Donations ~ $10.00 - Lewiston, $20.00 - Grand island $20 - Niagara Falls
$10- Cheektowaga $50. from Niagara Falls
Thank you! Total $110.00 Can you help?
We are at 8,500 signatures!Combined total with signature sheets.
On Line signatures= 5,220
signature sheets = 2,280
LaSalle Pride signatures 1000 new total = 8,500
Is this what the future holds for Grand Island?
See the plans for the New toll booths on Grand Island
This email was sent out 6-17 to the petition signers, all the media and all on the Ways and Means Committee
Hello Petition Signers and Media;
Your help is needed. It is only days before the end of the Legislative session and the Bill to eliminate the Grand Island Tolls is sitting in the Ways and Means Committee of the Assembly. The Bill number is A10003 and is sponsored by Sam Hoyt. We need to get this Bill out of committee and get it to the floor for a vote. Our immediate action is the only way this will get moved forward. The Bill in the Senate is out of committee and is ready for a floor vote and should pass by the 23rd which is the last day for session this year. If it isn't then we will have to wait another year, that is not acceptable.
Below you will see a list of all the committee members and their telephone numbers. Also the Governors telephone number. Please take some time and call as many of them as possible and ask them to please consider passing our Bill and get it to the floor of the Assembly so a floor vote can be taken before the 23rd. Also below is the email list of most of the committee members, you can email them too but, phone calls are much more effective.
The Assembly voted to remove tolls from down state last week but chose to ignore us. Why? It is time for them to stand up for us. Please do what you can for this is our last chance for this session. Please be kind and courteous and ask who ever answers the phone to pleae pass this message on to the Assemblyman or woman. We currently have 8500 signatures at NoGItolls.com.
Thank You for the help.
Rus Thompson
http://noGItolls.com
Assembly Bill page for status #10003 ---> http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A10003
Senate Bill page for status # S6824 ---> http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Governor: David A. Paterson 518-474-8390
518-474-8390 Assemblyman
Herman D. Farrell, Jr. 518-455-5491 Chairman of Ways and Means
518-455-5491 Chairman of Ways and Means# Jeffrion L. Aubry518-455-4561
518-455-4561# William A. Barclay 518-455-5841
518-455-5841# Daniel J. Burling 518-455-5314
518-455-5314# Kevin A. Cahill 518-455-4436
518-455-4436# Nancy Calhoun 518-455-5441
518-455-5441# William Colton 518-455-5828
518-455-5828# Vivian E. Cook 518-455-4203
518-455-4203# Clifford W. Crouch 518-455-5741
518-455-5741# RoAnn M. Destito 518-455-5454
518-455-5454# Ruben Diaz, Jr. 518-455-5514
518-455-5514# Adriano Espaillat 518-455-5807
518-455-5807# David F. Gantt 518-455-5606 Chairman of Transportation
518-455-5606 Chairman of Transportation# Deborah J. Glick 518-455-4841
518-455-4841# Aurelia Greene 518-455-5671
518-455-5671# Jim Hayes 518-455-4618
518-455-4618# Earlene Hooper 518-455-5861
518-455-5861# Sam Hoyt 518-455-4886
518-455-4886# Rhoda Jacobs 518-455-5385
518-455-5385# Brian M. Kolb 518-455-5772
518-455-5772# Ivan C. Lafayette 518-455-4545
518-455-4545# Joseph R. Lentol 518-455-4477
518-455-4477# Roy McDonald 518-455-5404
518-455-5404# John J. McEneny 518-455-4178
518-455-4178# Joseph D. Morelle 518-455-5373
518-455-5373# Catherine Nolan 518-455-4851
518-455-4851# William L. Parment 518-455-4511
518-455-4511# N. Nick Perry 518-455-4166
518-455-4166# J. Gary Pretlow 518-455-5291
518-455-5291# Robin Schimminger 518-455-4767
518-455-4767# Dede Scozzafava 518-455-5797
518-455-5797# Mike Spano 518-455-3662
518-455-3662# Fred W. Thiele, Jr. 518-455-5997
518-455-5997# Helene E. Weinstein 518-455-5462
518-455-5462# Mark Weprin 518-455-5806
518-455-5806I 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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
14894-01-8In 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
14894-01-8This was sent to the WNY delegation VIA Email today Jan 7,2008
Please consider Sponsoring and co-sponsoring this legislation
Senators, Bruno, Maziarz, Rath, Volker, Thompson
Assemblymen, Tedisco, Hoyt, Schimminger, Quinn, Cole, Hayes
It was a shocking day yesterday when I was informed that the Grand Island Tolls increased 33.3% from .75 to $1.00, two years ago we were increased from .50 to .75 so in two years we have seen a 100% increase in our tolls. When is enough, enough? This is a punch in the face to commuters when the economy is in the tank, gasoline at an all time high at 3.35 per gallon and taxes ever on the increase.
As I have discussed with some of you the plan to remove the Grand Island tolls and start the process of making the Thruway Authority smaller needs to begin now and I am asking you to put forth legislation to do just that. The plan is common sense legislation and the RIGHT thing to do.
In a nutshell, it is time to remove the Thruway Authority from the Niagara Section of the 190 including the Grand Island Bridges and tolls. Give this portion of highway to the New York State Department of Transportation. The tolls on the bridges have been in place since 1935, 72 years we have been paying to cross the island and this current toll increase shows us exactly how out of control the unelected Thruway Authority is. It is time to reign them in and start the steps of making the authority smaller. A 100% toll increase in two years is unacceptable.
Had the LaSalle Expressway been completed as designed we would have an alternative route, we don't and the Grand Island Bridges can no longer handle the excessive traffic, 72,000 vehicles cross the south Grand Island bridges and 51,000 cross the North bridges everyday. In 1950 the NYSTA took over control of the bridges and tolls, they were the very first tolls on the NYS thruway. Not until 1954 did the first toll section of the thruway open, so from the beginning the GI bridge tolls have been supporting the rest of the thruway system. Even Jeff Williams agrees with me, he wishes the DOT already controlled the bridges and the 190. Jeff is the first one to admit that the money collected at the Grand Island tolls does not stay here, only a minor portion actually stays to maintain the bridges, yet two of them were just yellow flagged and all 4 were rated below four. Had the money actually stayed here these bridges would be in top A-1 condition. Last year alone $10.6 Million went back into the general fund in Albany yet the Thruway Authority claims they are broke.
So we can do them a favor and remove this burden from them and let the NYSDOT take them over and bridge maintenance and repairs will be paid for out of the 19 cent Federal gas tax, highway use taxes, state gas taxes and every other tax under the sun that NY charges us. When 1.4 Billion is given back to the state for roads and bridges from the feds the money needs to be used for the roads and bridges as dedicated funds.
Commuters are now getting slammed with two dollars a day to get back and forth to work and school. EZ Pass discounts will be eliminated in July? This insanity cannot be tolerated any longer, time to reign in the out of control Authorities and start right here. It is the right thing to do. Please consider Sponsoring and co-sponsoring this legislation and start helping us here in WNY.
Our only other option will be to file a Lawsuit based on Taxation without Representation. For years we have been asking and in some cases begging to have these tolls removed and no increases in tolls, yet the unelected Thruway Authority does what they do because they can. It is time to hold them accountable and take these roads and bridges away.
Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you all soon.
Rus Thompson
BCCC: all the media in the WNY area.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Senate meeting on the tolls was canceled due to the weather but I have the chance to speak to Senators Maziarz, Thompson and Rath. 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 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
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
Senator Maziarz writes the Governor on Tolls
Seems the gov can control things in NY City but when it comes to Western New York he has no power or control? No, I think it is more like having the desire to do what is RIGHT for the people here.
The Grand Island Tolls are a commuter tax, get rid of them. They are keeping us down in many ways economically and we have no choice but to drive over the bridges, there is no other way across Grand Island.
November 21, 2007
Hon. Eliot Spitzer
Governor, State of New York
New York State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Dear Governor Spitzer:
I read with interest your efforts to stop the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) from imposing a new fare hike on the New York City mass transit system. On the day before Thanksgiving, I’m sure many New York City residents are thankful for your decision.
Now, I encourage you to continue your efforts across the state by using your bully pulpit to discourage the New York State Thruway Authority from imposing massive toll increases on Upstate New York. While I recognize that many of the Thruway Authority’s board members were appointed by your predecessor, the fact remains that a strong message of opposition to the toll plan from you would influence their actions.
To put it another way, your comments in today’s Buffalo News are not acceptable to the people of Upstate New York. The governor of this great state–a state which is much larger than the New York City metropolitan area–cannot simply shrug his shoulders and say there is nothing he can do about it. I implore you to take the same aggressive approach to dealing with the unfair Thruway toll hike that you are taking with the MTA fare hike.
Please know I stand ready to assist you in any way with this issue.
Sincerely,
George D. Maziarz
Senator, 62nd District
NoGItolls gains more momentum as a Niagara Falls community group called LaSalle Pride joins in with the Toll fight. We will be having a joint Press Concerence tomorrow 11-21-07 at 10:30 AM to announce the coalition and they will add 1000 signatures to our Petition. Our total now is more than 7500 signatures and growing. Carl Paladino will be joining us tomorrow and at the rally on Saturday.With the newest talk of raising our tolls 20% in two years the demand for an audit has come from Congressman Brian Higgins and others have followed suit. I called for an audit two months ago and have been relentless emailing all our representatives in demanding it and the removal of the Grand Island Tolls.Governor Spitzer was in town Monday and he claims that there is nothing he can do about the toll increase except try to keep it to a minimum. Once again they are either not hearing us or he is bowing to the Thruway Authority. It has come to a time for real citizen action and a protest. Please read below and be there Saturday as we walk across the North Grand Island Bridge. I will make sure the media coverage is there and some of the Western New York delegation will be there. Senator Maziarz, Thompson, Assemblywoman Delmonte have already committed. I have not heard back from anyone on the Erie County side as of yet.If there was ever a time to show frustration toward the thruway authority and the tolls, it is now, lets be there in force.See you Saturday!
Thank you
Rus Thompson
For Immediate Release, Nov. 20, 2007 Further Information: Ken Sherman
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coalition Announces Saturday Walk
Against the Toll Increase & Removal of
Grand Island Toll Barriers
LaSalle PRIDE and No GI Tolls will hold a press conference tomorrow, Wednesday, November 21st, 10:30 AM, to announce plans for Saturday’s protest demonstration. The 10:30 AM press conference will be at the pedestrian walkway to the North Grand Island Bridge at 63rd Street & Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls.La Salle PRIDE of Niagara Falls and NoGITollscom of Grand Island have "invited local, county & state elected leaders to a protest rally and walk against the proposed increase to tolls at the I 190 Grand Island toll barriers," said Walter Kendzia, spokesperson for LaSalle PRIDE. "We have collected over 1000 signatures for the removal of the toll barriers and plan to deliver them to our State representatives this Saturday," he concluded."We are proud to join with LaSalle PRIDE in the fight against the toll increase and for the removal of the toll barriers," said Rus Thompson of NoGI Tolls.com "Our website has received 6500 signatures supporting the removal of the toll barriers. We will also file our petitions with the State officials present on Saturday," concluded Mr. Thompson. Petitions can be signed online at http://noGItolls.com Carl Paladino plans to join Wednesday’s press conference and will also speak at Saturday’s rally. Mr. Paladino advocacy around toll barrier issues were instrumental in the removal of the two toll barriers in Buffalo (at Breckenridge and South Ogden.) In a recent letter to Governor Eliot Spitzer he asked, "Why does the State punish residents of Grand island and Niagara County above the operating cost across its entire system? This question deserves an answer," he said. Saturday’s, November 24th, protest event will begin with a 11 AM rally at 63rd Street and Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls. The rally participants will be joined by several public officials in the walk across the North Grand Island Bridge (east side) to an area near the Toll Barrier. There the presentation of petitions will be made to several States’ elected officials. The offices of NYS Senators Antoine Thompson, George Maziarz and Assemblywoman Francine Del Monte have indicated they will be present.The LaSalle PRIDE petition states that "New York State has received sufficient funds to date from the collection of tolls to honor all commitments agreed to in its initial construction agreements. The removal of the toll barrier will end the continuing economic discrimination faced to those of us who must work, shop or attend school in Erie County. The savings, upwards of $7.50 weekly to the daily commuter, will pump more dollars not only back into the local economy but the State economy as well. In addition their removal will eliminate the idling of trucks, cars and buses that generates additional air pollution to our area."Join the Saturday, Nov. 24, 11 AM march across the north Grand Island bridge. Demonstrate to the NYS Thruway Authority that our tolls are too high and the proposed increases are not acceptable. The toll barriers must be removed. Join LaSalle PRIDE, the Grand Island "http://noGItolls.com " group, and invited local, county & state legislators at the rally / walk. MEET AT BUFFALO AVENUE AT 63RD STREET. There is plenty of parking in the empty lots there. We have over 7,500 signatures for the removal of the I 190 toll barriers which will be presented to our elected leaders. You can sign a petition at http://noGItolls.com or circulate the one attached and bring it to the rally.Patsy Mackenna, - Ken Sherman, - Rus Thompson, http://www.nogitolls.com New revealing and damaging evidence against Albany Politicians,
the NY State DOT and Thruway Authority
For the past few months, Carl Paladino and I have been awaiting the response to our newest FOIL request. This FOIL was requested from the New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, through the Federal Highway Fund.Startling revelations are now beginning to come through and we hope to have the completed FOIL in the coming weeks. As of right now, this is what we know.The New York State DOT applies, not only for reimbursement on the highway and bridge lane miles of the DOT Interstate Highway System, but also for the New York State Thruway System and bridges, including I-84 and I-287.Last year NYS DOT received $1.4 Billion in Federal Highway reimbursement funds, and approximately $4oo Million should have been allocated to the NY State Thruway System.So now we understand the DOT requests the money for all of the Thruway, Interstate roads and bridges. Yet none of that money is applied to the NY State Thruway System, operated and controlled by the Thruway Authority. They are Billing the Feds for the Thruway and not using the funds for the Thruway.This is a fraud being perpetrated against the use of Federal Highway Funds. This is also misuse and misallocation of funds clearly directed toward the Thruway and the Grand Island Bridges.We also have discovered that the two downstate highways I-84 and I-287, were sold by the NYS DOT to the NYS Thruway System for millions of dollars in bonds. NYSTA now must pay the debt service at $127 million per year.Rus Thompson
Have you signed the petition? Sign it now at
http://nogitolls.com
Another meeting from the incumbents about tolls October 4th at 6:30 pm
How many more meetings can they have? Every time we turn around they have another meeting. When are they going to start listening and then act. This is just like all the rest of them, more pandering yet nothing will be done. We need to pack this meeting and voice our disgust over the tolls and the proposed toll increase.
Meeting to address safety and rehabilitation of the Grand Island Bridges Assemblyman Sam Hoyt (D – Buffalo, Grand Island) and Town Supervisor Peter McMahon will hold a public meeting on Thursday, October 4th at 6:30 pm at Grand Island Town Hall, 2255 Baseline Road to discuss the Grand Island Bridges. Hoyt and McMahon will be joined by Erie CountyLegislator Michele Iannello and New York State Thruway Authority Buffalo Division Director Thomas Pericak, as well as other Thruway Authority and Grand Island representatives.
On the agenda for the meeting is the upcoming 2008 construction project to re-deck the northbound South Grand Island Bridge and addressing the condition of both bridges in the wake of the Minneapolis bridge collapse. Discussion will also include the present day traffic congestion caused by the tolls and the impact of their removal or relocation in order toalleviate traffic tension. Hoyt said, "This is a meeting that will cover three important issues and I encourage residents to come out and voice their concerns and suggestions.
The purpose of this meeting is to receive feedback from residents and to find viable solutions as a result." The meeting is open to all residents of Grand Island. For further information regarding the meeting, please contact Sam Hoyt's districtoffice at 716-885-9630 or Peter McMahon's office at 716-773-9600.
Update 8-27-07
Look and view how they lack the maintenance the
Thruway Authority claims they do every year.
Why are they all rated below "4" ??
Where have all the millions of Toll dollars gone?
Text of Press Conference held August 29, 07
I am not a bridge expert nor am I here to scare anyone, I am here today to draw attention to areas on these bridges that are of a concern and need to be addressed. Since the bridge collapse in Minnesota, bridge awareness and concern has grown.
I have become more knowledgeable about bridges in the past month than I ever wanted to. But when people call me to get my opinion about bridge safety and structural stability, I get concerned and always question why they contact me. They say because “You are the only one doing anything about them.” How sad they feel they will not get the answers from our elected reps. Not surprising though. Our government is unresponsive and dysfunctional. It is past time that they start listening to us, the people that pay them. I have contacted a few engineers, took pictures and asked them to review and offer an opinion on them.
The results and opinions are not favorable, and I feel it my responsibility to take this time to point these things out in hopes that The Thruway Authority, our elected representatives and other engineers will act on these faster than they did to the 290/190 over pass. It took over 3 months and people that put their careers on the line to get the attention and the ultimate repairs we see on that bridge, and then, only after it fell 4 inches. The repairs are still a temporary fix, when will the job get done completely?
These bridges are the lifeline not only to the Grand Island residents, they are the lifeline for the 71,000 people that travel them back and forth to work between Niagara Falls and Buffalo every day.
Since 1935 we have been paying tolls to cross these bridges, hundred of millions of dollars have been paid and sent to Albany, yet little has come back for maintenance and repairs as we can see. The Thruway Authority claims that all the toll money collected stays here for these bridges. If that is true, why are they in such sad shape?
All four bridges are rated below 4...
Last year alone thru the foil request we found out the 10.6 million profits was made, that is over and above the costs of salaries, maintenance and over head of maintaining the tolls. Given that we can safely say the over 100 million has been pocketed over the past two decades. Where is all that money? Is there a dedicated fund set aside for the Grand Island bridges? Or has it been ransacked by our Albany politicians like the dedicated bridge fund that was set up in the early 90's?
Recent reports state that 750 million annually has been taken from that dedicated account to fund pork and operating budgets while only 20% actually went to bridges. I will be filing a complaint with the New York State Comptrollers office and the Attorney Generals office and asking them for an investigation as to where this money has gone.
It is the job of our elected representatives and the Thruway Authority to spend our money wisely and prudently, they have failed us over and over. The proof is in these bridges, and their number one priority is the safety and structural stability of our bridges.
With the hundreds of millions pocketed by the Thruway Authority over the years there should be enough money on hand to build new bridges immediately, right here between these two bridges. There is no reason to raise any taxes or tolls anywhere to fund this. We should be driving on bridges that are rated excellent seeing the amount of money we have paid for them.
Things need to change and these tolls need to be removed. This time the reasoning has extended to bridge safety. The first concern involves the direct removal of the tolls. Truck traffic has been a concern for years, but they have no choice there is no other route to travel. When the tolls stop trucks they then have to start going again to get up to speed while climbing the steep incline of the bridge. A couple hundred thousand lb truck trying to climb the incline puts an extreme amount of stress and vibration on the bridge.
Combine that with thousands of cars doing the same thing. It is a recipe for disaster. If the tolls were not there they would be able to travel up and over the bridges with out stopping there by reducing the vibration and stress immensely. The tolls must be removed now to prolong the life of this bridge.
Another option is to complete the LaSalle Expressway that was started and never completed. WHY? The road to no where or as some call it the road to Sears. Had the LaSalle been completed years ago we would not be here today.
The other concerns are right here above and behind us.
Corroded and frozen bearings, sliding plates that have been put in place of bearings extend over the base plate, reducing bearing capacity. These plates and bearings are crucial in the proper operation of the bridges expansion and contraction, if the bridges cannot move as designed it adds stress to areas of the steel bridges that were not designed for it.
Concrete piers as you see are cracked, concrete spalling is so serious that rebar is exposed. Rust oozing out of the cracks is a telltale sign that the steel underneath is corroding and the structural stability compromised. All of these columns need to be repaired immediately, the and structural stability tested.
What will it take to get their attention? I implore bridge engineers and inspectors come out and voice their concerns, even if they have to put their jobs and careers on the line. The bridge inspection reports should be posted online. Paint only covers up potential problems yet rust continues to flow out of joints, gusset plates and the bases of the bridges.
Concrete cracking and falling is all a sign of steel rusting within expanding and forcing the concrete to crack and break off. These bridges need immediate attention.
Quotes
That concrete scares me.
The only thing holding that pier together is the rebar inside. Or the steel beam inside. The concrete is effectively shattered.
The steel is inside where we can’t see it.
But we know what’s happening to it.
It’s rusting and the rust is running out the cracks and down the outside of the pier. How much steel is left?
That pier is supporting two spans of bridge.
The shattered concrete atop that pier is holding nothing.
The steel inside is all that’s holding up those spans.
How much steel is left?
The surface spalling is severe in your second image, but that does not concern me near as much as the apparent deflection visible, (bowed in the vertical plane to the right, maxima just above the lower arch), or the horizontal crack that appears across two full faces of the pier and could well extend through the entire depth of the pier. I believe I see cracking in both arches as well.
Rus: From what I have seen of the pictures you sent me , several in particular are of particular concern:- the one bridged pedestal on which the expansion bearing on the left and the fixed bearing on the right appears to be heavily checked with rust streaks indicating deterioration of the concrete in the pedestal cap and to an unknown of the steel reinforcing within the concrete. This pier cap should be rebuilt.
- the underside of the bridge deck you showed in the picture appears to be heavily spalled to the extent that the steel reinforcing is evident in many places. The affected areas of the underside of the bridge decking should be repaired with an epoxy concrete mix to prevent further deterioration.
Rus , again; I need to emphasize again the need for a full study of the most recent bridge inspection reports of these structures to make an accurate determination as to what overall remedial ,work should be taken to bring these structures to the level of functionality that increasingly heavy traffic loads demand.
Below is the statement I read to the media today 7-8-07
Eight months ago, after the Buffalo tolls were removed and the WNY politicians refused to acknowledge the Grand Island tolls, I started a petition to finally eliminate the tolls at the Grand Island bridges. On November 11th, 2006 we launched the NoGITolls.com website and in the time since we have had 6000 people sign the petition electronically and on paper.
The only reason the toll removal will ever happen is because of the citizen activists that have signed the petition, and the involvement of Carl Paladino, doing the job that our local politicians should have been doing all along.
Now my opponent after a year and a half in office and with only six months to the end of her term, has decided to join our cause. Only since the governor appears to be considering this, has it suddenly become convenient for her to announce a "partnership" between business and government to pressure Albany to act. The Freedom of Information, or FOIL she claims is new information, has been on the NoGItolls website for over two months. This was a result of the combined efforts of myself and Carl Paladino. I also have the letter he sent to the governor excoriating the WNY delegation. Aside from the typical political fanfare, we are happy and and pleased about this awakening. I have here over 6000 signatures, I ask her to please bring hers.
In closing I need to stress the point that the only reason we are here is because of citizens like the 6000 that have signed the petition. If and when the tolls are removed, all credit belongs to the petition signers, not one single individual, and surely not one single politician. We need to give credit where credit is due.
If you have not signed the petition yet, please do so at NoGItolls.com.
Together we can make this happen.
Thank you.
Rus Thompson
No Grand Island Toll petition drive continues
Drive seeks end to bridge tollsFreedom from the tolls was the object of my mission during the 4th of July Parade yesterday on Grand Island. Instead of putting anything in the parade like a float or a decorated van I chose to walk the route with petition in hand.
I covered the petition sheets with a plastic cover and just walked the sides asking people if they wanted to sign the petition, at a couple points there were 10 to 12 people lined up waiting to sign. In the short route I was able to walk I got almost 100 more signatures to add to the total. We are well over 6000 now and I will have to total them up now to get an exact number.
To put it in simple terms, people are fed up with the tolls that were supposed to be removed in the 50’s. They are tired of the traffic that has gotten worse and worse, the accidents and the pollution. The fire in their bellies was fueled even more when the tolls were removed in Buffalo but not on Grand Island. They are fed up with the false promises over the years from Albany politicians, instead of getting rid of the tolls we were given books of coupons and then the EZ Pass.
Nothing they do or have done has ever taken care of the bottleneck traffic that we face every single day and with summer upon us it is even worse. Instead of joining in with the petition drive to eliminate the tolls our politicos are trying to figure out where to move the tolls. Don’t move them, remove them.
I wish I had a dozen people carrying petitions yesterday, we probably could have 1000 more signatures. Maybe a float would have gotten more attention, I don’t know.
Grand Island effort gaining momentum The failed political aspirations of his past are a contrast to Rus Thompson’s latest efforts to effect change in government.The Grand Island resident’s petition campaign to remove the Grand Island Bridge toll barriers has more than 6,000 signatures and the backing of influential Buffalo developer Carl Paladino, who was instrumental in ending toll collection at the Niagara Thruway toll barriers.Thompson, 51, said he’s been speaking against the toll barriers and calling for their removal since the mid-1990s.
But his fight kicked into high gear last fall when the Thruway Authority did away with the Ogden and Breckenridge street toll barriers. The signature collection began as a door-todoor campaign and then Thompson started the Web site nogitolls.com.
Thompson described the 75-cent toll on the bridges as a commuter tax and adds that the toll barrier contributes to pollution since it often backs up traffic up to a mile and a half.
“It’s completely unfair that every other bridge in the state, except two, are free,” he said. “Why isn’t this one?”