SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

ALBANY

Tuesday
January 29, 2008
10:00 a.m.
Roosevelt Hearing Room C
Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor

The Thruway Authority's Audit and Finance Committee approved a resolution in November, 2007 to recommend, to the Thruway Board, a plan which included increases in tolls and commuter permit fees and reductions in E-ZPass discounts. Subsequent to this action, the New York State Comptroller announced an audit to examine whether the proposed toll increase was necessary. Despite calls by legislators and the Comptroller to delay action pending the completion of the audit, the Thruway Board voted in December, 2007 to approve a resolution authorizing the Executive Director to increase tolls.

The Board's decision to move forward on toll increases prior to completion of the Comptroller's audit, including a ten percent hike in cash tolls that took effect earlier this month, is questionable given the lack of meaningful justification for such increases. These increased tolls will result in higher transportation costs which in turn will have a significant detrimental impact on State and local economies, businesses, and residents. The Assembly Transportation Committee is holding this public hearing to obtain detailed information and explanation from the Thruway Authority and other interested parties as to why these increases were necessary and to discuss the impact these decisions will have.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on the Thruway Authority Toll Rate Increases are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, fax or e-mail it to:

Julie A. Barney
Principal Analyst
Assembly Committee on Transportation
Room 542 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
E-mail: barneyj@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4881
Fax: (518) 455-4128

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