Victory on NYS Thruway: E-Z Pass Tolls Reduced
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FROM NEW YORK:
After almost four years of lobbying efforts both at the legislature and at
the New York State Thruway Authority headquarters, I've been successful,
finally, in getting the Authority to do something about motorcycle tolls.
Following a veto by Governor Pataki a couple of years ago of a bill that we
got through the legislature which would have mandated lower tolls for
motorcycles, efforts intensified on the matter. The Governor, in his veto,
told the Authority he wanted an evaluation made with the goal being a lower
toll. He said he was vetoing the bill because he did not want to set a
precedent for taking toll making power away from the Authority.
Now, two years later, the Authority has told me that come May first of 2005,
tolls for motorcycles will become about half of what cars pay providing the
rider has an E-Z pass. The Authority is fast working toward the day when
all Thruway users will be using E-Z pass for their tolls. It's a movement
that is spreading throughout the country.
So, despite that it's an E-Z pass dependent discount, the fact is we have
made real progress on this front after years of effort.
Tolls for cars on the Thruway will be 3.45 cents/mile with an E-Z
pass...3.90 cents without it. For motorcycles, it will be 1.9 cents with an
E-Z pass. We'll keep working on and off to get the cash amount down too,
but have no hope, really, that this will happen anytime in the near future.
Larry Schwartz
To get an E-Z pass, motorcyclists can go to the website listed below for the application.
~ Motorcycle E-Z pass Application ~
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