 $1 toll for a one horse wagon is no longer charged. The Rip Van Winkle Bridge was dedicated in 1935. The Bear Mountain Bridge, originally built by a private venture in 1923, was sold to the Authority in 1940. The Authority dedicated the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge in 1957, the first span of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge in 1963 and the second span in 1980. Statutory Authority The law creating the New York State Bridge Authority is found in the Bridge Authority Act, currently Sections 525 to 542 of the New York Public Authorities Law and defines the Bridge Authority’s mission as “to maintain and operate the safe vehicle crossings over the Hudson River entrusted to its jurisdiction for the economic and social benefit of the people of the State of New York.” The crossings listed in the statute are: the Rip Van Winkle Bridge between Hudson and Catskill; the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge; the Mid-Hudson Bridge between Poughkeepsie and Highland; the parallel Newburgh-Beacon spans; and the Bear Mountain Bridge. The Authority believes its mandate imposes a responsibility to provide reliable, safe and convenient access across the river to all lawful traffic and to achieve that goal within the framework of a sound long-term financial policy. The elements of that policy are: An unqualified commitment to meet all obligations to the bondholders in the full letter and spirit of the Authority’s General Revenue Bond Resolution and the covenants made therein; A vigorous, integrated program of inspection, maintenance, repair and rehabilitation to insure the structural integrity of its facilities and the safety of its patrons; Control of expenditures to the extent consistent with prudent stewardship and responsible administration; and The lowest possible toll rates which at the same time enable the Authority to meet its obligations and responsibilities as well as provide for adequate financial reserves. The area of New York State Law that empowers the New York State Bridge Authority is found in the Consolidated Laws of New York under Public Authorities, Article 3 (Bridge & Tunnel Authorities), Title 2 (Section 525-542): New York State Bridge Authority. New York State Bridge Authority Statute TITLE 2 NEW YORK STATE BRIDGE AUTHORITY Section 525. Short title. 526. Definitions. 526-a. Ceremonial designation. 527. New York State Bridge Authority. 528. Powers of the authority. 529. Acquisition of land; dedication by counties, towns or villages. 530. Construction contracts. 531. Moneys of the authority. 532. Bonds of the authority. 532-a. Notes of the authority. 533. Agreement of the state. 534. State not liable on bonds. 535. Bonds and notes legal investments for fiduciaries. 536. Tax contract by the state. 537. Remedies of bondholders. 538. Tolls, rules and regulations. 539. Powers of the comptroller. 540. Actions against the authority. 541. Title not affected if in part unconstitutional or ineffective. 542. Inconsistent provisions in other acts superseded. § 525. Short title. This title may be cited as the "State Bridge Authority Act." § 526. Definitions. As used or referred to in this title, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context, 1. The term "authority" shall mean the New York State Bridge Authority created by section five hundred twenty-seven of this chapter; 2. The term "commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of transportation in the department of transportation; 3. The term "department" shall mean the state department of transportation; 4. The term "board" shall mean the members of the authority; 5. The term "Franklin Delano Roosevelt Mid-Hudson bridge" shall be deemed to mean the bridge constructed pursuant to chapter nine hundred of the laws of nineteen hundred twenty-three, as amended; 6. The term "Rip Van Winkle bridge" shall be deemed to mean the bridge constructed across the Hudson river north of the village of Catskill and south of the city of Hudson; 7. The term "Bear Mountain bridge" shall be deemed to mean the bridge constructed by the Bear Mountain Hudson River Bridge Company, pursuant to chapter three hundred and fifty-eight of the laws of nineteen hundred twenty-two. 7-a. The term "Hamilton Fish Newburgh-Beacon bridge" shall be deemed to mean both spans of the bridge constructed across the Hudson river between a location in the vicinity of the city of Newburgh and a location in the vicinity of the city of Beacon; 7-b. The term "walkway over the Hudson bridge" shall be deemed to mean the Poughkeepsie-Highland railroad bridge which was constructed across the Hudson river north of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Mid-Hudson bridge. 8. The term "Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge" shall be deemed to mean the bridge constructed across the Hudson river within five miles of the city of Kingston; 9. The term "bridges" shall be deemed to mean collectively Mid-Hudson bridge, Rip Van Winkle bridge, Bear Mountain bridge, Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge, both spans of the Hamilton Fish Newburgh-Beacon bridge, walkway over the Hudson bridge, and incidental roads, approaches, structures and facilities; 10. The terms "bonds" and "notes" shall mean bonds and notes, respectively, issued by the authority pursuant to this title; 11. The term "comptroller" shall mean the state comptroller. § 526-a. Ceremonial designation. All that portion of touring route 199 connecting Ulster and Dutchess counties which is identified and known as the Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge shall be designated and known as the "George Clinton Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge". § 527. New York State Bridge Authority. 1. The board known as the "New York State Bridge Authority," is hereby continued. Such board shall be a body corporate and politic, shall have a corporate seal and be capable of suing and being sued. It shall consist of seven members who shall be appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate. The present members of the board shall continue in office, unless a vacancy occurs, for the remainder of the time for which they were respectively appointed. Of the additional members, one shall be appointed for a term to expire February first, nineteen hundred fifty-one, and one for a term to expire February first, nineteen hundred fifty-two. Their successors and any additional appointees shall be appointed, one annually, for terms of five years each from the first day of February; provided that the person appointed as successor to the member heretofore appointed for a three year term which expired February first, nineteen hundred forty-seven, shall be appointed for a term to expire February first, nineteen hundred fifty. Vacancies in the office of such board occurring otherwise than by expiration of term also shall be filled by the governor by appointment by and with the advice and consent of the senate for the unexpired term, and the provisions of section thirty-nine of the public officers law relating to recess appointments shall apply to such board. Such board shall choose from its members a chairman. The members of such board shall be paid or reimbursed for their necessary expenses incurred under this title, but shall receive no compensation for their services. 2. Such board and its corporate existence shall continue so long as it shall have bonds or other obligations outstanding (including bonds or obligations hereafter issued or incurred) and until its existence shall be terminated by law. Upon ceasing to exist all of its rights and properties shall pass to the state. § 528. Powers of the authority. The authority shall have power 1. To acquire, hold and dispose of personal property for its corporate purposes; 1-a. To hold in the name of the state any real property acquired for its corporate purposes and, with the approval of the commissioner, to sell, lease, exchange, or otherwise dispose of any real property or rights or easements therein, heretofore or hereafter acquired pursuant to the "state bridge authority act", determined by it to be not necessary for its corporate purposes, and shall accept ownership of the walkway over the Hudson bridge in the name of the state, and acquire such incidental roads, approaches, structures and facilities as may be necessary. 1-b. To accept from any person gifts of money or property for its corporate purposes. 2. To make by-laws for the management and regulation of its affairs; 3. With the consent of the commissioner to use the agents, employees and facilities of the department, paying its proper proportion of the compensation and expenses of such agents and employees and of the cost of such facilities; 4. To appoint officers, agents and employees and fix their compensation; subject, however, to the provisions of the civil service law, which shall apply to the authority as a municipal corporation other than a city; 5. To make contracts, and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient; 6. To conduct a study regarding traffic congestion and capacity needs in and around the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Mid-Hudson bridge and to make recommendations concerning reasonable alternatives designed to alleviate any known capacity deficiencies in and around such bridge.