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The New York State Thruway Authority announced this week that cashless tolling customer assistance sessions will continue at the Western New York Welcome Center on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The extension is the result of what the Thruway Authority called “the success and resident feedback of the previous sessions that have been held twice a week since June.”
“Western New Yorkers have requested that we host more in-person outreach sessions and by extending our outreach, we are presenting customers an opportunity to quickly and conveniently get their questions answered and learn more about cashless tolling,” said Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll. “As the entire Thruway system converts to cashless tolling by the end of 2020, I encourage all Western New Yorkers to visit one of these sessions to learn about how cashless tolling works and to sign up for E-ZPass.”
The Thruway Authority said since the end of June its staff has assisted more than 635 customers during the customer assistance sessions, with the majority of customers needing assistance with updating E-ZPass account information and Tolls By Mail payments. On average, more than 25 customers were assisted during each scheduled session, NYSTA said.
NYSTA staff will continue to offer in-person customer assistance at the Western NY Welcome Center, 1999 Alvin Road, from 3 to 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday through at least the end of the year. Representatives will be able to address cashless tolling questions and offer personalized assistance for E-ZPass and Tolls By Mail customers. Customers are able to:
•Resolve violations resulting from unpaid toll bills
•Pay toll bills
•Dispute toll bills
•Update E-ZPass account information
•Learn about cashless tolling on the Thruway system-wide by the end of 2020
Customers also have the opportunity to sign up for E-ZPass, which NYSTA calls “the easiest and most convenient way to pay tolls on the Thruway and 16 states across the country.” E-ZPass tags are available at the Taste NY Café and Market at the Western NY Welcome Center every day between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced earlier this year that cashless tolling will be implemented on the entire New York State Thruway system by the end of 2020. Cashless tolling is already operational at the Thruway’s seven fixed-price barriers, including at the Grand Island Bridges.
When cashless tolling is operational, motorists drive under gantries with sensors and cameras that read E-ZPass tags and take license plate images. Vehicles with E-ZPass tags are automatically charged and vehicles without E-ZPass tags will have their license plate image captured and a toll bill mailed to the registered owner of each vehicle. Customers without E-ZPass pay using Tolls By Mail.