Assemblyman Proposes Toll-Free Night Drives on New York State Thruway

By Y.M. Lowy

A new idea is making its way through the state Legislature that could change how New Yorkers travel at night. Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara proposed to make the state Thruway toll-free from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for at least a year. The goal is to ease traffic during busy daytime hours by encouraging more people to travel when the roads are quieter.

The bill was introduced late in the legislative session and won’t take effect next summer. But it could come up for discussion when lawmakers return in January. The plan includes watching how traffic changes, how much money the tolls collect, and what people think. After the test period, the government will get a report with the results.

Santabarbara says the Thruway is vital for connecting communities and supporting businesses. But congestion during the day causes delays and extra costs for drivers and companies. By lifting tolls overnight, trucks and other travelers could save money and help spread out traffic more evenly.

This proposal is different from the congestion pricing plan in Manhattan, which charges drivers more during busy times to lower traffic. This new plan simply wants to make nights toll-free to help with traffic and costs.

Another bill from Assemblyman Clyde Vanel aims to make toll fines fairer. Right now, if people pay their tolls late, it can lead to steep fees, sometimes much higher than the toll itself. Vanel wants to limit these fines, saying many drivers miss payments by mistake, not on purpose.

It will take time to see if these ideas become law, but they have the potential to help many drivers across New York.