The estimated $14 toll for the replacement to the Tappan Zee Bridge may be reduced if the state can build a less expensive structure, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a letter to the state Thruway Authority.

Cuomo, who appeared this morning on Fred Dicker’s Talk-1300 show as well as Susan Arbetter’s Capitol Pressroom, said it was possible that the bridge can be financed differently in order to save money and prevent a large toll hike.

The fare on the Tappan Zee Bridge now is $5.

“I request that you work with my administration to convene a task force of Thruway, state, federal and local officials to explore ways to reduce these increases,” Cuomo wrote in the letter to the authority, which praised its work on the environmental impact statement “We have done this successfully in similar situations where a bridge crossing is a necessity for local residents.”

Cuomo said the authority should work with members of Congress to maximize federal funding for the bridge, expand discount programs for residents of Westchester and Rockland counties and seek financial instruments that would lower the cost of credit and borrowing.

“Maybe we buy the bridge cheaper as we say,” Cuomo said on Dicker’s show. “We have some years to deal with this.”

Cuomo has ramped up his efforts in the last several weeks to push for the new bridge construction, which includes blasting out a series of news releases from a variety of public and elected officials, including ex-Gov. George Pataki, praising the plan.

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