A new public bridge authority would consume valuable time and money in gearing up.

Mr. Downs, 46, was paid $120,000 a year with the bridge authority.

Morrow found such a paint, and the bridge authorities relented.

Why not ask someone like Richard Ravitch to head the bridge authority?

So in the early 1990's, the bridge authority began studying options for a new bridge.

They said the bridge authority did not make the process as open as it should have been for so monumental a project.

But even on the bridge authority, there are signs of strain.

Bob Sweeney, executive secretary of the bridge authority, said the last time tolls were raised was 1961.

In the early days of the game, about 1930, there was a struggle among bridge authorities for public attention.

The city is also looking to the Legislature to impose $180 million a year in fees to help finance the bridge authority.