BUFFALO, N.Y. — June 24, 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the first tolled part of the New York State Thruway between Rochester and Utica that started the Thruway Authority.
Two months later, the Thruway connected to Buffalo.
2 On Your Side spoke with the Thruway's Executive Director about the history as well as the new investments being made right here in Western New York.
"This year we'll be spending $102 million in the Buffalo and Erie County area, again on infrastructure, to make sure those roads are maintained and paved, and bridges are re-built," said NYS Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank Hoare.
Seventy years ago, it was the stretch of thruway between Rochester and Utica that was the first tolled section.
The stretch is approximately 100 miles long and opened in June of 1954. Two months later the Thruway connecting Buffalo opened.
Recent upgrades to the Thruway system include the recently renovated and updated service centers, the switch to cashless tolls and electric vehicle chargers.
“We have about 72 on our system right now. We'll be going up by the beginning of July to 98. And again, our goal is over the next several years to get up to 230 electric vehicle chargers, so that you'll have that option about every 30 miles," Hoare said.
The tolls on the NYS Thruway were supposed to end back in 1996, with the help of federal aid. That did not happen. Instead, the tolls remain but the technology was upgraded to cashless tolling.
There was a toll rate increase at the beginning of this year, and Hoare says the Thruway Authority plans to spend $420 million on repaving and rebuilding in Western New York, including the Grand Island bridges.
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