Spring Break
The Daily OrangeThruway tolls to rise; EZ Pass rebate to be cut
By Christina Clarkson
Posted: 9/30/07, 11:54 PM EST Section: News
Lindsey Timko, a senior graphic arts major, travels the New York State Thruway once a month to get to Massachusetts. It costs her approximately $7 each way from Syracuse to the Massachusetts border, which she already thinks is a high toll. And that's about to go up.
Last week, the Thruway Authority announced a projected 20 percent increase in tolls during the next four years. The convenient E-ZPass, which allows users to prepay electronically, currently offers passenger vehicles a 10 percent discount. Under the recent proposal, that discount may also disappear.
The authority attributes the increase to high gas prices, which have led to fewer vehicles on the road.
Jane McLaughlin, a senior retail and marketing major from Albany, uses E-ZPass. She doesn't use the pass much during the school year, but said she often uses it at home.
"There are places in the area that I wouldn't get a part-time job at if I had to use the E-ZPass because of the cost," McLaughlin said.
Christine Birmingham, a graduate student in the magazine, newspaper and online journalism program, drives from Syracuse to her hometown of Niagara Falls almost every weekend. The tolls cost her about $10 each way.
"I'm worried about the increase because it's definitely affecting me directly," Birmingham said.
Joan K. Christensen, state assemblywoman for Syracuse, is also not happy with the increase.
"In the past, when they did a 25 percent increase, the legislature was furious that they didn't have public comment on it," Christensen said.
The Thruway Authority is legally separate from the legislature, so it does not have to get approval. But Christensen said the legislature strongly suggests that it does.
Dow Smith, an associate professor of broadcast journalism, lives in Albany and travels on the Thruway twice a week.
"Between the cost of gas and the Thruway, it adds to the cost of my job," Smith said.
The Thruway authority took over the operation of the state canal system in 1992. Smith said he wonders if this and other projects are part of the reason for the increase.
"We're paying for stuff that has nothing to do with it," Smith said.
The proposed increase will be discussed at the authority's November meeting. If there is support, it would be voted on in late 2007 or the beginning of 2008.
Brian Wright, a magazine, newspaper and online journalism graduate student, drives home to Buffalo about once a month. He said he was upset when he found out about the increase.
"One of my big mistakes is that I have a Ford Escape (SUV). When I pay $40 to $50 to fill up my tank, plus the cost of tolls, it makes me feel like a broke college student again," he said.
Last week, the Thruway Authority announced a projected 20 percent increase in tolls during the next four years. The convenient E-ZPass, which allows users to prepay electronically, currently offers passenger vehicles a 10 percent discount. Under the recent proposal, that discount may also disappear.
The authority attributes the increase to high gas prices, which have led to fewer vehicles on the road.
Jane McLaughlin, a senior retail and marketing major from Albany, uses E-ZPass. She doesn't use the pass much during the school year, but said she often uses it at home.
"There are places in the area that I wouldn't get a part-time job at if I had to use the E-ZPass because of the cost," McLaughlin said.
Christine Birmingham, a graduate student in the magazine, newspaper and online journalism program, drives from Syracuse to her hometown of Niagara Falls almost every weekend. The tolls cost her about $10 each way.
"I'm worried about the increase because it's definitely affecting me directly," Birmingham said.
Joan K. Christensen, state assemblywoman for Syracuse, is also not happy with the increase.
"In the past, when they did a 25 percent increase, the legislature was furious that they didn't have public comment on it," Christensen said.
The Thruway Authority is legally separate from the legislature, so it does not have to get approval. But Christensen said the legislature strongly suggests that it does.
Dow Smith, an associate professor of broadcast journalism, lives in Albany and travels on the Thruway twice a week.
"Between the cost of gas and the Thruway, it adds to the cost of my job," Smith said.
The Thruway authority took over the operation of the state canal system in 1992. Smith said he wonders if this and other projects are part of the reason for the increase.
"We're paying for stuff that has nothing to do with it," Smith said.
The proposed increase will be discussed at the authority's November meeting. If there is support, it would be voted on in late 2007 or the beginning of 2008.
Brian Wright, a magazine, newspaper and online journalism graduate student, drives home to Buffalo about once a month. He said he was upset when he found out about the increase.
"One of my big mistakes is that I have a Ford Escape (SUV). When I pay $40 to $50 to fill up my tank, plus the cost of tolls, it makes me feel like a broke college student again," he said.
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