By Associated Press
Albany, NY – Tolls are going up on the New York State Thruway.
As expected, the Thruway Authority voted Monday to raise cash tolls for most passenger cars by 25 percent. Cash tolls for most commercial truckers will go up by 35 percent. Increases will be less for motorists using the E-Z Pass electronic toll-taking system.
The toll increases -- the first on the highway in 17 years -- go into effect beginning May 15th.
Thruway officials say the increases will help fund a more than $2.5 billion construction program for the 640-mile superhighway.
Thruway tolls were supposed to have disappeared in 1996. But state officials decided to continue tolls as a way to fund maintenance of the highway.
The rise in tolls comes as New Yorkers begin to plan summer vacation travel while gasoline prices climb higher.