This is a response I received in an email to yesterdays channel 4 news segment. I have much more to say about this whole report and the Governors reaction I will post later. It was nice to see a positive email instead of vicious threats to kill me and burn down my house. Thanks to the author Max.

Hi Rus,
Saw you on Channel 4 news again tonight.

Keep up the fight! Keep in the public eye. Keep stressing the hardships we all feel in our transportation costs.

During rush hour, the Authority does not have an effective way to keep the traffic moving and to collect their tolls. I have sat in traffic backed up to Delaware Ave. heading west to the northbound on-ramp to the I-190. My car gets about 18MPG highway and when it is sitting at idle or hardly making it out of first gear, I am consuming precious and costly fuel (about $1.5 worth) waiting in line to pay a $1.00 toll. I guess as long as NYS is collecting tax on the gas I’m burning while in line to pay the Authority toll, why would they want the tolls gone? NYS is making money on every drop of gas wasted while waiting in line to pay a $1 toll.

I’d also continue to stress the environmental issues such as:

Southbound North Bridge:

1. Semi’s using their Jake Brakes, I believe, cause unburned fuel to be put into the air and settles in the water.

2. Semi’s and cars braking on the down side of the bridge cause brake lining particles to separate from the pads/shoes and also settles on the bridge deck and water below.

Northbound South Bridge:

1. Trucks and cars must decelerate or stop completely to pay a toll and then merge into two lanes while
accelerating back up to 55MPH on a ?% grade of the bridge.

2. Frequency of accidents prior to and aft the toll booths, etc. A week or two ago, I saw a car mashed into the west concrete wall just prior to the bridge during rush hour.

3. Also, saw a semi with trailer broken down after the right most easy-pass lane on the south bridge. It was causing quite a problem.

4. I was also in the park below one day and saw a semi blow an engine trying to accelerate his trailer up the bridge.

I hope more people get behind you and the group who are trying to get the roads turned over to the state and away from the Thruway Authority. Perhaps in the end, they will be left with the Erie Canal under their control. What poetic justice that would be.

Good luck in August!!!!

WIVB-TV News4 Buffalo, NY |Will NY’s budget woes hurt efforts to eliminate Grand Island tolls?

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Just about everything could be on the table as New York tries to close a growing budget gap. Now those pushing to tear down the Grand Island tolls are worried budget woes will “drive” out of their crusade.

The tolls for the Grand Island bridges are as unpopular as ever, as family budgets take a hit, just like the state.

Motorist Nicole Zimmerman, said, “Gas prices are up $4 a gallon. It’s crazy. Can’t do it every day, especially when people work out here and live out here. They can’t do it.”

Grand Island toll opponents are still holding out hope that lawmakers will take the Niagara section of the thruway out of the hands of the thruway authority, and into the hands of the State Department of Transportation, the dot doesn’t charge tolls.

Rus Thompson, tolls opponent said, “We’re hoping and praying that on the 8th of August our toll bill will be passed by the Senate.”

Sen. George Maziarz (R) from Newfane said, “Those tolls are unfair. They should have come down a long time ago. I’m working very hard along with my colleagues in Western New York to get this bill on the agenda.”

The bill is believed to be stuck in the assembly ways and means committee. A spokesman for Governor David Paterson said, “Generally speaking, now is not a good time to be taking away funding for infrastructure.”

Money from tolls is used to fund road and bridge repair.

“I was hopeful they were going to take them away, but with the budget crisis who knows,” said motorist Donna Maddi from Grand Island.

Toll opponents have been petitioning for action for months and months, and have more than 8,500 signatures.

“The governor says he wants to help the economy of Western New York. Well, this is a big step to help the economy of Western New York,” said Thompson.

The governor is expecting the state senate to approve a cap on property taxes on August 8. This is his way of helping families cope.

Read more —>