Mid-Hudson News reports that just five people turned up to have their say at a New York State Bridge Authority public hearing March 9 in Poughkeepsie about proposed toll hikes on five Hudson Valley bridges. The New York State Bridge Authority wants to raise tolls on the Rip Van Winkle, Kingston-Rhinecliff, Mid-Hudson, Newburgh-Beacon, and Bear Mountain bridges. If approved, tolls would rise May 1 from $1.50 to $1.75 per trip with EZ-Pass customers paying an extra dime per trip to $1.35. Most speakers were against the toll hike, but more opposed the proposed merger of the Bridge Authority with the Thruway Authority. Most saw the merger as a way to move funds from the five bridges to pay for the Mario M. Cuomo/Tappan Zee bridge project. “I don’t feel that my membership of the Hudson Valley should have to take on an expense because maybe we spent a little too much on a crossing south from here,” said said Ulster County resident Anthony Adamo. Read more about this story at the Mid-Hudson News website.