What sense is this? Why have two hearings? Can’t we take the testimony from last week and include it in theirs? I don’t know if I can continue to go to these things yet if I don’t then my proposal will not be heard or even considered I fear.

Look at all these. Will any of them help or are they just pandering yet again?

Hearing on Thruway tolls set for Central Library

The public will get another chance to comment this week on the toll increase proposed by the state Thruway Authority.

The Assembly’s transportation committee will hold hearings across the state, including one at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Central Library downtown.

Thruway officials have approved an increase in January of about 10 percent, and plans call for 5 percent increases in each of the following two years.

This below is from their web page

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SUBJECT:
Thruway Toll Proposal

PURPOSE:
To review the toll proposal under consideration by the New York State Thruway Authority and to solicit information regarding its impact.

BUFFALO

Wednesday
December 12, 2007
11:00 a.m.
Buffalo and Erie County Public Library Auditorium
One Lafayette Square
ALBANY

Friday
December 14, 2007
12:00 p.m.
Roosevelt Hearing Room C
Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor

SYRACUSE

Monday
December 17, 2007
11:00 a.m.
Onondaga County Legislative Chambers
County Courthouse
401 Montgomery Street, Room 407
ROCHESTER

Wednesday
December 19, 2007
11:00 a.m.
Monroe County Office Building
39 Main Street, Room 406

The New York State Thruway is a 641 mile toll highway connecting New York City and Buffalo, as well as making direct connections to Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and other major expressways leading to the Midwest and Canada. In November, the Audit and Finance Committee of the New York State Thruway Authority recommended increases in Thruway tolls to the Thruway Authority Board of Directors. The recommendation included raising general toll rates by five percent each year in 2009 and 2010, increasing the cost of annual commuter permits to $84 in 2009 and $88 in 2010, and reducing the E-ZPass discount on commercial and passenger vehicles in 2008.

Serious questions and concerns have arisen about the need for, and the impact of, an increase in the cost of travel on the Thruway, and the New York State Comptroller is currently conducting an audit on the toll proposal and has asked the Thruway Authority to delay the recommended toll increase pending the audit’s completion. Higher tolls and lower E-ZPass discounts would affect New York State commerce, industry and consumers by increasing the cost of goods and services, as well as burden the household budgets of the millions of New Yorkers who use the Thruway to get to work, medical appointments, school, recreational destinations or for other travel needs.

These hearings will provide an opportunity for the Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation to examine this proposal and its impact, and for the public to offer testimony and comment.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearings should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee’s interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

David F. Gantt
Member of Assembly
Chairman
Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation