Toll plazas throughout New York could soon be all-electronic, if a proposal in Governor Cuomo’s draft Executive Budget is approved. Tri-State has been advocating for all-electronic tolling (AET) since 1999, but to date, the only fully-cashless toll facility in New York is the MTA’s Henry Hudson Bridge. This conversion has been widely applauded and has approval ratings of 95 percent from users. Cashless tolling reduces congestion, improves safety by reducing the “weaving and lane-jockeying” associated with toll plazas, and has air quality benefits too.
The New York State Thruway Authority has also been making plans to convert to cashless AET for some time, but implementation has been slow going. The slow roll-out on NYSTA facilities, and delayed expansion to other bridges in the MTA system, has been tied to a concern over the lack of enforcement capability against those who fail to pay the toll:
This bill would strengthen the ability of New York’s four authorities that operate toll facilities—the Thruway Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Bridge Authority, and the Port Authority—to effectively manage and enforce the collection of tolls throughout the State. Toll violators cost the tolling authorities tens of millions of dollars each year, and the current law is outdated and ineffective in enforcing against persistent violators. Some persistent violators owe in excess of $100,000 in tolls and fees.
This provision changes that: not only would the proposal double the fine for failure to pay a toll (to $100, currently $50), a vehicle owner who doesn’t pay will receive “a nasty surprise when they try to register their cars at the Department of Motor Vehicles.”
Thruway Authority Director Thomas Madison said at a legislative hearing this week that the Thruway Authority’s first AET conversions would likely be implemented on Interstate 87 between Yonkers and Harriman. He also said toll collection for the new Tappan Zee Bridge will be all-electronic as well. With a stronger enforcement mechanism in place, Tri-State hopes to see even more AET conversions on other toll bridges and tunnels, including those operated by the MTA and the Port Authority.
TSTC, you usually has my full support but on this issue I hate you! (Somewhat joking)
I like “toll payment choice.” I rarely drive the toll roads in the area so I see no need to get an EZ Pass. I would also rather pay my tolls as I go. It hurts to pay $6 to drive 20 miles on the NJ Turnpike and I like being reminded how stupidly expensive it is to drive that highway when Rt 1 is toll free and the GSP is tolled at about 10% the cost. Ever notice how Rt 1 and the GSP are packed to the brim but the NJ Turnpike never seems to be at capacity?
With the sound of your story you seem to advocate for the requirement that all drives buy and EZ Pass as there is no indication of a possible photo plate reader technology being implemented up in NY State. What will this have on the poor who might not be able to afford a $50 pre-paid EZ Pass or have the credit to back it up (I honestly don’t know enough about EZ Pass payment systems having never bothered but I wonder)? Also, what effect might this have on parallel roadways like NY 17 that runs through small towns like Tuxedo and Sloatsburg? They would be great candidates for traffic calming but might get overwhelmed with traffic if this action forces more people onto NY 17. Do you have answers to that?
Leave toll payment choice in place for us Luddites and working poor and simply put the cash lanes on the right side of the toll plaza instead of spreading them around randomly as is current practice in Jersey and most other places. That is what causes all the damned confusion at toll plazas if you ask me.
I agree with Mr. Besold. There have to be provisions for infrequent users, including out-of-towners and those of us who rarely need to use the toll roads, in part because we use public transit where possible.
I understand the benefits of free flowing toll plazas for environmental reasons. On the other hand, I know people who have continued to drive (rather than use public transit) because EZ Pass eliminated congestion at toll plazas and made the time benefit of driving superior to public transit use.
I’ve been impressed by the implementation of cashless tolls on the Henry Hudson Bridge because cars no longer stack-up at the toll plaza on the bridge.
It is time to reap the advantages of this change by providing for better bicycle lanes on the bridge, which is slated to be part of the Hudson River Greenway.
As you can see from the Google Streetview below, right now the southbound roadway goes from 2 lanes to 3, with a huge shoulder. http://goo.gl/maps/0R096
This was necessary when there were cars stacked-up waiting for tolls. But now no stacking exists, and the 3rd lane is superfluous. Even worse, the expansion to 3 lanes encourages drivers to speed up just as their approaching the toll plaza, a very dangerous situation.
Let’s give cars the same 2 lanes they have on the Parkway just before the bridge, making the right-side lane the new shoulder. Then simply move the Jersey barriers over 10 feet to create a protected two-way bike path in the old shoulder. This way everyone — pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists — gets their own space. And we take advantage of this new technology to improve the bridge for all.
This inexpensive change also would enable a $30 million savings in the build-out of the Hudson River Greenway, money that could be diverted to extending or improving other parts of the route. The Greenway plan for the bridge calls for construction of a cantilevered bike lane off the side of the bridge. Since the lane will be approximately the same distance from the car lane, what advantage is there for it? And the complexity and cost may add to the time before it is built, whereas we could create a protected bike path tomorrow.
Here’s the Greenway presentation with the costs shown in the middle.
https://riverdalenature.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/HRVGL-TAC-mtg-on-final-report-10-16-13.pdf
But has the implementation of cashless tolls on the Henry Hudson Bridge also dislaced traffic onto surface streets and onto free crossing of the Harlem River? That could be happening and I suspect so. What impact is that having on street safety in Riverdale and far northern Manhattan??
Still, I agree with Rob #2. Using the extra lane for a multi-use pathway would be wise use of an underused amenity.
Cashless tolls can work even for cars that don’t have ez-pass; in some areas your license plate is read and you get a bill. If you have an ez-pass account the bill goes to that account.
Will cashless tolling cause theft of license plates to go thru the roof?
What enforcement mechanisms are available to other states that don’t wish to cooperate in collections for any of their own reasons? Such as they don’t have or like cashless tolling for their citizens in their states so they have no intention of assisting enforcement for New York.
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