New York State Thruway Authority

Public benefit corporation in the US

New York State Thruway AuthorityAuthority overview

Formed| 1950 (1950)
Jurisdiction| New York State Thruway
Headquarters| Administrative Headquarters
200 Southern Blvd.
PO Box 189
Albany, NY 12201-0189
Authority executive|

* Frank G. Hoare, Executive Director

Website| www.thruway.ny.gov

The New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) is a public benefit corporation in New York State, United States. The NYSTA was formed in 1950 with the responsibility of constructing, maintaining, and operating the New York State Thruway, a system of limited-access highways within the state.[1]

## Organization[edit]

In August 2017, Matthew J. Driscoll was appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo as the Acting Executive Director of the New York State Thruway Authority. The executive officers report to a 6-member board of directors.[2] In 2017, the authority had operating expenses of $872.17 million, an outstanding debt of $8.827 billion, and a staffing level of 3,754 people.[3]

The authority operates without financial assistance from the state of New York. All debt is paid for through tolls and fees.[1]

## History[edit]

### Formation[edit]

A toll superhighway connecting the major cities of the state of New York that would become part of a larger nationwide highway network was proposed as early as 1949. Construction was initially administered by the state Department of Public Works,[1] however in the following year, the New York State Legislature passed the Thruway Authority Act creating the New York State Thruway Authority, an independent public corporation, which would build and manage the Thruway. The project was to be financed through toll revenue bonds and self-liquidating by receipt of tolls, rents, concessions, and other income. The act also stipulated NYSTA adopt a hybrid system of tolls, with barrier tolls collected in urban areas, and long-distance tickets issued in rural areas.[4]

### System expansion[edit]

After the New Jersey Turnpike was built in 1952, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and NYSTA proposed a 13-mile (21 km) extension of the New Jersey Turnpike that would go from its end (at US 46 in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, at the time) up to West Nyack at the Thruway. The portion through New Jersey was to be constructed and maintained by NJTA, while the portion in New York was to be built and maintained by NYSTA. The purpose of this extension was to give motorists a "more direct bypass of the New York City area" to New England by using the Tappan Zee Bridge. The extension was to parallel NY 303 and the Conrail-owned River Line, and have limited interchanges, one of which would be with the Palisades Interstate Parkway. By 1970, it became too expensive to buy right-of-way access, and community opposition was fierce. Therefore, both the NJTA and NYSTA cancelled the project.[5]

In 1990, the state of New York sold the Cross-Westchester Expressway (part of I-287) to NYSTA for $20 million (equivalent to $41.2 million in 2023) in an effort to balance the state's budget.[6][7][8] Similarly, in 1991, the Authority was directed to assume the cost of operating and maintaining the 71-mile (114 km) segment of I-84 in New York, which runs east–west from the Pennsylvania state line at Port Jervis to the Connecticut state line at Brewster.[9] The agreement made at this time between NYSTA and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) allowed NYSTA to transfer I-84 back to the state at any point after 1996 provided that the Thruway Authority gave NYSDOT a one-year notice.[10] Around this time, state officials also investigated the possibility of having NYSTA take over ownership and maintenance of all or part of New York's Interstate Highways.[6]

### Toll elimination and I-84[edit]

Thruway Authority maintenance sign at onramps on I-84

Roughly one week before the November 2006 elections, NYSTA accepted $14 million from the State Senate in exchange for agreeing to cease the collection of tolls at the Black Rock and City Line toll barriers on the Niagara Thruway (I-190) in Buffalo for one year.[11] On October 30, 2006, NYSTA voted to permanently remove the tolls. Both major candidates in the 2006 gubernatorial election, Democrat and eventual victor Eliot Spitzer and Republican John Faso, had pledged to remove the tolls on I-190 if elected. In order to offset the lost toll revenue, NYSTA also voted to return maintenance of I-84 to NYSDOT,[12] as the annual maintenance cost of I-84 was considered to be equal to the amount of annual revenue generated from the Buffalo toll barriers—approximately $14 million.[13] Under the terms of the 1991 agreement between NYSTA and NYSDOT, maintenance of I-84 would become the responsibility of the DOT on October 30, 2007.[9]

In January 2007, State Senator John Bonacic of Mount Hope began drafting legislation to halt the planned transfer of maintenance of I-84. Bonacic asserted that the Thruway Authority had better maintenance practices than NYSDOT, most notably in the field of snow removal. He also claimed that the DOT lacked the time and money needed to match the quality of maintenance that NYSTA performed on I-84.[11] The senator eventually prevailed as the 2007–2008 budget was modified to allocate additional funding to NYSDOT, which would then pay the Thruway Authority to maintain I-84.[14] A formal agreement between the two agencies was reached on September 19. The one-year agreement cost NYSDOT $11.5 million and took effect October 30, the date I-84 was to become DOT-maintained.[9] The agreement was renewed in April 2008 at a cost of $10.3 million, extending the arrangement through October 31, 2009.[15] It remained in place until October 11, 2010, when NYSDOT re-assumed maintenance of the highway. The change was made in the 2010–2011 state budget in an effort to reduce the cost of maintaining I-84.[16] Governor David Paterson—who included the change in the budget—expected that the state would save $3.9 million annually on maintenance costs.[17]

### Canal maintenance[edit]

The NYSTA owned the New York State Canal Corporation from 1992 until 2017. Ownership was subsequently transferred to the New York Power Authority.[18]

## Highway advisory radio[edit]

NYSTA also operates the Thruway Authority Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) system, a network of radio stations across the state that broadcast information on traffic conditions along the Thruway. The system broadcasts at 1610 AM in the Newburgh, Kingston, Albany, and Rochester areas, 1620 AM in the Herkimer, Verona, LaFayette, Syracuse, and Geneva/Waterloo areas, 530 AM in the New York City Region/Tappan Zee Bridge Corridor, and at 1630 AM in the Buffalo, Ripley, and Dunkirk areas. HAR is also used to broadcast Amber Alerts if one is issued.[19]

## See also[edit]

* New York State Canal Corporation
* New York Power Authority

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "New York State Thruway Authority". snac. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
2. ^ "NYST Org Webpage". Retrieved November 5, 2018.
3. ^ "NYSABO 2018 Report" (PDF). Retrieved November 5, 2018.
4. ^ Anderson, Steve. "New York State Thruway". NYCRoads. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
5. ^ Anderson, Steve. "New Jersey Turnpike (I-95)". NYCRoads. Retrieved April 19, 2010.[self-published source]
6. ^ a b "Panel Studies New Role For Thruway Authority". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 1, 1991. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
7. ^ Lynn, Frank (April 7, 1991). "Political Talk". The New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
8. ^ Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
9. ^ a b c Rife, Judy (September 20, 2007). "Thruway Retains I-84 upkeep". Times Herald-Record. Middletown, Orange County, New York. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
10. ^ Rife, Judy (October 30, 2006). "I-84 Maintenance Could Be at Stake". Times Herald-Record. Middletown, Orange County, New York. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
11. ^ a b Rife, Judy (January 6, 2007). "Senator Bonacic Fights Move on I-84 Maintenance". Times Herald-Record. Middletown, Orange County, New York. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
12. ^ Fink, James (October 30, 2006). "I-190 Tolls in Rear-View Mirror". Business First of Buffalo. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
13. ^ Cunningham, Douglas (October 27, 2006). "Don't Mince Words on I-84 deal". Times Herald-Record. Middletown, Orange County, New York. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
14. ^ Rife, Judy (March 31, 2007). "Bonacic Wins War over I-84; Thruway Authority to Remain in Charge". Times Herald-Record. Middletown, Orange County, New York. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
15. ^ Rife, Judy (April 14, 2008). "Thruway Authority gets $10.3M to Maintain I-84". Times Herald-Record. Middletown, Orange County, New York. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
16. ^ "State DOT to Take Over Maintenance of I-84". Poughkeepsie Journal. August 25, 2010. ProQuest 747741070.
17. ^ Rife, Judy (August 24, 2010). "DOT Prepares to Resume Interstate 84 Care". Times Herald-Record. Middletown, Orange County, New York. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
18. ^ "NY Power Authority takes charge of canal system from Thruway Authority". Newyorkupstate. 4 January 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
19. ^ "Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) Locations - New York State Thruway". www.thruway.ny.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-15.

## External links[edit]

* New York State Thruway Authority

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New York State Thruway Authority

Highways|

* Mainline Thruway
* I-87
* I-90
* I-287
* Berkshire Connector
* I-90
* Cross-Westchester Expressway
* I-287
* Niagara Thruway
* I-190
* New England Thruway
* I-95
* Garden State Parkway Connector
* I-84 (former)

Major bridges|

* Castleton Bridge
* North Grand Island Bridge
* Schoharie Creek Bridge
* South Grand Island Bridge
* Tappan Zee Bridge
* 1955–2017
* 2017–present

Tolling|

* E-ZPass
* Cashless Tolling

* v
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Officers in the State of New York

Current offices|

* Governor
* Lieutenant Governor
* Speaker of the Assembly
* Temporary President of the Senate
* Secretary of State
* Attorney General
* State Comptroller
* Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals
* Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals
* Clerk of the Court of Appeals
* Clerk of the State Assembly

Defunct offices|

* State Treasurer
* State Engineer
* Superintendent of Public Works
* Chancellor
* Canal Commissioner
* Inspector of State Prisons

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New York state government departments

Departments|

* Agriculture and Markets
* Audit and Control
* Civil Service
* Corrections and Community Supervision
* Economic Development
* Education
* Environmental Conservation
* Executive
* Family Assistance
* Children and Family Services
* Financial Services
* Health
* Labor
* Law
* Mental Hygiene
* Motor Vehicles
* Public Service
* State
* Taxation and Finance
* Transportation

| Defunct departments|

* Banking
* Insurance
* Public Works

|

Non-departmental|

* Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment
* Commission on Judicial Conduct
* Joint Commission on Public Ethics
* Legislative Bill Drafting Commission
* New York State Financial Control Board
* New York State Law Revision Commission
* Public Authorities Control Board

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New York state public-benefit corporations

Oversight|

* New York State Authorities Budget Office, New York State Comptroller, New York State Financial Control Board, New York State Public Authorities Control Board

Class A Statewide|

* Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund
* Dormitory Authority of the State of New York
* Empire State Development Corporation
* Homeless Housing & Assistance Corporation
* National Heritage Trust
* New York Job Development Authority
* New York Local Government Assistance Corporation
* New York State Affordable Housing Corporation
* New York State Archives Partnership Trust
* New York State Canal Corporation
* New York State Energy Research & Development Authority
* New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation
* New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation
* New York State Housing Finance Agency
* New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation
* New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund Corporation
* New York State Thruway Authority
* New York State Urban Development Corporation
* Power Authority of the State of New York
* State of New York Mortgage Agency
* State of New York Municipal Bond Bank Agency
* State University Construction Fund
* Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation

| Defunct|

* New York State Theatre Institute Corporation

|

Class A Regional|

* Albany Convention Center Authority
* Albany Port District Commission
* Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority
* Capital District Transportation Authority
* Central New York Regional Transportation Authority
* Development Authority of the North Country
* Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority
* Erie County Medical Center Corporation
* Hudson River Park Trust
* Hudson River–Black River Regulating District
* Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority
* Long Island Power Authority
* Lower Manhattan Development Corporation
* Metropolitan Transportation Authority
* Municipal Assistance Corporation for the City of NY
* Municipal Assistance Corporation for the City of Troy
* Nassau County Interim Finance Authority
* Nassau Health Care Corporation
* Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Performing Arts Center Corporation
* New York Convention Center Operating Corporation
* New York State Bridge Authority
* Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
* North Country Power Authority
* Olympic Regional Development Authority
* Overcoat Development Corporation
* Port of Oswego Authority
* Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority
* Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
* Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corporation
* United Nations Development Corporation
* Utility Debt Securitization Authority
* Westchester County Health Care Corporation

| Defunct|

* Industrial Exhibit Authority

|

Class B|

* Adirondack Park Agency
* New York Racing Association

Class C (local jurisdiction: towns, villages, and small cities)|

* Green Island Power Authority
* New York City School Construction Authority

Class D (interstate and international)|

* Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority
* Niagara Falls Bridge Commission
* Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority
* Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

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