The Eisenhower Toll Road System

[pico23]

With the price of gas most likely staying above $3 and the Thruway authority claiming lower usage, they will increase tolls by I believe 10% over the next 2 years + eliminate the EZ-Pass discount (10%) + 10% starting 1-1-08. So for easy pass users it's 20% this year, plus 10% over the next two.

From Yahoo Finance:

The pair of proposed 5 percent hikes -- along with lower discounts for drivers who use the EZ-Pass electronic toll collecting system -- would come on top of a 10 percent increase effective Jan 1.

Will the price of tolls affect your trips to the North Country/ADK, or even the Catskills and Gunks?

[redhawk]

I think the toll hikes are insignificant when compared to rising gas prices. I really plan my travel now to conserve as much as possible and to squeeze as much "business" (doctor's appointments, pharmacy, groceries, etc) into each trip as possible.

Fortunately I live in the park, 15 minutes away from many trailheads so that part is not affected. In fact, I can walk into some wilderness from my house.

So, I don't worry about the tolls because I can't afford the gas to get to the interstate!

I think gas prices will top $4.00 per gallon this summer, and will continue to rise regatdless of which party controls the White House and Congress in November.

Since we import most of our gas from Canada, I think we should find some pretense to invade them, and keep their terrorists from messing up our Adirondacks while managing their oil.

Hawk

[Bill I.]

Yes, Thruway tolls are expensive compared to other states--the Mass Pike, for instance--but I can't say the $2.25 toll to Syracuse (or whatever it is now from Utica) is exorbitant. It's still pocket change, and if I can afford the gas then I can afford the tolls.

I live about 13-14 miles from the Adirondack Park, so the toll increase won't affect my hiking trips.

I've been wondering how expensive gas has to be before people begin to cut back on ATV/snowmobile use. The Town of Webb's snowmobile permit sales were up by 1000 for December compared to last year, so apparently the $3.39/gallon people are paying in Old Forge right now is still considered relatively low. I think the rationale most riders are using is that their sleds get better mileage than their trucks.

[colden46]

I've been wondering how expensive gas has to be before people begin to cut back on ATV/snowmobile use. The Town of Webb's snowmobile permit sales were up by 1000 for December compared to last year, so apparently the $3.39/gallon people are paying in Old Forge right now is still considered relatively low. I think the rationale most riders are using is that their sleds get better mileage than their trucks.

I've never owned a snowmobile so I don't know how much gas they go through in a day of riding, but my girlfriend's dad owns a pontoon boat, and driving that around for most of the day will suck up a good $40 in gas. It doesn't help that the marina where he has it stored really wants you to buy gas from them rather than bring your own, and they of course charge 50 cents more a gallon than anywhere else.

As for the original poll, none of the options fit for me. Closest is "I live north of the Thruway", but I don't -- I'm about 2 miles south of it. But to answer the question, no, the price of tolls won't affect my trips. EZPass mitigates that when I need to drive on the Thruway anyway, and I don't understand why anyone would still not have a tag since they're free.

Also, calling it the Eisenhower Toll Road System is a stretch. Once you get out of the northeast (and Florida, where everything seems to be a toll road), there aren't too many stretches of interstate that are tolled, and just about all of the toll interstates in the northeast were built prior to the Interstate System's existence.

[chairrock]

Yes, Thruway tolls are expensive compared to other states--the Mass Pike, for instance--but I can't say the $2.25 toll to Syracuse (or whatever it is now from Utica) is exorbitant. It's still pocket change, and if I can afford the gas then I can afford the tolls.

I live about 13-14 miles from the Adirondack Park, so the toll increase won't affect my hiking trips.

I've been wondering how expensive gas has to be before people begin to cut back on ATV/snowmobile use. The Town of Webb's snowmobile permit sales were up by 1000 for December compared to last year, so apparently the $3.39/gallon people are paying in Old Forge right now is still considered relatively low. I think the rationale most riders are using is that their sleds get better mileage than their trucks.

That might have been because there was so much snow in December, compared to last year,and sleds,older 2 cycle ones anyway, don't get much better than 10-15 mpg.We rode Christmas week and the conditions were great, but we stay away from Webb....too crowded and permits!

[1894]

Just checked my ez-pass statement , $ 1.31 from exit 39 to 33 last fall. Even if they up it 10% it won't make a bit of differance compared to gas prices for driving a 16 mpg truck 100 miles each way.

[ADKHUNTER]

I commute to NYC everyday over the TZ bridge. Its still cheaper than the GW. I heard on the radio this morning tolls were NOT going up for EZ pass just for non EZ-pass users. I have to check my statement.

[chairrock]

Why dont I see commuter buses on the Thruway or near Albany on the Northway?We need masstransit to save the earth from ppl driving to work in metro areas..

[lumberzac]

Why dont I see commuter buses on the Thruway or near Albany on the Northway?We need masstransit to save the earth from ppl driving to work in metro areas..

There is one.

http://www.cdta.org/nx/schedule.html

Unfortunately if you work in another city other than Albany, you can't utilize it. I figured it out once that it would take 3 hours to get from Saratoga to Troy using the existing bus routes.

[sky]

Since we import most of our gas from Canada, I think we should find some pretense to invade them, and keep their terrorists from messing up our Adirondacks while managing their oil.

The Mounties are coming, the Mounties are coming!!!!
(i needed that....thanks Hawk)

[redhawk]

Also, calling it the Eisenhower Toll Road System is a stretch. Once you get out of the northeast (and Florida, where everything seems to be a toll road), there aren't too many stretches of interstate that are tolled, and just about all of the toll interstates in the northeast were built prior to the Interstate System's existence.

That's not quite accurate. Only toll road I know of in New England that was built before the Interstates system, (which was envisioned and implemented by Ike) was the Wilbur Cross/merit parkway in Ct to NY.

The rest of the interstates linking the country were all toll roads. However just about all of the other states kept true to the plan "although a few like CT took much longer) to drop the tolls when the Interstate was paid for.

New York however got it wrong. I guess they were under the impression that once the construction costs were paid for, then they were empowered to raise the tolls as often as they wished.

What really should be done is a toll system implemented on all major interstates in which non residents would be charged to help offset local costs for maintaining the highways. if they went to a National EZ pass type system, then it would register out of state cars but not state residents. It could also be implemented so that heavier vehicles pay a higher toll since they put more wear and tear on the highways, as well as drive fuel prices up. And in a perfect world, they would find and implement a system where gas taxes were graduated on the MPG of a car. Maybe then consumers would insist on more efficient vehicles.

hawk

[ADK Tank]

That might have been because there was so much snow in December, compared to last year,and sleds,older 2 cycle ones anyway, don't get much better than 10-15 mpg.We rode Christmas week and the conditions were great, but we stay away from Webb....too crowded and permits!

I think your right, this is the first December in quite a few years where I can remember being able to ride snowmobiles and not just for a day or two before the snow would melt again. Gas prices and mostly registration fee increase for snowmobiles made me sell mine, wasn't worth the cost of the registration to ride it on the 2 miles of trail to get into our camp a few times a year (now we just plow the road all year) or onto the lakes to fish and with gas prices I can't afford to ride more to make it worth it.

[chairrock]

I think your right, this is the first December in quite a few years where I can remember being able to ride snowmobiles and not just for a day or two before the snow would melt again. Gas prices and mostly registration fee increase for snowmobiles made me sell mine, wasn't worth the cost of the registration to ride it on the 2 miles of trail to get into our camp a few times a year (now we just plow the road all year) or onto the lakes to fish and with gas prices I can't afford to ride more to make it worth it.

Yeah,its $45 per sled now if you join a club,which cost $15-$25 per family.It is $100 per sled if you choose not to join a club. The clubs are responsible for grooming trails,signage,maintenace,political lobbying,and social activities. Over all the clubs are a good deal.You can join a club or get info at any dealer or many of the restaurants frequented by sledders.The club that you join is funded partially by the number of members it has,so it is smart to join a club in the area you ride in.

[chairrock]

There is one.

http://www.cdta.org/nx/schedule.html

Unfortunately if you work in another city other than Albany, you can't utilize it. I figured it out once that it would take 3 hours to get from Saratoga to Troy using the existing bus routes.

I hear that!
Its a shame ppl arent more on board with masstransit.If they were the govt.might get it in gear. I guess it will take $20 a gallon gas and huge tolls to force the issue.I hate seeing one male in a car driving into work when a bus is available that would be quicker if they got the cars off the road and out of the way.I know each city has its own issues but when are we going to wake up!

[pico23]

The tag isn't actually free. There is $1 per month surcharge for both NY and NJ tags to pay for something that I didn't buy (NJ it's to bail out the Garden State parkway).

The EZ Pass discount is gone, unless you pay the $18 a month for the local plan, which may or may not exist anymore. There was a similar Bridge Plan for the Hudson Bridges (upstate bridges). Basically, it gave the first 20 miles toll free. As an example, it would be for people who lived in kingston but had to drive to New Paltz regularly. Oh, and this was for upstate residents only...so you couldn't get it if you lived in NJ and wanted to avoid the toll from Woodbury to Kingston.

But the 10% discount goes 1-1-08 so everyone now pays the same. Like I said, 20% increase for EZ-Pass users.

And I agree, I never understood not having the tag. However, people like my brother refuse to buy it, he refuses because of the $1 surcharge among other things, which is funny because he drives at nearly whatever reasonable safe speed he wants, but he sits in the NYC toll lanes for 20 minutes, negating any speed advantage he has. Some people just aren't that bright.

Oh, one other thing. The price point for changing driving habbits is somewhere around $4 a gallon. Believe it or not, adjusted for inflation and the falling dollar value gas ISN'T at it's all time high. I just read something that said those 1950's 50 cent per gallon prices were actually pretty close to $3.00 in 2007 dollars. So We'd actually have to go quite a bit higher.

Personally I drive 400-500 miles a week for work, plus 100-400 on weekends. Since I don't pay my weekly tolls or gas, I'm only responsible for the weekends, and since I have reasonably fuel effecient car (30mpg summer or winter) I don't hurt too bad. Hopefully my next car will get about 35-40 negating any near future fuel increases.

But actually the tolls from NY + the Gas really would affect me if I lived down there. I'd pay $25 in tolls + $40 in gas. $65 for a weekend or close to $300 a month in gas in tolls to hike. I'd pay it but it would affect my meager income.