Tagged: thruway

Western New York's winter weather appears ready to live up to its severe reputation over the coming days. 

With winter weather in the forecast and holiday traffic expected to be heavy, the State Thruway Authority is taking steps to keep the highway clear for drivers. 

Under pressure from Governor Cuomo, the State Thruway Authority has backed off on plans for a 45-percent toll increase for trucks.

The Thruway Authority's proposal for a 45 percent toll hike on large trucks drew very limited support Thursday night during a public hearing in the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library auditorium.

Thruway Authority Executive Director Thomas Madison says the  increased revenue is needed. He also says the trucks do far more damage to the roadway than do cars -- 10,000 times more damage.

The New York State Thruway Authority is proposing a 45% toll hike for commercial traffic.  Many are already speaking out against it.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has defended the increase saying it is "needed" to deal with escalating maintenance costs.  Unshackle Upstate says the increase would hurt the trucking industry. 

The first of three public hearings will be held Thursday night in Buffalo.  One local leader is vowing a fight. 

"My position is very clear on the issue of increasing tolls. We are dead set against it," said State Senator Tim Kennedy of Buffalo. 

The New York State Thruway Authority begins hearings later this week on whether to impose a nearly 50 percent toll hike on trucks that use the toll highway.

Many who plan to attend the hearings will testify against the idea, saying it’s bad for business.

Business groups, along with the trucking industry, have objected, saying it would increase prices for every company that relies on trucks for shipping.

A coalition of business groups is opposing a proposed 45% toll hike for trucks on the New York State Thruway, saying it will have a “drastic” impact on manufacturing, farming, and many other industries.   

Unshackle Upstate is  a member of the coalition,  which argues that the toll hike for commercial vehicles with three or more axles will put the state’s tucking industry and all the businesses that use trucks to haul goods at a “competitive disadvantage”.

Day and night, Thruway crews and private contractors are out on the superhighway getting it ready for another winter of wear.

Repair work started early this year because construction season started early and the workers were out there early. Projects ranged from washing salt off road and bridges to getting that hot black top in the trucks to put down on the pavement.

The big project is between Hamburg and Silver Creek, the third year of work on a $91 million re-paving of the road.