Ceretto to Thruway Authority: Put brakes on toll hikes

Lawmaker urges commuters and businesses to voice their concerns at public hearing

Press release

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, will give public testimony on Aug. 16 at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library in opposition to the Thruway Authority's plan to raise tolls by 45 percent on commercial trucks. The toll hike was approved by the public authority's board last month.

Ceretto, who is actively working to transform the Lehigh Valley Rail Yard into a regional transportation hub, is urging the Thruway Authority to reconsider its proposal because, he fears, it would have an immediate and negative impact on New York businesses and consumers, stifling new job creation while the economy is still fragile.

"New York state needs to remove barriers to business, not add them. Higher tolls will only worsen an already bad situation and raise the cost of the products average New Yorkers use every day," Ceretto said. "I strongly urge the Thruway Authority to reconsider its proposal."

The Thruway Authority will accept public comments on the proposed toll adjustment through Friday, Aug. 24. Comments can be submitted by mail at Toll Comments, c/o Legal Department, New York State Thruway Authority, 200 Southern Blvd. P.O. Box 189, Albany, NY 12201-0189, or by email at:[email protected].

Ceretto is also inviting residents and business owners to join him in voicing their opposition to the proposed toll hike at the Thruway Authority's only public hearing in Western New York, on Thursday, Aug. 16 at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library auditorium (main level). The library is located at 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, and the public hearing will take place from 6 to 8 p.m.

"By sending a loud message to the Thruway Authority that New York's businesses and consumers cannot afford this new transportation tax, I am hopeful that we can persuade Governor Cuomo to roll back these proposed toll hikes," Ceretto said.