By Eileen Buckley
Albany, NY – The New York State Thruway Authority Board has approved another toll increase that will raise about $375 million over the next three years.
Jeff Williams, who represents the Western New York region on the board, cast the lone vote against the hike.
Tolls will increase by five percent in January 2009 and by another five percent in January 2010. Under the packagae approved Friday, the discount for E-ZPass customers will be reduced.
Starting this July, a series of reductions in the EZ-Pass discount rates combined with higher toll rates will result in some drivers paying as much as 28 percent more than they do today.
Board members supporting the increase say that without enough federal aid and other reimbursements, they must come up with needed financial resources. But Williams rejected that argument.
"I think it's wrong," Williams said. "We're on a bad course. We need to send a message."
The toll increase is opposed by some of the state's top leaders, including Governor Paterson. The Governor says the Thruway Authority's plans to raise tolls goes against his directive to all state agencies to reduce spending.