SIGN THE PETITION SAY NO TO TOLLS!

Gee didn’t we all know this already, it’s just the arrogance of this authority to do it anyway despite the audit and public out cry to stop this nonsense. I will be on WBEN at 6:40 tonight in a live interview.

Thruway OKs Toll Hikes For 2008

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - The New York State Thruway Authority has voted to accept a 2008 budget that increases tolls 10 percent this coming year, and lays the groundwork to raise them further in 2009 and 2010.

The authority has accepted a toll hike plan, which will be studied from now until spring, before being put up for adoption sometime in April.

The votes for both the 2008 budget and the toll hike plan were unanimous, except for local board representive Jeffrey Williams of Lewiston, who was the only member to vote against the plan.

The authority said at its meeting Wednesday that a final vote on the toll hikes –which would come on top of a 10 percent increase effective Jan. 1 — won’t happen until the spring.

The Thruway Authority floated a plan last month to increase cash tolls by 5 percent in 2009, and another 5 percent in 2010. .

The cash rate for a car driving from New York City to Williamsville, just outside Buffalo, is now $15.15 on the half-century old superhighway. When fully implemented, the trip will cost $18.36 when paying in cash, or $17.58 if paid through E-ZPass.

State Senator Dale Volker tells WBEN there is still some opportunity for the legislature to appropriate money that would make future toll hikes unnecessary, and even the authority board members who voted in favor of the toll hike plan Wednesday spoke of the need for relief from spending burdens mandated by the legislature.

Lawmakers from both parties and Gov. Eliot Spitzer have been pressuring the authority not to consider the higher tolls until state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli can evaluate the idea. The formal plan voted on Wednesday will be sent to Spitzer, DiNapoli and the lawmakers for review.

Neither Spitzer nor the Legislature control the authority, which was created to be independent.

The final approval for 2009/2010 toll hikes could come in April, after at least 5 public hearings and environmental review, Authority Executive Director Michael Fleischer said.

That environmental review will focus on whether increased tolls will divert traffic to other roads.

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