For Immediate Release: 05/26/23
Contact: Office of Media Relations and Communications | (518) 471-5300 | public.info@thruway.ny.gov

STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE OSC AUDIT: NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY AUTHORITY SELECTED ASPECTS OF TOLL COLLECTIONS

Attributable to a Thruway Authority spokesperson:
“We’re pleased that many of the State Comptroller’s recommendations affirm actions the Thruway Authority was already undertaking to improve the cashless tolling experience for our customers.  Since November 2020, more than 908 million transactions have been processed systemwide, a record 86 percent through E-ZPass. Over the course of the audit period from January 2019 to January 2023, the Thruway Authority collected approximately $3.27 billion in total revenues and maintained rigorous enforcement mechanisms to pursue toll scofflaws.  The Thruway remains one of the safest superhighways in the nation and continues to make every effort to collect unpaid tolls. As a user-fee system, the Thruway is not supported by any dedicated federal, state or local taxpayer funding. It is imperative that everyone pay their fair share to keep our tolls some of the lowest in the nation.”

On background only:
NJ currently does not have the legislative approval to enter into toll violation reciprocity with the NY Tolling Agencies.  The Port Authority has been actively engaged with NJ on behalf of the NY Agencies to establish an agreement once the legislation is approved.

We have been advised that Connecticut will not enter into reciprocity agreements with other state tolling authorities because they don’t have toll roads.

Please see our full agency response to the audit beginning on page 20: New York State Thruway Authority: Selected Aspects of Toll Collections

###