7/30/2019 McLaughlin.12.17.12.Thruway Authority Nixes Toll Hike

1/2

FORIMMEDIATE RELEASEDECEMBER17, 2012

CONTACT: NICKWILOCK, 518-878-6568FOLLOW ASSEMBLYMAN MCLAUGHLINONFACEBOOK

THRUWAY NIXES TOLL HIKE

Under pressure from McLaughlin, agency moves toward reform

Under pressure from business owners, taxpayers and elected officials, theThruway Authority has finally eliminated its plans for a 45 percent toll increase oncommercial trucks. Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin (R,C-Melrose), who joinedAssemblyman Jim Tedisco to hold a public meeting in September decrying theThruways proposal, is a co-sponsor of the Thruway Accountability Act, which would

address the Authoritys financial woes through consolidation and reform rather than tollincreases. Many of these themes are now being considered by the Thruway, signaling amove in the right direction, but McLaughlin cautioned that no common-sense measureshould be considered accomplished until it is fully implemented.

While I am certainly pleased that businesses and taxpayers have made theirvoices heard and have defeated the Thruways proposed toll hike, one is left to wonderwhy it took this long for the Authority to come to this common-sense conclusion, saidMcLaughlin. The fact that the Thruways first inclination was to raise tolls rather thanexamine its own finances to find savings is further proof that the agency is completelymismanaged and in need of new leadership. Todays news is a victory for New Yorkers,

but we must continue to hold the Thruways feet to the fire and ensure that the sorely-needed reforms being considered are implemented, including the continued need for aforensic audit.

I thank Governor Cuomo for working with Chairman Tom Madison to findalternative ways to cut costs and reject the proposed toll hike.

Thanks to the leadership and advocacy of Assemblymen McLaughlin andTedisco, we are very pleased that the Thruway Authority has withdrawn its ill-advised 45percent truck toll hike. Had it gone through, it would have done tremendous damage tothe Upstate economy, said Brian Sampson, Executive Director of Unshackle Upstate.

Assemblyman McLaughlin should be commended for his work in making sure that hisconstituents were not hit with higher costs for everyday necessities like food, clothingand gas.

I am pleased by the tremendous dedication and leadership by AssemblymanMcLaughlin and many of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle in working with thebusiness community to help avert this costly and devastating toll hike proposal. Throughthis collaborative and comprehensive effort, New Yorks toll payers and business owners

http://www.facebook.com/SteveMcNYhttp://www.facebook.com/SteveMcNYhttp://www.facebook.com/SteveMcNYhttp://www.facebook.com/SteveMcNYhttp://www.facebook.com/SteveMcNY

7/30/2019 McLaughlin.12.17.12.Thruway Authority Nixes Toll Hike

2/2

have a little more reason to believe in the responsiveness of State government, saidMike Durant, State Director, NFIB.

Thruway Authority Executive Director Thomas Madison today announced thathis agency will seek to find roughly $85 million in savings through cost-cutting

measures, eliminating the need for the proposed 45 percent toll increase on commercialtrucks.

Assemblyman McLaughlin represents the 108th district, which consists of parts ofRensselaer, Albany, Greene and Columbia counties. For more information,

please visit Assemblyman McLaughlins official website.

###

http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=108http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=108