Thank you Steve for reporting on this story. It concerns me that the gov will nominate people that will continue to vote for toll increases and not be on the peoples side in our toll fights across the state.

WBEN 930 : Paterson Removes WNY Vote Against Toll Hike

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Gov. David Paterson has put his stamp on the NYS Thruway Authority Board of Directors, replacing a holdover Western New York appointee with one of his own picks, and in the process removing the only board member to vote against the proposed Thruway toll hikes.

Paterson has appointed Donna Luh of Cheektowaga to replace Jeffrey Williams of Lewiston. During last year’s hearings on the proposed Thruway toll hike, Williams was the only board member to vote against the budget and related hikes now under consideration.

Luh, a Depew resident, is president of her own consulting company, and has served as Executive Director of the Genessee County Airport. While with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, she supervised expansion of the Buffalo Niagara Airport, and was project manager for construction of the terminal building there. She is a former head of fare adjudications for NFTA Metro and has bachelor and masters degrees from Canisius College.

The authority has accepted a toll hike plan, which will be studied from now until spring, before being put up for adoption sometime within the next few months.

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.