DiNapoli Urges Delay Of Toll Hike
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BUFFALO — The New York state comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli, released a report yesterday urging the state Thruway Authority to call off a toll hike that the agency planned to apply in July.
The audit of the Thruway Authority says the agency should put off creating any future hikes until it’s had a chance to conduct a thorough analysis of its expenses, operations, and projects.
“The Thruway is too important to the upstate economy to unnecessarily raise tolls and drive up the cost of everything from milk to heating oil, not to mention the impact on commuters,” Mr. DiNapoli said in a written statement. “The Thruway Authority manages the roads well, but it could manage its finances a whole lot better.”
“We believe the audit as a whole indicates that we do need a toll increase,” the executive director of the Thruway Authority, Michael Fleischer, said.
The audit examined the calculations used in justifying proposed toll increases in July 2008, January 2009, July 2009 and January 2010.
The agency’s board of directors had endorsed the spending plans based on the roughly $375 million officials said the higher tolls would bring in through 2011.
