×

‘Historic Moment’: Thruway Begins Cashless Tolling System

This new gantry installed at the Westfield thruway exit will replace the current tollbooths. Photo by Natasha Matteliano

It is official: the New York State Thruway went to a cashless tolling system beginning at 1 a.m. Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll called it a “historic moment for transportation.”

‘Motorists will now drive under American-made steel gantries with state-of the art sensors and cameras that read E-ZPass tags and capture license plate images, so vehicles no longer have to stop to pay the toll,” Driscoll said in a statement Saturday.

“In the coming months, drivers will continue to travel through existing toll lanes at reduced speeds without stopping until the toll booths are removed and road reconfigurations are complete. Drivers are strongly urged to slow down and use caution around the toll plazas during this time, as it will be an active construction zone. In 2021, after all of the toll plazas are removed, drivers will have a completely unobstructed ride on the 570-mile system.

I want to thank all toll collectors, both past and present, who have served as the backbone of the Thruway Authority since the first tolls were collected in 1954. Their hard work and dedication serving customers has made the Thruway what it is today.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today