A judge has ruled that the way New York State has been spending Thruway toll money is unconstitutional.
The long battle between New York State and the American Trucking Association has finally ended. New York’s practice of using Thruway tolls to pay upkeep on the increasingly expensive canal system is over.
Though the canals were once a vital route for transporting goods, they are now mostly just a tourist attraction. The $2 million yearly revenue they generate is a drop in the bucket next to the enormous cost of maintaining them. Since 1992, $1.1 billion has been spent by the Thruway to maintain the canals and the cost is only increasing.
Whether or not the canals should continue to be kept up though was not the subject of the lawsuit. The ATA objected to the state of New York using toll money from the Thruway for something that had absolutely nothing to do with the Thruway itself – a practice that the ATA claims unconstitutionally burdened interstate commerce.
“The courts and Constitution were clear: Revenue from tolls must be spent maintaining the roads they’re collected on and not diverted to finance bike paths and waterways for recreational kayaking and canoeing,” said Chris Spear, CEO of the American Trucking Associations, according to an NBC affiliate in Albany. “We hope today’s ruling will not only end this practice in New York, but dissuade other states from financing their budget shortfalls on the backs of our industry.”
While the ATA celebrates their victory however, Jennifer Givner, a spokesperson for the Thruway claims the ruling is no big deal. According to Givner, the decision to transfer the cost of maintaining the canals to the New York Power Authority was already made. Starting on Jan. 1st, the transfer will go into effect.
“Separate and apart from this issue, the governor and the Legislature approved the transfer of the Canal Corp. to the New York Power Authority (NYPA) in this year’s budget,” Givner said. “Since April 1, NYPA has been funding the Canal Corp’s operations and per the legislation, the transfer will be completed Jan. 1.”
Regardless of when and why the switch happened though, the change means that between $65 and $100 million in additional toll money will be spent maintaining and upgrading the Thruway every year.
If you believe that money will go to up keep the thruway, I have some swamp land for sale in Jersey, with good drainage. Just like the fuel tax in Pennsylvania goes largely to finance mass transit. They will find a way to spend it frivolously.
Well how conveeeeeeenient for Jennifer Givner. “Oh, no big deal. We were going to do it anyway. As a matter of fact, it’s already done.”
What is she, 6?
Believe me, the lefties that run NY state would’ve kept on siphoning those millions of $ from the thruway system until doomsday. They’re just trying to save face because they got caught doing it.
Also, FINALLY the ATA uses their influence to get something done that will actually BENEFIT truckers: The money will now be available for use on the entire thruway system.
SOP for ATA is to promote and defend anything and everything the mega-carrier lobbyists want.
I think I’m owed a refund then!!!