Unshackle Upstate calls for audit to prevent Thruway toll hike

Unshackle Upstate is calling for a forensic audit of the New York State Thruway Authority before the authority’s proposed 45 percent toll increase could take effect.

Earlier this year, the authority proposed increasing the toll for vehicles with three or more axles by 45 percent to boost revenue to fund highway repair and improvement projects. The toll increase would affect many commercial vehicles as well as vehicles pulling trailers.

Rather than increase tolls, Unshackle Upstate officials believe a forensic audit can identify operational savings that would eliminate the need for the toll hike or at least trim the amount of the toll increase.

Unshackle Upstate, a statewide business group, made its audit suggestion to the authority through a letter to Howard Milstein, chairman of the authority’s board of directors.

“Given the tenuous state of New York’s economy, we believe that Chairman Milstein should engage in a thorough review of the Thruway Authority’s operations to determine whether this commercial vehicle toll increase is truly necessary,” Brian Sampson, executive director of Unshackle Upstate said in a news release. “Considering the detrimental economic impact that the Thruway’s proposal would have on business and consumers across the state, we need to put the brakes on any toll increase until this audit is completed.”

Sampson said a forensic audit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority conducted by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office in 2010-2011 is an example of what Unshackle hopes to accomplish with the Thruway Authority.

“The comptroller’s audit focused primarily on abuses within the MTA’s payroll and managed to save the MTA more than $6.7 million,” he said. “We’re optimistic that a top-to-bottom audit of the Thruway could identify even more significant operational efficiencies.”

Contact DeLore at tdelore@cnybj.com