Feds, state deny request for Tappan Zee toll documents

Theresa Juva-Brown and Khurram Saeed

State and federal leaders refuse to hand over documents likely containing toll estimates for the new Tappan Zee Bridge following a Freedom of Information Law request from The Journal News — part of a pattern of withholding potentially controversial information on the high-profile project.

In March, The Journal News asked for the financial section of the New York State Thruway Authority's loan application to the federal government. This year the authority secured a record $1.6 billion federal loan through a program under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA). Still, state leaders have yet to discuss future toll increases that will ultimately pay for the $3.9 billion bridge replacement.

Last month, U.S. Department of Transportation officials, after consulting with Thruway leaders, denied The Journal News' request, calling the records "preliminary, confidential, sensitive hypothetical commercial and financial information."

The two-page response argued that "the release of this inaccurate and misleading information would cause (the Thruway Authority's) rating agencies to downgrade its credit ratings" and could increase its borrowing costs.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/tappan-zee-bridge/2014/06/06/feds-state-deny-request-tappan-zee-toll-documents/10093753/