Grand Island toll plazas will no longer accept cash payment
Removal of current toll booths (north and south bridges) will take place following activation of cashless tolling
The New York State Thruway reminds motorists cashless tolling is now live at the Grand Island toll plazas. To minimize impact to traffic, the official switch took place during the overnight hours. As of this morning's commute, the Grand Island toll plazas will no longer accept cash payment.
"As the first location in upstate New York to be converted to cashless tolling, Grand Island is leading the way toward an improved superhighway of the 21st century," said Thruway Authority Acting Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll. "By eliminating the need to stop at a toll booth, this state-of-the-art technology will improve traffic flow, reduce accidents and reduce congestion-related emissions for the millions of drivers that travel through Grand Island each year. As the Thruway continues to transition to cashless tolling system-wide by the end of 2020, I encourage all motorists to sign up for E-ZPass which will save time and money."
With cashless tolling live, motorists traveling through Grand Island will drive under structures called "gantries" with state-of-the-art sensors and cameras that read E-ZPass tags and take license plate images so vehicles no longer have to stop to pay the toll. Vehicles with E-ZPass tags are automatically charged. Non-E-ZPass vehicles will have their license plates recorded and a bill will be mailed to the registered owner of each vehicle. Customers who pay using tolls by mail will pay the same toll rate ($1) as previously paid by cash customers, and E-ZPass customers with New York accounts will continue to get a 5 percent discount.
In 2017, approximately 23.5 million vehicles traveled through the Grand Island toll plazas. Grand Island will become the New York State Thruway Authority's second cashless tolling location. The first cashless tolling point was implemented on the Tappan Zee Bridge in 2016.
With cashless tolling on Grand Island operational, the Thruway Authority has begun removing the toll plazas at the North and South Grand Island Bridges in several phases, which will result in altered traffic patterns. For a short period of time, drivers will continue to travel through toll plazas at reduced speeds without stopping until the booths are removed and the road reconfiguration is completed. Drivers are strongly urged to use caution around the toll plazas during this time, as it will be an active construction zone. The posted speed limit when traveling through the toll plazas will be 20 MPH. The temporary traffic pattern for the North Grand Island Bridge can be found
HERE. The temporary traffic pattern for the South Grand Island Bridge can be found
HERE. As part of the transition to a more convenient way to travel New York's roadways, the Thruway Authority is encouraging all motorists to
sign up for E-ZPass NY and save on tolls across the state, including a 5 percent discount along the entire 570-mile New York State Thruway. E-ZPass offers a variety of
discount plans and payment options to fit the needs of every motorist, including a Grand Island commuter plan.
E-ZPass On-the-Go tags can be purchased at 26
Thruway service areas systemwide and nearly
800 locations across the state, including select grocery and convenience stores, and government offices. Customers can also sign up for E-ZPass at
www.e-zpassny.com.
Additionally, customers can visit
www.thruway.ny.gov to learn how cashless tolling works and the many options of paying a toll bill and avoiding fines and violations.
E-ZPass customers can sign up for mobile alerts to get automatic notifications about their E-ZPass accounts. To sign up, go to
www.e-zpassny.com, click on "Account Profile" and update the settings in the "Account Holder Information" section. Customers who opt into the alerts will receive important notifications such as low account balance, account payment notifications, changes in your replenishment amounts, or notice of credit card expiration.
