Truckers will pay up to 35 percent more for tolls on the New York State Thruway starting May 15.
The Thruway board recently voted to approve the increase, the first general toll adjustment in 17 years. It will fund a seven-year Thruway improvement plan.
Passenger vehicles will see a 25 percent increase, truckers a 35 percent increase, the Thruway says. Commercial E-ZPass users will get a 5 percent discount and be eligible for additional volume discounts.
The board said it amended the proposal it approved in December to lessen the impact on truckers and commuters. The original plan included toll increases as high as 135 percent, according to the New York State Motor Truck Association.
“While no toll increase is easy for the trucking industry, we commend NYSTA Executive Director Michael Fleischer, the board and the staff for responding to the concerns raised by our members,” said William Joyce, president of the truck association.
The plan will upgrade 500 miles of Thruway and more than 220 bridges. It also will add 15 dedicated E-ZPass lanes, 12 higher-speed E-ZPass lanes and 16 new highway-speed E-ZPass lanes.
