If he is against this increase then he should be ready to abolish the thruway authority altogether. Let’s get rid of not only the Grand Island tolls but all of them. 100’s of millions can be saved by funding the canal system another way like Spitzer and Pataki both said they would do.

Take the money from the gas tax and use it for the roads and stop the funneling of it into the general fund. This is a perfect time for Hoyt to bring the Grand Island tolls issue to the floor of the assembly, then maybe we would actually see something get done. I won’t hold my breath though.

WBEN 930 : Assembly Speaker: No Way To Thruway Tolls

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says he and his colleagues are opposed to an increase in Thruway tolls. “This is another tax on people who use their cars….to and from work,” he says.

He believes something will be done to stop it if the increase is part of the budget next year.

Silver believes a hike in concession revenues and getting rid of unnecessary administration expenses are better ways to increase authority revenues.