News from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb
Assembly Office:
933 Legislative Office Building • Albany, NY 12248 • (518) 455-3751
District Offices:
607 West Washington Street • Suite 2 • Geneva, NY 14456 • (315) 781-2030
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For Release: IMMEDIATELY, November 21, 2012
Contact: Doug Finch (315) 781-2030
My "Thruway Authority Accountability Act" establishes a rational Thruway toll plan, fixes a broken arm of state government
Weekly column from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C,I-Canandaigua)

The past several months have demonstrated a very serious disconnect between the State Thruway Authority and the New Yorkers it is supposed to serve. As evidence, consider the Thruway Authority's recently proposed 45 percent toll hike on trucks, one of the largest toll hikes ever proposed. If enacted, it would be the fifth toll hike since 2004 - as a frame of reference, for the first 50 years of the Thruway, there were only four toll increases!

Bottom line? The Thruway Authority isn't working for motorists, trucking companies or the new model of New York being "open for business."

TIME TO HIT "RESET BUTTON" ON THRUWAY AUTHORITY

The problems at the Thruway Authority have become so severe, the lack of accountability so systemic, the fiscal irresponsibility so breathtaking, we need to hit the "reset button" and start fresh. In response to the continued lack of accountability at the Thruway Authority, I introduced legislation - the "Thruway Authority Accountability Act" - designed to fix these problems and make the Thruway Authority work.

My legislation would restore accountability, increase efficiency and save taxpayer dollars by making six structural reforms and statutory changes to the Thruway Authority:

  1. Merge the Thruway Authority with the State Department of Transportation (DOT);
  2. Create a new Thruway Authority Board whose members must have transportation expertise;
  3. Make the State DOT Commissioner Chair of the Thruway Authority Board;
  4. Require a comprehensive forensic audit of Thruway Authority finances every three years - and release the audit's findings to the public;
  5. Require any proposed Thruway toll hikes - and the reason for the requested increases - be clearly identified in the State DOT's budget; and
  6. Save money by consolidating the Thruway Authority's overlapping functions within the State DOT and streamlining the Authority through attrition.

BUILDING ON A GOOD IDEA

Merging the Thruway Authority with the State DOT is not a risky idea. In fact, in December of 2011, the Spending And Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission appointed by Governor Cuomo approved a proposal to share service and leadership teams between the State DOT and a new Thruway/Bridge Authority. However, the cost savings merger proposed by SAGE failed to make it into the Commission's January 2012 recommendations. The legislation I introduced would correct that mistake.

WE NEED REAL SOLUTIONS TO FIX A BROKEN THRUWAY AUTHORITY

I believe it's not enough to simply throw rocks and criticize the Thruway Authority. We have a responsibility to find solutions, fix the problems and make this broken arm of government work. The Thruway Authority Accountability Act would correct the chronic problems, restore the Authority's lost credibility and ensure a rational Thruway toll plan that better protects small businesses and taxpayers.

What do you think? I want to hear from YOU! Send me your feedback, suggestions and ideas regarding this or any other issue facing New York State. You can always contact my district office at (315) 781-2030 or e-mail me at kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us.