NEWS CONFERENCE 113

construct a tunnel costs about 40 million dollars more than to con-
struct a comparable lane crossing, a bridge. Secondly, the crossing by
bridge as opposed to the tunnel can be extended another two lanes,
to be three in each direction, for only 10 million dollars in additional
expense, whereas the tunnel would require a total new tunnel at the
same cost and maybe more than the original. And third and almost
of the most importance, in the total picture, the maintenance cost of
the tunnel is 3 million dollars annually more than that of the bridge
crossing. Now I know that there are some feelings that a bridge could
impede navigation, but I point out that the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
and the bridge across the York had the same objections raised against
them and there has been no trouble thus far. It just seems that the
bridge crossing is cheaper and it gives greater flexibility, that it allows
for future expansion at a much cheaper rate, and it is something we
ought to look at very carefully before we reject it. And I'm sad when
I consider that the bill as it is apparently going to be enacted, if it
does get enacted, would mandate a tunnel instead of a crossing.

Q. One of the countervailing arguments, isn't it, is that considerable
money would go down the drain in starting over, on engineering and
such?

A. The amount of money that would be lost in reversing course
would be infinitesimal compared to the cost of the facilities and the
savings to be made by making the proper solution. And as a matter
of fact, as far as approaches are concerned, I'm sure not all that money
would be wasted.

Q. Does the $300, 000 that was stripped from the budget's capita]
improvements section present a serious problem?

A. I want to be frank and say that I had hoped that they would ap-
prove it all but I am very happy they approved 10 million, and it's
more than I honestly expected. Again I think it is a reflection of the
responsible course that this Legislature has taken in resisting attempts
to make themselves look good instead of voting for the public wel-
fare. They saw the need for the down payment on capital improve-
ments and they enacted it, and I'm very pleased that they did stick
with the 10 million dollars thus far.

Q. Do the provisions of the Snyder Committee plan for fiscal re-
organization fit in with the Michaelson Commission study of prison
reform?

A. Yes. I have had several consultations with Senator Snyder and the
bills that have been introduced seem to go about effectuating the