OK lets get this out in the open.. There are two reasons why this is happening the way it is. Number one the Grand Island Bridge tolls, my pet peeve. The re-decking of the South Bridge is long over due as is the structural work that needs to be done that won’t get done this time around. But, as long as they borrow the money to do this work the longer the tolls will remain on the bridges. They never should have stayed this long but they are here because of the cash cow the tolls are to Albany. Their excuse now will be they have to repay the bond to do this work…
Now the rest of the work will be put on hold because Governor Paterson is taking the surplus from all the “Authorities” to once again help bail out Albanys excessive spending and irresponsible actions. Once again millions of dollars in work proceeds un impeded in New York City and once again the red headed step child of WNY have been pushed aside. How much longer are people going to be so ill informed and ignore what goes on and the truth behind it.
Our entire WNY delegation has failed us. Jim Hayes talks a good game as does Dale Volker but when push come to shove all have failed us.
Sign the petition against the tolls at NoGItolls.com
Thruway Delays For Major WNY Projects
Citing soaring costs for construction materials, the New York State Thruway has decided to trim its capital construction project list that includes two major anticipated projects for Western New York.
They say the allocated $2.1 Billion dollars simply will not stretch far enough and some projects had to be put off beyond 2011.
The $77 million dollar relocation of the Williamsville toll barrier is now on the back burner.
Advocates like State Assemblyman Jim Hayes say it is crucial to reduce congestion and pollution problems in the village and he feels the Authority does not understand the importance. He also does not buy the claim that costs have gone up too high to afford it. “I don’t buy that arguement because motorists have been paying higher tolls. We’ve been told time and time again that money is available at the federal level, other levels of government. The state could appropriate money to be of assistance.”
2 On Your Side asked Thruway Executive Director Michael Fleischer about the point that the toll increase approved earlier this year was supposed to go towards improvements.
His reply: “Yes..and the rationale for the toll increase… without that toll increase, we would have virtually no capital program, we would not be in a position to be able to preserve public safety, we would not be in a position to invest in the highway, we would not be in a position to fix the Grand Island bridges.” That is a reference to a recently approved $48.2 million project for maintenance of the bridges.
The Thruway Authority is also postponing the planned widening of the Thruway from West Seneca to Lackawanna. That would have carried a $78 million price tag.
Fleischer says overall there will still be $250 million in Thruway work in the region through 2011 including the bridges and other repaving and rehab work. And he says they can still conduct environmental studies while the Williamsville toll project is on hold. Fleischer says if costs would come down, then some projects could be pushed up.
Tags: grand island tolls
