Joseph Spector

Albany Bureau Chief

ALBANY -- Could tolls on the new Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge double to $10?

That's the estimate from a new report Friday that concluded the toll on the new three-mile span could eventually hit $10 roundtrip -- up from $5 now -- to pay for the $4 billion bridge's construction.

The state Thruway Authority and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have pledged the current toll will be frozen through 2020.

But what the toll will be after that has been a source of heavy speculation and uncertainty.

The report from the Citizens Budget Commission says a toll hike is probably in the future -- and should be.

"Increasing the toll on the Cuomo Bridge is the most appropriate and equitable way to repay the loans and bonds used to build this bridge," Carol Kellermann, president of the business-backed group, said in a statement.

"New York state and the Thruway Authority continue to avoid discussing what the new toll will be, and this report shows an increase is the best way to repay the debt."

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The report, titled "Bridging the Financial Gap," said its toll estimate is based on projected annual debt to pay off the bridge and bonds used to construct it.

The report estimated the toll could rise for non-commuter passenger cars using E-ZPass to between $9.67 to $10.61 and to those not using E-ZPass to as much as $11.19.

For local residents with a commuter plan, the toll might be between $6.74 to $7.45.

Some estimates in recent years have suggested the new bridge -- which opened its first span in August -- might ultimately have a toll of as much as $15 roundtrip -- which would be consistent with other New York City area bridges, such as the George Washington Bridge.

But the Citizens Budget Commission said the toll may be around the $10 mark because the state has bailed out the bridge's construction through bank settlements and aid from the state budget.

Morris Peters, a spokesman for the state Budget Division, said it is too soon to estimate the bridge's toll, saying a panel tasked with reviewing the options has yet to even meet because the bridge's final cost isn't in yet.

“New York is prudently financing the construction of the new Mario M. Cuomo Bridge through a low-interest federal loan, Thruway bonds, and a state contribution of $2 billion in settlement funds to the Thruway system," Peters said in a statement.

"The governor is committed to keeping tolls frozen system-wide through 2020, and numerous options exist to further minimize the impact on toll-payers," he continued. "It would be premature to convene the Toll Advisory Task Force before the final project cost is known, but the state will ensure their work is an open, transparent public dialogue.”

Cuomo told the USA Today Network's Albany Bureau in August that it was too soon to have a toll estimate, saying it would depend on the state's financial condition at the time and whether the state Legislature would want to use more state aid to pay down the bridge's cost -- rather than look to a toll hike.

"You tell me what are the finances for the state, what are the amount of settlements, what happens with congestion pricing," Cuomo said.

"There are all sorts of variables between now and then."