The New York State Thruway Authority will transition to cashless tolling in 2021. Tolls are scheduled to go up by 30 percent hike for those who don't have EZ Pass.
They are also subject to a $2 administrative fee to pay by mail. Walter Pacholczak (puh-CHOLE-zak) is with Associated General Contractors of New York State.
He says with the toll freeze in effect the past ten years, roads and bridges have deteriorated. He calls the toll adjustment a good start.
“This proposed toll adjustment is a good first step toward a more sustainable toll increase that meets the needs to improve pavement conditions, and rebuild the bridges that are more than 60 years old."
The authority says the toll increase will help cover the cost of toll by mail motorists. Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew Driscoll says toll by mail users will also be subject to a $2 administrative surcharge. He says that’s standard among other systems across the nation.
“The differences in the rates are due to the Thruway Authority's increased costs for handling tolls by mail transactions."
EZ-Pass customers who don't use the Mario Cuomo Bridge would not be impacted.