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ALBANY, NY (WNY News Now) – During this week’s state budget hearing, lawmakers questioned the New York Thruway Authority proposed toll hike.
Monday’s question-and-answer session comes on the heels of a New York State Comptroller report urging the Thruway Authority only raise tolls as a last resort.
The Thruway Authority is seeking to change the E-ZPass per mile rate to $0.047 in 2024. The current rate is 4.5 cents per mile. This toll would jump to 4.9 cents per mile in 2027, if the proposal is approved.
While some state lawmakers, like Senator George Borrello challenge hike saying the transition to cashless tolling was supposed save money, others argue the price hike is warranted.
“In 2010, structural steel was $1.31 a pound, it is now $4.08 a pound,” interim Thruway Authority director Frank Hoare said. “That’s 212 percent increase. Our personnel costs, people have gotten raises over the last 14 years. So that primarily is the reason that it’s been 14 years.”
Before a toll hike takes effect, the Thruway Authority says they will be hosting public hearings on the matter but did not provide a specific date. Comments can be made online to tollcomments@thruway.ny.gov.
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