Alright, this is an issue near and dear to my heart. Why? Because the tolls system across the NYS Thruway were to be removed in 1996 when all the bonds were paid off. We still have them, why? Because Governor Cuomo and the Democrat controlled Assembly voted to sell it basically to itself so they had a huge influx of cash to once again bail out the state from financial ruin. Of course they never told anyone so people are still asking why….

I read another article last night that simply said doing this while sharing toll revenue… Sharing Toll revenue? Isn’t that so Albany political thinking. They know what a cash cow the tolls are so they just have to keep their fare share. That statement alone should jog your thinking. Tolls are not all about maintaining the roads. Year in and year out the Albany politicians take the surplus from the Thruway Authority to bail out the budgets.

I am all in agreement with doing this as long as the tolls are removed across the state. There is so much money spent elsewhere rather than on our infrastructure. Perfect example was the $3 Billion Road and Bridge fund Governor Pataki put into place. This was supposed to go to one purpose, maintaining and rebuilding the roads and bridges in NY State. It was raided by Albany politicos and only 20% ever went to it dedicated purpose.

Albany is addicted to revenue and there is never enough. Last year $1.4 Billion in Federal Highway funds came to NY yet none made it to the Thruway system even though NY billed the Feds for every lane mile. Can some one besides me say Corruption?

So go ahead Governor, do this but take your grimy paws off the revenue. You all take more money per capitia than just about any other state in the country.

Governor Paterson Forms Commission To Examine Privatizing State Roads

State lawmakers are now considering leasing state assets in an effort to cut into rising costs.Governor David Paterson is forming a state panel to review the possibility of leasing highways and bridges to private contractors.

The state commission will include state lawmakers to draw up proposals based on other successful public-private partnerships from across the nation. Governor Paterson is not entertaining the idea of selling the state’s highways and bridges.

A set of recommendations is due to the governor and the state Legislature within 90 days.