Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Since the original 40 year bonds to build the Thruway were paid off in 1996 and tolls were supposed to expire, anyone know why all you folks are still getting ripped off? How much in Federal highway funds does the state of NY lose every year in keeping the Interstate a toll road? It really is a double taxation, if you think about it, because part of your federal gas tax goes to maintain the interstate system. Any thoughts and/or comments welcomed!
If the Thruway removed tolls, it would receive federal funding. However, it would require a state match. Right now, none of the state's "general fund" goes to support the Thruway. It is financed entirely by its tolls. NYS I think is frightened by the prospect of having to provide state funding to the Thruway.
I would prefer that it stay a toll road. As annoying as it is, toll roads are showing themselves to be more sustainable than the Interstate system. And the Thruway is actually much better maintained than most highways.
I would prefer that it stay a toll road. As annoying as it is, toll roads are showing themselves to be more sustainable than the Interstate system. And the Thruway is actually much better maintained than most highways.
Throwing in my 2 cents, , I have to agree with that. Most interstates are terrible roads but the Thruway is kept up very well.
I don't see any difference between the thruway and any interstate I've been on. I travel 490 to 90 quite frequently and they are pretty much in the same conditions.
Thank goodness and New York State government for keeping the tolls on the the NYS Thruway. The tolls entirely pay for repaving and reconstruction of parts of the Thruway as stretches of the highway need rebuilding, pay for maintaining all the Thruway associated bridges, all the State Police patrols (jobs), all the signs and guardrails, building the rest areas/service areas, paying for the road maintenance work crews (jobs) and toll collectors (jobs) and everything that is a Thruway expense.
It's not just New York State citizens who pay tolls. Travellers from all over the country and Canada who drive across the New York State Thruway also pay tolls. There are also very huge numbers of tractor-trailers, buses, other commercial vehicles, lots of big & small RV's/towed trailers/towed boats/etc. who utilize the Thruway and whose heavy weight cause extra wear and tear to the highway beyond the wear that an average car/suv/pickup truck would cause to the highway. I think that it is only right that those out-of-state & out-of-country drivers who want to travel across NY State quickly & easily, help NY State pay for the expense of NYS Thruway maintenance/upkeep/expenses; rather than the whole cost of the Thruway be placed on the wallets of just NYS Residents. Is there any good reason for any of you anti-tolls people to want >>>just NY State residents<<< to shoulder the whole expense of the Thruway rather than have >>>everyone who actually uses<<< the Thruway to help cover the cost? If you use it, then you help pay for the expense of it=that seems only right to me. If you don't use it, then you don't have to pay anything. Anyone who does not want to pay the tolls on the Thruway is completely free to travel on New York State's thousands of miles of other toll-free highways across New York State.
There are tolls and fees charged on using many different facilities and things to help maintain them and cover their expenses. Tolls on various bridges, tolls on heavily used highways, fees at parking garages, parking meter charges, fees for parking at airports, lots of things have fees with >>your<< usage of them. If you don't want to pay a fee, then don't use those things where there is a charge. I know that some people would like everything to be free, but that's not the real world.
I have to pay for things that I derive no personal benefit from but I still have to pay toward those things even though I would prefer to-not contribute any money toward those enterprises. Examples: Public schools-I have no children in school, foolish un-necessary wars, corporate welfare, bailing-out banks and wall street when they use their companies as casinos, unwarrented subsidies to oil companies even though they are making gigantic profits, and commodity speculators who are useless middlemen driving up the cost of gasoline/petroleum products and other products, and many other examples of things that I never receive benefit-for my paying for them. At least with the NYS Thruway tolls, I know that I received a service for the money I paid. If I don't want to pay for a highway toll, I just use one of the other NYS "free" highways that >>only<< NY State taxpayers pay for.
Thank goodness and New York State government for keeping the tolls on the the NYS Thruway. The tolls entirely pay for repaving and reconstruction of parts of the Thruway as stretches of the highway need rebuilding, pay for maintaining all the Thruway associated bridges, all the State Police patrols (jobs), all the signs and guardrails, building the rest areas/service areas, paying for the road maintenance work crews (jobs) and toll collectors (jobs) and everything that is a Thruway expense.
It's not just New York State citizens who pay tolls. Travellers from all over the country and Canada who drive across the New York State Thruway also pay tolls. There are also very huge numbers of tractor-trailers, buses, other commercial vehicles, lots of big & small RV's/towed trailers/towed boats/etc. who utilize the Thruway and whose heavy weight cause extra wear and tear to the highway beyond the wear that an average car/suv/pickup truck would cause to the highway. I think that it is only right that those out-of-state & out-of-country drivers who want to travel across NY State quickly & easily, help NY State pay for the expense of NYS Thruway maintenance/upkeep/expenses; rather than the whole cost of the Thruway be placed on the wallets of just NYS Residents. Is there any good reason for any of you anti-tolls people to want >>>just NY State residents<<< to shoulder the whole expense of the Thruway rather than have >>>everyone who actually uses<<< the Thruway to help cover the cost? If you use it, then you help pay for the expense of it=that seems only right to me. If you don't use it, then you don't have to pay anything. Anyone who does not want to pay the tolls on the Thruway is completely free to travel on New York State's thousands of miles of other toll-free highways across New York State.
There are tolls and fees charged on using many different facilities and things to help maintain them and cover their expenses. Tolls on various bridges, tolls on heavily used highways, fees at parking garages, parking meter charges, fees for parking at airports, lots of things have fees with >>your<< usage of them. If you don't want to pay a fee, then don't use those things where there is a charge. I know that some people would like everything to be free, but that's not the real world.
I have to pay for things that I derive no personal benefit from but I still have to pay toward those things even though I would prefer to-not contribute any money toward those enterprises. Examples: Public schools-I have no children in school, foolish un-necessary wars, corporate welfare, bailing-out banks and wall street when they use their companies as casinos, unwarrented subsidies to oil companies even though they are making gigantic profits, and commodity speculators who are useless middlemen driving up the cost of gasoline/petroleum products and other products, and many other examples of things that I never receive benefit-for my paying for them. At least with the NYS Thruway tolls, I know that I received a service for the money I paid. If I don't want to pay for a highway toll, I just use one of the other NYS "free" highways that >>only<< NY State taxpayers pay for.
grdnrman
I never understand these people whining that tolls are still in place when the roads or bridges or tunnels were built years ago and the bonds were paid off. YEARS AGO is the key here, people--no one back then could have predicted the exponential increase in the traffic that would come and the change in the size of trucks that drive on these facilities, thereby creating far more wear and tear and overall damage than was ever anticipated to happen by this time.
It just takes a little thinking. Also, most people seem to be clueless and/or lazy about the cost of construction and what it takes to maintain roads and other vehicular facilities. All of these agencies post engineering design and construction contract bids and their results on their websites so one can see for themselves how much money is spent on maintenance. As a matter of fact, just to verify that to myself, I looked up that information for the NYS Thruway. It took less than one minute to do a search using Google and find that information.
I never understand these people whining that tolls are still in place when the roads or bridges or tunnels were built years ago and the bonds were paid off. YEARS AGO is the key here, people--no one back then could have predicted the exponential increase in the traffic that would come and the change in the size of trucks that drive on these facilities, thereby creating far more wear and tear and overall damage than was ever anticipated to happen by this time.
It just takes a little thinking. Also, most people seem to be clueless and/or lazy about the cost of construction and what it takes to maintain roads and other vehicular facilities. All of these agencies post engineering design and construction contract bids and their results on their websites so one can see for themselves how much money is spent on maintenance. As a matter of fact, just to verify that to myself, I looked up that information for the NYS Thruway. It took less than one minute to do a search using Google and find that information.
Good post.
As others have indicated -- removing the tolls would shift the burden of road maintenance solely onto NYS taxpayers. We pay enough already.
As others have indicated -- removing the tolls would shift the burden of road maintenance solely onto NYS taxpayers. We pay enough already.
If you consume food and purchase just about anything, you are paying part of the shippers toll, so we all pay tolls one way or another.
Without tolls, we could save on toll collectors and the cost of heating, cooling and maintaining the booths. More connections could be made, helping the economy all along the thruway. Gov Cuomo said he wants to create a tech corridor along the thruway.
I haven't been that way in a while, but there was talk of moving the Buffalo toll barrior, giving Buffalo about 10 more free miles, costing $40 million. The Rochester and Syracuse areas could benefit from having toll free areas too, but it's to costly to build all of those toll barriors, so just make it toll free.
I believe a key issue in reviving upstate is to remove the tolls at least from Syracuse to Buffalo. Encourage collaboration of the thruway metros.
If you consume food and purchase just about anything, you are paying part of the shippers toll, so we all pay tolls one way or another.
Without tolls, we could save on toll collectors and the cost of heating, cooling and maintaining the booths. More connections could be made, helping the economy all along the thruway. Gov Cuomo said he wants to create a tech corridor along the thruway.
I haven't been that way in a while, but there was talk of moving the Buffalo toll barrior, giving Buffalo about 10 more free miles, costing $40 million. The Rochester and Syracuse areas could benefit from having toll free areas too, but it's to costly to build all of those toll barriors, so just make it toll free.
I believe a key issue in reviving upstate is to remove the tolls at least from Syracuse to Buffalo. Encourage collaboration of the thruway metros.
How quaint. Many of the toll booths are gone now because of the EZPass lanes with the gantries overhead, and eventually there will be nothing BUT all-electronic tolling. It's already that way on some toll roads in other states.
Won't comment on your idea for the far upstate tolls, though. I'm not familiar enough with the situation up there. How do you think that removing tolls would help the economy of those cities?
An SUV pulling a 1 axle trailer crossing the Goethals. Insane.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
, I have to agree with that. Most interstates are terrible roads but the Thruway is kept up very well.
NYS Thruway Tolls
