Tom Warne Report, 10 August 2012
State lawmakers are joining small-business truckers in opposing a 45-percent truck-only toll increase on the New York State Thruway. Twenty-three business groups, including the New York Motor Association, New York Farm Bureau, manufacturers, retailers and grocery stores have joined in a coalition against the increases.
The proposed 45 percent toll increase for trucks came from a consulting firm’s report adopted by the New York State Thruway Authority in May that said heavy trucks were not paying enough for their use of the Thruway.
Opponents of the plan say the proposed hikes would add 10 cents per mile for a tractor-trailer traveling from Buffalo to New York City, raising the fees from $88 to $127. This does not account for recently announced toll hikes on the Tappan Zee Bridge. The opponents vow that the increase will send more trucks onto secondary roadways.