Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The first of five public hearings to be held on proposed toll increases along the New York State Thruway took place on Monday.
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The hearing held at the Thruway Authority's Buffalo offices on Cayuga Road in Cheektowaga, which ran from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET and was sparsely attended. However, the hearing did include speakers on both sides of the issue.
"I feel like I’m being penalized for mismanagement," said Paula Martin of Niagara Falls, as she addressed the public hearing.
Martin is not an EZ Pass subscriber, and took specific aim at the 75% proposed increase for those who do not use the automated system.
"I feel 75%, because I don’t want an EZ Pass. It's an extreme amount," she said.
Under the proposal revealed by the Thruway Authority earlier this year, tolls would increase 5% in January, and an additional 5% in January 2027. A complete explanation of the toll increases can be found here.
In addition to the 5% increases, it is being proposed that those who do not utilize EZ Pass would see an increase of 75%. 84% of motorists in the state utilize the EZ Pass system, says Thruway Authority Interim Executive Director Frank Hoare.
Hoare describes the proposed increases as "modest" and says they are necessary to maintain a safe operating system.
"The road bed of the Thruway, which was constructed in the '50s, has largely been untouched since the '50s," Hoare told WBEN on Monday.
Additionally, he says, there are 800 bridges to maintain.
Three additional public hearings will be held across the state, and a final fifth virtual public hearing will be held June 5 to allow anyone statewide to participate.
On a related issue, Hoare told reporters Monday the construction of the new rest stop areas along the expansive highway system is running behind. Six of the new facilities are up-and-running, Hoare says, with four additional expected to be online in the next three week.
Supply chain issues were referenced as a main cause for the construction delays.