Republican Assembly members tweak Thruway Authority

Posted at: 09/05/2012 4:51 PM | Updated at: 09/06/2012 1:19 PM
By: Bill Lambdin

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Unhappy that Thruway officials refused to set up a local hearing on their pending rate hike, six legislators put on their own session Wednesday.

Even though the Thruway Authority is based in Albany and has its busiest interchange at Exit 24, Thruway leaders failed to come within 80 miles of the Capitol while holding required public hearings.

As it stands now, elected officials figure will get considerable heat for thruway toll increases, without having the power to directly control them.

The Thruway is controlled by a state authority, one of hundreds in New York, and its board consists of political appointees who are not directly controlled by anyone.

Assemblyman Jim Tedisco wants to see that changed.

“Why don't elected officials, senators and assemblymen and the governor be in charge of ratifying any fate or toll increase,” said Tedisco

Instead, Thruway officials have pushed through four toll increases in seven years and are going pedal to the metal on a fifth, this one raising truck tolls by 45 percent.

At their own hearings in other parts of the state, Thruway officials cited repair costs, bond obligations and assigned charges.

The size of this pending toll hike almost exact equals the $85 million the Thruway yearly pours into the canal system, which produces almost zero direct revenue.

The Thruway Authority, meanwhile, hopes to raise some extra cash with its third public auction of the year. It will be held Wednesday, Sept. 12 at Exit 22 of the Thruway in Selkirk.

The auction will include a number of cars, pickup and other larger trucks. There will also be signs, construction equipment and other items.

The auction begins at 9 a.m.