A New York assemblyman has introduced a bill that would temporarily eliminate tolls on the Thruway. 

Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara says the bill would allow toll-free travel on thruways during June, July and August using surplus dollars expected in the state budget. 

Santabarbara tweeted that it will not only help our economy move this year, but would also support tourism and local business when they need it the most.   

The New York State Thruway Authority released the following statement: “Removing tolls would cut off the only dedicated revenue stream used to maintain and operate our 570-mile system each and every day. The Thruway is a user-fee system supported by tolls paid by the people who use it, and not one cent of local or state taxpayer dollars pays to operate or maintain it. Roughly one-third of motorists on the Thruway in the summer months are out of state drivers, so removing tolls gives them a free pass and shifts the cost to hard working New York taxpayers. Our revenue must come from somewhere, and we think the fairest approach is that only those who use the Thruway, pay for it.”