Thruway folks need a raise? Giant pot holes in the middle of the thruway??......Where does the $$ go???
Yeah, I do need a raise thank you.
As for where the money goes, it's about the same as the State. Outside contractors to do work that the employees could do, consultants out the wazoo, raises for the desk jockey's at Hindquarters, subsidizing snow removal and slat for several small towns (mainly along I-84), underwriting the snow/salt for the Northway as far as the Twin Bridges, underwriting State grants for "water front improvements" in Utica, Syracuse, and Rochester (so the cash didn't come out of the state funds), replacing the flowers and handicap parking signs at Hindquarters (at the cost of approximately $500,000), and I'm sure if I think about it, I can come up with more.
Don't forget the Erie Canal maintenance which is quite expensive as well.
Expensive doesn't even begin to cover it. The Canals are a money pit. The flooding a few years back really put the hurt on them, having to dredge, clean out the locks (and more significantly the mechanisms), test each part for damage, replace damaged parts, get it all back together then running again. The Canal System was forced on the T-way, as it was thought that it would be able to absorb the costs associated with it, and would be good PR for the legislature in "reducing expenses." It was another dirty deal done by the legislature. It's why they were able to raid the T-way funds for those river front projects in Western NY.
As far as "unholy alliances" go, well, this one was not of the T-way's choosing. It was politics, pure plain and simple. Just like Fliescher (executive "director" of the T-way). He was a political hack that Pataki needed to get out of DOT where Fleischer ran rough shod over everyone. He was a dead duck when Pataki decided not to run. So he got foisted off on the T-way. Fliescher has no toll road experience, or had any clue as to what goes on in terms of day to day operations, what works, what doesn't. He came in to enforce a political agenda, one designed to keep certain down state legislators happy, and in office. Now everyone gets to pay for that.
The T-way used be fairly efficiently run. Then again, the guys at the top had all come out of the T-way up through the ranks, or had come over from other toll roads in other states. But once the political hacks got in, it became the domain of the accountants and toadies. The entire top echelon of the T-way are a bunch of hacks and hypocrites. They make cuts in all the wrong areas for the wrong reasons, and over spend on "luxuries" that are neither needed or generally wanted.
Even so, even after the recent toll increase, we're still one of the cheapest toll roads in the world.
Shadow you are correct. There are many other states that have excellent roads with no tolls. AND it is cheaper to live in these states. Some even have better school systems than NYS. The trick here is that they avoid the whole 'union thing' in many aspects and they don't cater to the welfare fund!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Shadow you are correct. There are many other states that have excellent roads with no tolls. AND it is cheaper to live in these states. Some even have better school systems than NYS. The trick here is that they avoid the whole 'union thing' in many aspects and they don't cater to the welfare fund!
There aren't that many states that don't have some form of toll road (mainly in the Mountain west).
As far as the T-way is concerned, the unions have bupkus to do with the real problems (be it the Teamsters or CSEA). It's the political hacks and toadies. It's more dramatic when compared to other states. The real problem lies at the top, where a hack like Fliecher gets a $60,000 raise (for what god alone knows), which is the equivalent of 2 full time toll or maintainance workers. Now add in the rest of the toadies at the upper echelons, plus they're holding on to extra "administrative assistants" (at about $65,000 each), and it really should come as no surprise that things have gone down hill. The people who actually do work on the T-way get screwed, while the desk jockies and accountants get 30-40% raises "for the wonderful jobs they do." So while the front line employees have to give back in their contracts, these chowder heads get to cruise around the state in Authority vehicles, on Authority expense ("For business purposes" of course), schmooze with the Legislature and cow tow to the governor's office. Plus they get huge raises, no benefit loss, additions to their retirements, and only have to be in the office twice a week.
I've traveled on I70, I81, parts of I95, I84, I40, I78, just to name a few that are toll free or mostly toll free. The East coast has the most tolls for their roads and bridges and I agree that the money raised by the tolls isn't being spent on repairs and maintenance as they're supposed to. Too many hands dipping into the pot using the money for the wrong reasons.
I've traveled on I70, I81, parts of I95, I84, I40, I78, just to name a few that are toll free or mostly toll free. The East coast has the most tolls for their roads and bridges and I agree that the money raised by the tolls isn't being spent on repairs and maintenance as they're supposed to. Too many hands dipping into the pot using the money for the wrong reasons.
There is no such thing as a "free" road. Even the road you live on costs money to repair, maintain and plaow.
I will disagree with the member who accuses the upper echelon as being the cause for the toll increase. Teamsters got their raises (ie contract) with no issues. CSEA had a new contract in record time as the last time it was no less than four years late.
Everything has gone up. Why not the cost of the thruway too?
There is no such thing as a "free" road. Even the road you live on costs money to repair, maintain and plaow.
I will disagree with the member who accuses the upper echelon as being the cause for the toll increase. Teamsters got their raises (ie contract) with no issues. CSEA had a new contract in record time as the last time it was no less than four years late.
Everything has gone up. Why not the cost of the thruway too?
No, I siad the upper echelons were part of the cause. The State raids on T-ways are as much to blame, as was the forced taking on of the Canal system. And yeah, we got our contract, but "no issues?" Hardly. There were several give backs, the contract was late (nothing unusual there though), and was more or less the same deal that everyone else got who was a union employee (CSEA, Teamsters, or whatever). And while the font line employees positions have been cut to bare minimums (especially in maintainance), Hindquarters just have plenty of people who have nothing to do on a daily basis.
Thruway commercial traffic, revenue fall Heavy toll is levied by slowdown in economy as fewer goods are shipped
By CATHY WOODRUFF, Business writer First published in print: Thursday, January 22, 2009
ALBANY — Higher tolls weren't enough to offset the costs of tumbling commercial traffic on the state Thruway last year, as the faltering national economy left truckers with fewer goods to haul.
With numbers for December still not finalized, commercial traffic fell 4.28 percent through November vs. the same 11 months in 2007, and revenue from commercial traffic was $305,000 less than the year before, according to Thruway Authority calculations.
Passenger vehicle traffic also was down through November — by 2.71 percent — but passenger revenue still rose 6.55 percent.
Overall, toll revenue was up more than $19 million through November, said Chief Financial Officer John Bryan.
The Thruway imposed a toll hike for cash-paying motorists in January 2008 and rolled back the discount for most E-ZPass users to 5 percent later in the year.
Bryan said the bumpy ride for Thruway traffic and revenue in 2008 reflected the wide swings in fuel prices and increased economic instability during the year.
While gas prices — which were at their height during the spring and summer — typically have the greatest impact on passenger traffic, which includes vacations and other discretionary travel, it's the condition of the economy that hits commercial traffic hardest, Bryan said.
Declines in commercial traffic started to become evident during the months of high gas prices, but they really set in around September, as the overall economy soured, he said.
Commercial traffic levels have slipped as much as 10 percent to 15 percent on some days, Bryan said.
First published in print: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
I drive the Thruway on occasion to visit friends or my granddaughter in the western part of the state. I find it totally appalling that another toll increase has taken place. I can drive all the way to Keller, Texas, and not pay a toll, but, I can't drive on the Thruway without paying.
First, we pay state income taxes, a portion of which goes for upkeep and maintenance of other highways in the state.
Second, every time I fill my car with gas, New York levies a tax. The high cost of gas in 2008 should have given the state a windfall. Third, state residents get no break from the Thruway tolls because they live in New York.
I think that Gov. Thomas Dewey must be tossing and turning in his grave to think that the highway he promoted and that was to be paid for in some five years is still drawing fees nearly 50 years after its construction.
I think that Gov. Thomas Dewey must be tossing and turning in his grave to think that the highway he promoted and that was to be paid for in some five years is still drawing fees nearly 50 years after its construction.
Although no one, including myself is happy with any increase, I don't think that Gov. Thomas Dewey envisioned what the Thruway would look like today. From EZ Pass to an authority that employs many to the increase in traffic. I don't think any of us envisioned what it is today..... back 50 years ago.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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