April 22, 2008
I just sent this message to Governor Paterson at this link, please send him one to.
There is a Bill in the Senate and the Assembly that will finally remove the tolls from the Grand Island bridges after 73 years. This Bill will take the control of the 190 from Buffalo to Niagara Falls away from the Thruway Authority and turn it over to the Department of Transportation.
Will you support and help us push this Bill through the Assembly and finally free us of this commuter tax.
The 190 and the bridges border and cross Federal Navigated waters, because of this one crucial point we can open the door to all federal funding to fix, repair and build new bridges that the NYSTA has neglected. In a recent inspection all 4 bridges were rated below 4 and two were yellow flagged.
Millions continue to leave the bridges and go to the general fund in Albany. This money should have been used for the bridges. The bridges were not built to handle the traffic and we need new bridges, federal funds will help eliminate the state funding.
Please help us. Visit NoGItolls.com
Help us with the Bills in the legislature. George Maziarz and Senator Thompson, Sam Hoyt in the Assembly.
We need you commitment Governor Paterson, this will show your commitment to help in WNY come back economically.
Thank you
Rus Thompson
**Media Alert** Toll update and a point of real concern.... WHY?
April 21, 08
Last week it was announced that the Governor was nominating a new member to the Board of the Thruway Authority. Donnah Luh has been nominated, we would expect to see her fill the position is currently held by E. Virgil Conway. That seat expired in January of 08.
It has come to my attention that she is to take Jeffrey Williams seat. Now why would the Governor want to jump ahead to fill a seat held by Mr. Williams? Mr. Williams was informed last week by the governors office that he is being replaced.
This gives me pause and is of great concern to us that have been in the fight to eliminate the Tolls at the Grand Island Bridges and with the current Bill that is in the Senate and Assembly to turn the 190 over to the D.O.T.
Jeff Williams has been a huge ally for ALL of us here in Western New York. Jeff is the only member of the board to vote NO on the toll increase. Jeff has been very vocal about the state abuse and use of the Thruway Authority as a borrowing agency and he has called Albany out over these issues. Jeff agrees with eliminating the NYSTA control over the 190 and the Grand Island Bridges there by eliminating the tolls that have plagued us for 73 years.
The NYSTA Board will be meeting later this week to vote on the toll increase. Is the governor sending him a message? Is the Governor trying to sabotage our efforts to get done what needs to be done to save Western New York commuters as much as 30 Million a year by eliminating the tolls at the Grand Island Bridges.
Governor Paterson claims he is dedicated to reviving the economy of Western New York. This is one huge way he can show his commitment to US. He must tell us if he is with us or against us.
I will not sit back and watch all our efforts be thrown out the window.
I expect the Senate to be voting on our Bill soon, then it is in the Assembly's hands. The Assembly MUST act in the Best interests of the People of Western New York and get this Bill out of committee and pass it on a floor vote. Then the Governor must sign it.
I fear that Governor Paterson is trying to undermine our efforts and is working with the Assembly and Sheldon Silver to say NO to us yet once again.
Please ask the tough questions of the Governor and the Assembly now. Western New York cannot be left out in the cold yet again.
Thank you
Rus Thompson
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Below is the text of the proposed Bill to be submitted in the Senate and Assembly.
Thank you Senator Maziarz, Rath and Thompson for picking this up.
Also Thank you to Assemblyman Sam Hoyt for doing the same in the Assembly.
Legislative Bill Drafting Commission14894-01-8
In Senate- Introduced by Senator George Maziarz
*PUBAUTULA*
(Removes the Niagara section of the thruway from control of the thruway authority and puts it under the department of transportation's control.)
Pub Aut. Niagara Thruway section
AN ACT
to amend the public authorities law and the highway law, in relation to removing the Niagara section of the New York State thruway from control of the thruway authority and to putting the Niagara section of the New York state thruway under control of the department of transportation; and to repeal certain provisions of the public authorities law and the highway law relating thereto.
The people of the state of New York , represented in the senate and assembly do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 8 of section 356 of the public authorities law is REPEALED and subdivision 9 is renumbered 8.
2 subdivision4 of section 356-a of the public authorities law is REPEALED and subdivision 5, as added by chapter 741 of the laws of 1957, is amended to read as follows:
The thruway constructed along the route described in subdivision eight of section three hundred fifty-six of this article shall be known as "The Algonquin Path".
Subdivision 6 of section 349-a of the highway law is REPEALED and subdivision 7, 8 and 9 are renumbered subdivisions 6, 7 and 8.
The highway law is amended by adding a new section 341-b to read as follows:
341-b Acceptance of a bridge and highway as part of the state highway system. The state accepts as a part of the system of state highways A certain bridge and highway starting at the junction of the Erie and Ontario sections of the thruway at a point in the vicinity of the crossing of Dingens Street and the Lehigh Valley Rail Road in the town of Cheektowaga, thence generally in a westerly direction to Erie Street in the city of Buffalo, thence through the front and north between Niagara Street and to the ship canal to the right of way of the abandoned Erie canal near the northern end of such ship canal, thence generally along such right of way, deviating therefrom to make connection with the easterly approach of the south Grand Island bridge, thence across the Niagara River, utilizing the existing South Grand Island, thence along or parallel to existing Grand Island blvd, across across the Niagara River, utilizing the existing North Grand Island bridge and such bridge and highway shall be part of such system, subject to the supervision and control of the commissioner of transportation, and hereafter maintained, repaired or reconstructed solely at the expense of the state, notwithstanding the provision of any other provision of law.
The aforesaid highway will be under the jurisdiction of the commissioner of transportation and in any future improvement shall be eligible for federal aid in the same manner as any other state highway or bridge.
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall become a law: provided, however, that effective immediately the addition, amendment and or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on it's effective date are authorized and directed and to be made and completed on or before such date.
1/18/0814894-01-8
The Senate meeting on the tolls was canceled due to the weather but I have the chance to speak to Senators Maziarz, Thompson, Rath and Volker. They will also be putting together legislation based on my suggestions.
I did not have an invitation to speak at the Assembly Democrat meeting so I sent this VIA email to all of the transportation committee members. I did not even know about it until Tuesday Dec11 and the meeting was held today Dec 12th.
To the Assembly Transportation committee.
Chairman David F. Gantt
Last week I was invited to testify to the Assembly Republicans concerning the proposed toll increase and the Grand Island Toll issue. I would like to be there today but I did not know about this public hearing until today Tuesday, Dec 11th. I could not change my schedule to give me the time.
I hope you will accept this email and enter it into the record as a working document when you all meet to discuss how to go forward with saying NO to the toll increase and to give you more power with legislation to eliminate the Grand Island Tolls. It can be done with your help.
One of the hottest issues is the canal system and the financial burden that is being placed on the toll payers. $80 million a year being funneled out of the Thruway Authority is no longer acceptable. Governor Pataki and Spitzer both said that they would seperate the two. This needs to be done there by eliminating the toll increase. Pressure and legislation need to be proposed and passed to do this.
Last year alone the New York State Department of Transportation applied for and received $1.4 Billion from the Federal government Highway Fund. Those dollars are paid for by us in the 19 cents a gallon gasoline tax. The D.O.T. applied for all the (I's) interstate road system including the 671 miles of Thruway, the I- 84 and the I- 287. Approx $400 Million should have been allocated to the Thruway system yet none of it did. Had that money made it they could have cut the tolls in half through out the thruway system. Instead we are looking at toll increases for the next 3 years and that is no longer acceptable. So in this one suggestion we see $480 million dollars in savings.
Now to the Grand Island Tolls at the bridges.
I represent almost 8000 petition signers from the Niagara Frontier, nogitolls.com and the recent merge of our group with the LaSalle PRIDE a group from Niagara Falls. I discussed the following with Jeff Williams from the Thruway Authority and he agrees, he also is the first one to admit that not all the money collected at these toll booths stays here like the Thruway Authority and others have said it does, last year alone they ran off with more that $10.6 Million to fund the rest of the thruway and the thruway debt.
We are the point where it is past time to start to make the Thruway Authority smaller instead of expanding as they have been for years. Take the Niagara section of the 190 from the city line, over the Grand Island bridges and into Niagara Falls away from the Thruway Authority and turn it over to the NY State D.O.T. Eliminating the tolls at the bridges.
The D.O.T. gets it funding from already dedicated sources like the Federal Reimbursement and the Highway Use Tax (HUT). The Grand Island bridges have been tolled since 1935 and for 72 years we have been paying tolls to get on and off the island. Traffic has gotten worse over the years and is in excess of 71,000 vehicles at the South Bridges and 52,000 at the North Bridges.
Daily traffic back up has become the norm with traffic backed up over a mile and sitting at a dead stop on the I-290 creating a very dangerous traffic safety hazard. The quickest and easiest remedy is to eliminate the tolls and by giving this section to the D.O.T. all will be done in one piece of legislation.
The Thruway Authority took over the bridges in 1950 and were the first tolls on the Thruway System. Not until June 24, 1954 were there any other tolls on it. At that point a 115 mile section was opened between Rochestor and Lowell, west of Utica.
I first discussed this with Senator George Maziarz, he liked the idea and he said he would research it and follow up on the proposal with his collegues and get back to me.
Governor Spitzers popularity is at an all time low and is over 70% negative here in WNY. You and he could show your commitment to helping WNY by doing this one very importand step to help better the economy and stop the commuter tax on people struggling to make a living here.
Jeff Williams from the thruway authority agrees, he feels that the Grand Island Bridges and the Niagara section should be run by the D.O.T. right now, so let’s make it happen. The other option I hear is building new toll booths on the other side of the bridges on Grand Island? That alone would cost 90 Million, and cannot be a serious proposal. Remove them for us all.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Rus Thompson
Grand Island, NY
Have you signed the petition? Sign it now at
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To re-coin an old phrase, they're asking the Thruway not to toll! State lawmakers held hearings Thursday on proposals to eliminate the Niagara Thruway tolls in Buffalo. Erie County Clerk David Swarts says a long list of interstate highways are toll-free elsewhere in New York State. Swarts said, "I-290, I-390, I-490, I-590, I-990, I-81, I-690, I-481, I-790, I-88, I-86, I-890, I-787. No tolls! No tolls! What is wrong with people in Buffalo and Erie County, that there are tolls here?" Swarts says the Thruway Authority is picking the pockets of Buffalo commuters unfairly, and hurting the local economy.
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# Chair David F. Gantt# MembersMarc S. Alessi# Darrel J. Aubertine# Jim Bacalles# Michael Cusick# Francine DelMonte# Ruben Diaz, Jr.# Joseph A. Errigo# Dennis H. Gabryszak# Joe Giglio# Sam Hoyt# Janele Hyer-Spencer# Ivan C. Lafayette# George S. Latimer# Donna A. Lupardo# Alan Maisel# David G. McDonough# Joan L. Millman# N. Nick Perry# Bill Reilich# Michelle Schimel# Mike Spano# Fred W. Thiele, Jr.# Matthew Titone# Lou Tobacco# Harvey Weisenberg
Wednesday morning December 5th, I proposed two different things one to keep the toll increase from happening and even cut the tolls in half while eliminating the Grand Island Tolls.
#1 take the Canal system from them and make it a state funded stand alone entity that saves the thruway authority and toll payers $80 Million yearly. Also dedicated funds from the federal government like the $400 Million they should have received last year at the department of transportation be applied to the thruway system. That alone would cut the tolls in half. So in this one suggestion we see $480 million dollars in savings.
Secondly and I have been talking to Senator Maziarz about this, start making the thruway authority smaller, remove their control from the Niagara section of the thruway and the Grand Island Bridges and turn it over to the New York State Department of Transportation.This will remove the tolls at the bridges, eliminate the daily traffic back up and stop the pollution and safety hazards surrounding the toll booths.
Funding will come from the gas tax reimbursement from the federal government and existing taxes from the Highway Use Tax that trucks already pay. The H.U.T. tax is a 5 cent a mile tax paid by trucks to help fund the D.O.T. There is also state taxes specifically for road use that also funds the road system.
Jeff Williams from the thruway authority agrees, he feels that the Grand Island Bridges and the Niagara section should be run by the D.O.T. right now, so let’s make it happen. The Assembly Republicans agreed and will contact Senator Maziarz to put together legislation to do just that.
I will work with all of them to make sure this happens and keep you updated.
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Assembly Republican Public Hearing on Proposed Thruway Toll Hike
I have been asked to testify to the Assembly Conference Wednesday December 5th concerning the tolls in WNY and specifically the Grand Island Bridge tolls. I don’t know how long I will have to speak but I could go on for hours. I will at first give them a brief history over the 72 years the people have been paying for these bridges, when the thruway authority took them over and reasons why they need to be eliminated.
Assembly Republican Public Hearing on Proposed Thruway Toll Hike
Chair: Assemblyman Jack Quinn (R,C,I-Hamburg)
Public Hearing: Exploring the negative impact that would be
caused to New York’s motorists and small businesses
if the proposed Thruway toll hike were implemented
Place: Mahoney State Office Building, Part 6, 65 Court St., Buffalo, NY
Time: 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Contact: (Assemblyman Quinn) A.J. Wright (716) 826-1878
Media Contact: Assembly Republican Office of Public Affairs (518) 455-5073
ORAL TESTIMONY BY PRIOR NOTICE ONLY
Thank you to all who voted for me, I cannot express my gratitude enough.
Special Thanks to my wife Julianne and my family who have supported me throughout this legislative race. Only the Lord knows what is next in our life or what door will be opened for us as we move forward. Once again Thank you!
I have been doing two very important things that are critical to the economy and the financial stability of Erie County and Western New York. #1 the removal of the Tolls at the Grand Island Bridges. Not only is it a traffic hazard, a pollution hazard, it is a commuter tax on the people from Buffalo to Niagara Falls. If you haven't signed the petition yet please do so here..
The newest project focuses on the alternative power sources that we here must look into and research. We are surrounded by water and in many places fast moving water. This new technology for underwater turbines is the way to go.
Why not… We live in an area that would be perfect for water generated electrical power. No not a dam, or another Niagara Falls project. These underwater turbines are perfect for use in the Niagara River. The water speeds in the Niagara River vary from 8.18 MPH by the Peace Bridge to 2 MPH around Grand Island and the Tonawandas. Source
I have been in contact with Verdant Power and have received information that I am currently researching. I have been searching for a full navigational map of the 11 miles of the Niagara River to verify depths and water speeds to see if this style of turbine is acceptable for this area.
After doing more research and searching on the internet I found this article from a Vancover based company called Blue Energy
This turbine looks like it would work a little better in the Niagara River. With depths ranging from 20 to 41 feet and currents ranging from 8.18 mph to 2 mph.. That is a constant water flow unlike tides that vary in speed and direction.
It is past time that we start looking at small power generating stations for towns and cities. We benefit nothing from having the Niagara Power Authority here at our back door. Instaed of having the lowest cost for electrical power we have the highest. We buy our electric from Canada while all the power generated here is sold to 5 different state and downstate.
I have also contacted this company to help us research this as a possibility. We are surrounded by water, we must use this power source.
Undersea turbines, more efficient than windmills, touted by Canadian company
In some placements of this type of turbine, one can generate enough electric to power 14,000 homes. What could a field of these turbines supply if stratigically placed in the upper Niagara River wher the water speed is 8.18 MPH... In those water speeds there is only small boat activity, larger boats and barges use the Black Rock canal.
As the information comes in I will post it and hopefully we will launch a test to see if this is feasible for this area.
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