POUGHKEEPSIE- State Senator Rob Rolison (R, Poughkeepsie) voiced his opposition to toll hikes at a public hearing about the matter on Thursday. The Thruway Authority is seeking a toll increase because of revenue shortfalls, and Rolison believes the state authority should undergo a forensic audit prior to any increase.
“This is an issue of critical importance to the thousands of Hudson Valley commuters who use the Thruway system every day to travel to and from work, school, and other obligations. Ultimately, local input and sound financial transparency are keys to making our roadways more equitable and effective at moving people and goods around our state,” said Rolison.
Back in February, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli issued a report that recommended the authority improve toll collection methods before moving forward with the proposed hikes of five percent in 2024 and another five percent in 2027. The report also found a large proportion of the toll scofflaws responsible for ignoring cashless tolls and tolls by mail were out-of-state drivers, costing the system millions of dollars in lost revenue.
Read the full article here