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Hoyt Works to Remove Grand Island Tolls? HOYT??? Well it’s political season again and the primary is right around the corner. Taxpayer funded campaign literature hit my mail box two days in a row. In them Hoyt tells us about HIS battle to get rid of the Tolls yet he had nothing to do with it except sponsor it in the Assembly and only after months of denying this Bill even existed.

This Bill had it’s birth one Sunday morning while I was on hold with WBEN’s Hardline with Kevin Hardwick. I called to Thank Senator Maziarz for coming out to our protest march the Sunday after Thanksgiving. While on hold I wondered why the Thruway Authority controlled any roads off the mainline thruway. By removing their grip from the 190 and the Grand Island Tolls which they have had since 1950 it will open the door for Federal funds for not only maintenance but for building new bridges.

Hoyt needs to give credit where credit is due, it started with the efforts of NoGItolls.com and the over 8500 people that signed and have supported the petition drive.

Hoyt Works to Remove Grand Island Tolls

One of the most important concerns of Island residents is the Grand island tolls. For many years I have carried a bill which would eliminate the Grand Island tolls. However, the revenue loss that would come with an outright removal of the tolls has been an impediment to passing this bill. That’s why last year Senator George Maziarz and I introduced a bill that would solve this problem with a different approach. By transferring the Niagara Section (I- 190) of the New’ York State Thruway from the Thruway Authority to the New York State Department of Transportation the tolls would be eliminated and would also make the bridges eligible tbr more federal aid for maintenance.

Although this bill was passed through the Assembly’s Corporations. Authorities and Commissions Committee it did not reach the floor of the Assembly for a vote. I am optimistic about its chance of passage next session however, as it provides a viable solution to the revenue loss while removing this impediment to residents and visitors to the island. I continue to work with my colleagues to convince them of the important of this bill so that it can be passed and Islanders can receive some relief.