Transportation

Comptroller: Thruway needs to improve bridge inspections

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 4:38pm

The New York State Thruway. - File / WNYT

ALBANY - The New York State Thruway Authority isn't doing enough to make sure highway bridges are safe.

That's according to the state Comptroller Tom Dinapoli.

In a new audit, Dinapoli's office found that the Thruway Authority did not inspect bridges in a timely manner and did not always notify the state Department of Transportation of serious red flag defects within the required one week.

That includes three bridges with flagged conditions.

The Thruway Authority defended its delays, but acknowledged it will work to remedy the problems.

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Agencies issue summer driving safety tips

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Thursday, May 9th, 2013, 11:07am

ALBANY – New York State Police, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and the New York State Thruway Authority are reminding drivers of the dangers that come with nice weather.

Deer become more active during the months of May and June and are seen on most roadways in the state.

To prevent a collision with a deer drivers are asked to be alert, especially in the morning and evening, scan roadsides, and remember that deer travel in groups.

They are also issuing a reminder about motorcycles. With nice weather some of the nearly 700,000 registered motorcycles will be on our roads and highways.

Some safety tips are to always allow a motorcycle use of a full lane, look twice or even three times in all mirrors and blind spots, don’t tailgate and always signal.

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Thruway police cracking down on work zone speeding

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Monday, April 29th, 2013, 11:32am

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - State troopers who patrol New York's Thruway system are cracking down on motorists who don't slow down in construction zones.

The Thruway Authority says state police Troop T is boosting patrols starting Monday and running through Friday as part of "Operation Work Brake." Troopers will be looking out for speeding and aggressive driving before, in and after construction zones.

The work zone enforcement on the Thruway is held three times annually. It was created by Troop T following the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005. The law was enacted to protect workers at highway construction sites.

Last year, Thruway troopers issued more than 1,300 tickets for hazardous violations in and around work zones. The Thruway Authority reported 222 accidents in work zones in 2012.

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Upstate NY man, Canadian woman die in I-87 crash

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Friday, February 22nd, 2013, 1:28pm

NEW BALTIMORE, N.Y. (AP) - Authorities say an upstate New York man driving the wrong way on the Thruway crashed into a minivan, killing himself and a Canadian woman in the other vehicle.

State police say the crash occurred around 1 a.m. Friday in the southbound lanes of Interstate 87 in the Greene County town of New Baltimore, 15 miles south of Albany.

Troopers say 43-year-old Julian With of Coxsackie was driving north in the southbound lanes when he collided head-on with a minivan driven by 39-year-old Karen Weller of Hamilton, Ontario.

With and 50-year-old Carol Dion of Stony Creek, Ontario were pronounced dead at the scene.

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Thruway to lay off 234 workers, cite hard times

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Wednesday, January 30th, 2013, 6:25pm

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The New York State Thruway Authority is planning 234 layoffs to help shore up its finances, but no toll increases are planned.

Thruway spokesman Dan Weiller says the layoffs of full-time workers will be in all regions, including the Albany headquarters. The authority employs 29,068 workers.

Weiller says no toll increases of any type are planned.

The layoffs are expected to save $20 million. The authority's total is budget is $977 million.

Weiller says Wednesday the job cuts aren't linked the rejection of a toll increase for truckers last year.

The authority is run by appointees of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but is legally independent of state government. It operates the statewide toll highway and New York's canal system.

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Free tea and coffee on Thruway for New Year's Eve

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Monday, December 31st, 2012, 12:28pm

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Travelers on New Year's Eve can look forward again to free coffee and tea along the New York State Thruway.

This is the 42nd year the free beverages will be provided at the highway's 27 travel plazas from 11 p.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Tuesday.

The Thruway Authority says it's a way to remind drivers to stop for breaks to avoid getting drowsy on the road.

It also warns against stopping on the highway shoulder unless there's an emergency.

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NY Thruway relents, drops toll hike for truckers

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Monday, December 17th, 2012, 12:56pm

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The state Thruway Authority board has dropped plans for a 45-percent increase in truck tolls, saying it's taking a number of cost-cutting steps instead.

The toll hike was proposed this summer by the board headed by appointees of Gov. Andrew Cuomo. It was said to be essential to shore up the finances of the state authority and avoid an expensive hit to its credit rating.

But Thomas Madison, the authority's executive director, says Monday a series of job cuts and other steps to cut spending will keep the agency solvent and protect its credit rating without a toll increase.

The toll for a three-axle truck traveling from Buffalo to New York City is about $88. Under the proposal, that would have increased to $127.

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