Sounding off on toll hikes

The New York State Thruway Authority is feeling the heat over its proposed toll hikes. Hearings on the issue are being held across the state. Wednesday, it was Buffalo’s turn. Assembly republicans are the first to hold these hearings and now assembly democrats plan to do the same.

Drivers on the New York State Thruway will be paying ten percent more in tolls come January. That’s a done deal. But the fight is on to stop 5 percent hikes planned in 2009 and 2010. “We are hurt here in Western New York in a disproportionate fashion than any other place in the state,” said Assemblyman Jim Hayes, R-Amherst.

The Thruway Authority is under fire for budget increases totaling nearly 45 percent over two years…an autonomous organization with members appointed by the previous governor. “Too much money is spent by people who don’t answer to anybody,” said Assemblyman Joe Giglio, R-Gowanda.

The Thruway Authority says 80 million dollars of its budget goes to the Erie Canal system. Critics say the canal does not belong under the Authority’s wing. “I think the canal system is a good system for it’s purpose. It doesn’t really match with what the thruway authority’s mission is,” said Wally Smith, Vice President of AAA of Western and Central New York.

“Why on earth are the people of Blasdell subsidizing luxury pleasure craft on the Erie Barge Canal?” asked Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul.

The City of Lockport welcomes the tourism dollars the Canal attracts. Mayor Michael Tucker says don’t blame the canal for the Thruway Authority’s spending practices. “If the Canal corporation was lopped off from that budget, I’m quite sure they would find another way to spend that 70 or 100 million.”

Thruway Authority Board Member Jeff Williams says if it didn’t have to run the Canal, the toll hike wouldn’t be necessary. “Absolutely would completely over with, if the canal system was removed from the system at this time,” said Williams.

“We can easily do this and sponsor the legislation and get that legislation through,” said Assemblyman Jack Quinn, R-Hamburg. Quinn says they’d need the Governor support to make that happen, but so far, Quinn says Eliot Spitzer hasn’t had much to say about the Thruway toll hikes.

State lawmakers want the Thruway Authority to hold off on its initial vote on the toll hikes later this month until after the state comptroller finishes his audit of the Authority. We’re told that will take several more weeks. The authority’s final vote on the toll hikes is expected in the spring.

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