Thruway tolls increasing this weekend

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - New York has been called The Land of Taxes and Tolls. And just days into the new year, it's once again living up to that dubious reputation.

Tolls will go up 5 percent this Sunday, scheduled to increase next year too. Now we're learning of another increase drivers could face in the near future.

Ed Kopra uses the thruway several times a day as the owner of a scrap business and a trucking company. The 5 percent increase will only add to his financial burden.

Kopra said, "You know one month it's feast, the next month its famine. I own a scrap business. It's gone right down to nothing."

The Thruway Authority says it needs the money to pay for its highway and bridge improvement plan. The 2.1 billion dollar project will rehabilitate and resurface 500 lane miles.

Rus Thompson has already collected nine thousand signatures to eliminate the Grand Island tolls. He says it's time lawmakers start using their political power to stop any future toll hikes.

Thompson said, "Senator Stachowski and Senator Antoine Thompson have proclaimed that they want to get rid of the Thruway Authority all together. Well, let's work on that!"

Senator Thompson says he is and his first priority is Grand Island.

Thompson(D) said, "I pay that toll. I don't get to go through that toll for free and I only have an ez pass because of the grand island tolls and when I get rid of that I will get rid of my E-ZPass."

But he says doing away with the Thruway Authority will take longer to do because of the state's financial state.

"The authority still has a lot of outstanding debt. I believe several hundred million dollars in debt that would have to be absorbed by the state."

Drivers could be hit with another increase. A congressional panel is calling for a hike in the Federal Gas Tax to help pay for roads and bridges.

Federal lawmakers say the fuel tax that's used to pay for those things is running low because people are driving less.