American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves called on Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Andrew Cuomo of New York to reconsider what he called an “ill-conceived and unprecedented” toll hike recently approved by the Port Authority of New York New Jersey.
The tolls, which will affect bridges and tunnels in the area, will mean an extra $50 per five-axle truck for E-Z Pass users and even more for cash customers.
“We urge you to veto this proposal, which will not only devastate trucking companies who serve the New York City area, but will also increase the cost of doing business in a region already regarded as among the most expensive in the nation,” Graves wrote in a letter yesterday.
Graves added that ATA, along with the state trucking associations in New York and New Jersey, were vehemently opposed to a plan where “a majority of new revenues will subsidize projects with no benefit to those paying the tolls.”
“The trucking industry is willing to pay its fair share for the roads and bridges we depend on,” Graves said. “But this increase will primarily pay for the Authority’s other operations, notably the reconstruction of the World Trade Center.”
In his letter, Graves said the proposed tolls will be nearly three times higher than for comparable bridges nationwide. Furthermore, Graves said the combined effect of toll increases in the region must be considered by policy makers before moving forward.
According to the ATA, if these, as well as other proposed increases in the I-95 corridor are implemented, a truck hauling goods from Baltimore to Manhattan will see its toll burden rise from $114.25 today to $209.25 in just three years.
Read more about the toll hike on www.truckinginfo.com
Printer Friendly Version
Email This Story
RSS
Highways: Related News
8/26/2011 – Oregon Breaks Ground on Second Solar Highway Project
Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez joined the Oregon Department of Transportation and representatives from public and private partner organizations to break ground this week on Oregon’s second solar highway project….
More
8/26/2011 – ATA Urges Governors to Reject N.Y., N.J. Toll Hike
American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves called on Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Andrew Cuomo of New York to reconsider what he called an “ill-conceived and unprecedented” toll hike recently approved by the Port Authority of New York New Jersey….
More
8/26/2011 – Hurricane Irene Barrels Toward East Coast
Hurricane Irene is expected to make landfall near Morehead City, North Carolina, on Saturday morning before powering up the east coast. Irene will likely be a borderline category 2-3 storm at that time, producing tropical conditions as far inland as I-95 in North Carolina….
More
8/25/2011 – Hurricane Prompting North Carolina Ports to Close Gates Early Friday
The North Carolina Ports of Morehead City and Wilmington will be closing their gates to commercial traffic at noon on Friday, August 26 in preparation for the threat of Hurricane Irene….
More
8/25/2011 – AASHTO President Asks Congress to Act on Highway Funding
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials warned Congress that a failure to extend federal highway funding will result in thousands of job losses….
More
8/22/2011 – Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to Double Tolls
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Friday approved raising bridge and tunnel tolls that will mean an extra $50 per five-axle truck for E-Z Pass users and even more for cash customers….
More
8/19/2011 – RI Wants Tolls on I-95
Rhode Island has asked the federal government for permission to charge tolls on Interstate 95 near the Connecticut border….
More
8/18/2011 – DOT Announces $417.3 Million in Grants for State Highway Projects
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $417.3 million in grants to fund an array of efforts ranging from interstate maintenance to research into innovative bridge materials and construction methods….
More
8/15/2011 – Damage to I-29 Bridges in Iowa Sets Back Recovery Schedule
The Missouri River flooding has undermined the south bridge approaches of dual Interstate 29 bridges at mile post 1.4 in the southwestern corner of Iowa, and is threatening the bridges. The seriousness of the damage is expected to delay the eventual reopening of the interstate when the waters recede….
More
8/12/2011 – Illinois DOT Warns of Three-Day I-57 Closure
The Illinois Department of Transportation will close Interstate 57 for an expected three days next week….
More
8/12/2011 – Law Enforcement to Pace Vehicles on I-70
The Colorado Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Colorado State Patrol, and Silverthorne Police Department, will pace vehicles on I-70 in an effort to reduce congestion using a technique sometimes called “rolling roadblocks.”…
More
8/11/2011 – Survey: Americans Looking for Local Solutions to Congestion Concerns
According to the latest America THINKS survey from HNTB Corp., people are fed up with congested, crumbling roads and are looking for decisions from local and regional officials about how to prioritize fixing them….
More
8/10/2011 – Delays Possible on I-15 in Vegas
Three lanes of southbound Interstate 15 in Las Vegas could be closed for days after a fiery fuel tanker truck crash….
More
8/5/2011 – OIG: Public Private Partnerships a Mixed Blessing
In a report issued in late July, the Office of Inspector General found that public-private partnerships have several financial disadvantages when compared to traditional public sector financing, but certain private sector efficiencies can meaningfully offset PPPs’ cost disadvantages….
More
7/28/2011 – Equipment Makers Offer Idea to Fund Highways
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers says it has an idea for a revenue-neutral solution to rebuild and modernize America’s interstates without raising the fuel tax….
More
7/28/2011 – Civil Engineers: Families Will Suffer if Infrastructure Crumbles
The nation’s deteriorating surface transportation infrastructure will cost the American economy more than 870,000 jobs, and suppress the growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product by $3.1 trillion by 2020, according to a new report released by the American Society of Civil Engineers….
More
7/26/2011 – Freeway Closures Coming to I-710/Long Beach Freeway
The California Department of Transportation will conduct 10 weekends of 53-hour extended closures and full freeway closures on the Long Beach Freeway (I-710) beginning August 5….
More
7/25/2011 – Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Approves 2012 Toll Increase
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission approved a 2012 rate schedule that will result in overall toll-revenue growth of 3%….
More
7/25/2011 – Outlines of Transport Bill Emerge from Senate Hearings
The outline of a transportation reauthorization bill started to emerge from the haze of Washington’s summer heat storm last week.
Timing and details will remain blurred for a while yet, at least until the epic struggle over the debt ceiling is resolved, but at several hearings last week Senators began public discussions on highway funding, policy and safety….
More
7/18/2011 – Lane Closures Scheduled on I-95 in Maryland
Look for overnight single and double lane closures for the next three weeks on southbound I-95 in Maryland between MD 198 (exit 33) and MD 212 (exit 29) as part of the Intercounty Connector (ICC) project….
More
7/15/2011 – I-405 Closure This Weekend to Disrupt Traffic with ‘Carmageddon’
The Los Angeles region is bracing for a 53-hour shutdown of Interstate 405 in mid-July that will cut off a critical, high-traffic trucking route….
More
7/13/2011 – WSDOT I-5 Lane Closure for Week of July 18
Washington State officials have pushed back the date of a major 87-hour Interstate 5 lane closure, according to the state Department of Transportation….
More