Comptroller calls for Thruway to examine other options before hiking tolls

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is urging the New York State Thruway Authority to evaluate all of its options before implementing a toll increase on commercial vehicles.

The Thruway Authority plans to raise tolls on commercial vehicles by an average of 45 percent on Sept. 30. The hike, which would exclude two-axle trucks, would generate about $371 million in new revenue between October of this year and 2016, according to authority estimates.

DiNapoli released an analysis of the Thruway Authority’s finances and toll-increase proposal today. He said the authority should look into other options to increase revenue and cut costs before raising tolls.

“Imposing a large toll increase could have damaging effects on consumers and businesses at a time when many New Yorkers are struggling to recover from the recession,” he said in a news release. “Too often in the past the Thruway has pushed costs and difficult decisions to the future by raising tolls or borrowing. The Thruway’s fiscal condition has deteriorated, but a new leadership team has begun to make changes.

“For years the authority has failed to make the improvements recommended by my office and independent consultants. The Thruway should do more before relying on yet another toll hike to make ends meet.”

The comptroller’s report suggested the Thruway Authority look for operational cost savings like improving collections from E-ZPass tolls while enhancing its financial controls to limit cost overruns. It also suggested considering consolidating functions with other transportation agencies, searching for other revenue gains from existing sources, and examining the Thruway’s operation of the state’s canal system. Since 1992, the Thruway has spent more than $1.1 billion to support the canal system.

The entire report is available at http://bit.ly/OiLZas.

Brian Sampson, executive director of the business group Unshackle Upstate, issued a statement agreeing with the report’s findings.

“The report issued today by Comptroller DiNapoli supports what our organization and many others across the state have been saying for the past few months — the Thruway Authority’s proposed 45 percent toll increase will be detrimental to trucking companies, the businesses they serve, and consumers across the state,” he said.

Contact Seltzer at rseltzer@cnybj.com