New York State Thruway Toll Hikes Now in Effect
The New York State Thruway Authority has implemented an approved increase in toll rates across the state, excluding the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.
Toll Increases to Cover Modernization and Maintenance Costs
The board of directors of the New York State Thruway Authority voted to pass two 5% toll increases, with the first one taking effect on January 1, 2024, and the second on January 1, 2027.
The fixed toll rate for N.Y. E-ZPass customers at the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge will increase by $0.50 annually until 2027.
According to the authority's leadership, these increases were necessary to fund the modernization of the Thruway, ensure its safety, and cover the rising costs of maintenance.
Impact on Vehicle Owners
Following the toll increases, an E-ZPass holder of a standard passenger vehicle will pay approximately half a cent more per mile, while non-E-ZPass holders will pay 3 1/2 cents more per mile.
For drivers using Tolls by Mail and non-E-ZPass, the increase is just under 3 cents per mile.
To provide some examples, the new toll rates would result in an additional 8 cents for E-ZPass holders traveling from Hudson to Canaan, 10 cents from Verona to Syracuse, and 11 cents from Geneva to Rochester.
Differential for Non-N.Y. E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail Customers
The Thruway Authority explains that non-N.Y. E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail customers pay a differential due to additional processing costs and to incentivize customers to obtain an N.Y. E-ZPass tag.
These customers are also typically less frequent users of the system.
In 2023, drivers in New York paid over $800 million in state Thruway tolls.
