The fight continues on this end. Getting ready to file a lawsuit.

Fight Continues to Bring Down More Western New York Toll Barriers

(Buffalo, NY, October 30, 2007) - - Tuesday marks a special date for Western New York drivers. One year ago, the tolls on the 190 came down for good. News 4’s Melissa Holmes reports from the Market Arcade where there’s a celebration in honor of the landmark day.

It was a long time coming.

On this day last year, commuters finally stopped reaching for their change, and drove through the Ogden and Breckenridge toll barriers - toll free; the so called unfair commuter tax - gone.

Carl Paladino said, “This is symbolic of a bigger picture. We’ve been treated unfairly in Western New York for many years. Our legislative people don’t seem to be doing anything about it, and we’ll have to go to the courts. We’ll go to the courts.” (October 30, 2006)

The fight still continues to bring down other local toll barriers.

Rus Thompson has collected more than six thousand signatures to eliminate the Grand Island tolls.

Grand Island toll critic Rus Thompson said, “Let’s sign the petition, let’s call our legislators, let’s e-mail our legislators, let’s do everything.” (July, 2007)

As far as the thruway tolls in Williamsville, some residents want them moved about ten miles east to Newstead.

Others don’t want them there either.

Newstead resident Carol Sutton said, “You’re going to have noise pollution, you’re going to have downshifting, we don’t want to be up all night.” (May, 2006)

Now the New York State Thruway Authority is talking about raising tolls, 5% each year for the next four years.

Some of those who worked to bring down the Ogden and Breckenridge tolls will now try to prevent that from happening.

var sc_project=1609654; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=15; var sc_security=”26e26d49″;