Notice of Public Hearing

NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SUBJECT:	Thruway Toll Proposal

PURPOSE:	To review the toll proposal under consideration by the New York State Thruway Authority and to solicit information regarding its impact.


BUFFALO Wednesday December 12, 2007 11:00 a.m. Buffalo and Erie County Public Library Auditorium One Lafayette Square		ALBANY Postponed to Thursday, December 20th December 14, 2007 12:00 p.m. Note New Place Assembly Parlor Room 306, Capitol Building

SYRACUSE Monday December 17, 2007 11:00 a.m. Onondaga County Legislative Chambers County Courthouse 401 Montgomery Street, Room 407		ROCHESTER Wednesday December 19, 2007 11:00 a.m. Monroe County Office Building 39 Main Street, Room 406

The New York State Thruway is a 641 mile toll highway connecting New York City and Buffalo, as well as making direct connections to Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and other major expressways leading to the Midwest and Canada. In November, the Audit and Finance Committee of the New York State Thruway Authority recommended increases in Thruway tolls to the Thruway Authority Board of Directors. The recommendation included raising general toll rates by five percent each year in 2009 and 2010, increasing the cost of annual commuter permits to $84 in 2009 and $88 in 2010, and reducing the E-ZPass discount on commercial and passenger vehicles in 2008.

Serious questions and concerns have arisen about the need for, and the impact of, an increase in the cost of travel on the Thruway, and the New York State Comptroller is currently conducting an audit on the toll proposal and has asked the Thruway Authority to delay the recommended toll increase pending the audit's completion. Higher tolls and lower E-ZPass discounts would affect New York State commerce, industry and consumers by increasing the cost of goods and services, as well as burden the household budgets of the millions of New Yorkers who use the Thruway to get to work, medical appointments, school, recreational destinations or for other travel needs.

These hearings will provide an opportunity for the Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation to examine this proposal and its impact, and for the public to offer testimony and comment.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearings 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.

David F. Gantt
Member of Assembly
Chairman
Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearings on the Thruway Toll Proposal 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

	I plan to attend the following public hearing on the Thruway Toll Proposal to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Transportation: ____ Buffalo, Wednesday, December 12, 2007 ____ Albany, Thursday, December 20, 2007 (originally scheduled for December 14) ____ Syracuse, Monday, December 17, 2007 ____ Rochester, Wednesday, December 19, 2007

	I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.

	I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

	I do not plan to attend the above hearings.

	I would like to be added to the Committee's mailing list for notices and reports.

	I would like to be removed from the Committee's mailing list.

	I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:



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