Cashless Tolling Coming To Thruway By Year's End In Lower HV

Cashless tolling will be coming to the lower Hudson Valley by the end of this year. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo Tuesday announced cashless tolling will begin on the Thruway Authority's remaining fixed toll barriers in the lower Hudson Valley by the end of 2018. The announcement is the next step in the historic transformation to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and decrease commute times for the approximately 265 million motorists who travel the Thruway's 570-mile superhighway each year.

"New York is rebuilding and reimagining our state's infrastructure and ushering a new era of toll collection that will save time and reduce congestion on our roadways," Cuomo said. "Cashless tolling is already a reality in Grand Island and across the Hudson River, and will soon provide drivers across the state the convenience of reduced congestion and better traffic flow, creating a more efficient New York for all."

By the end of 2018, Harriman (I-87), Yonkers (I-87), New Rochelle (I-95) and Spring Valley (I-87 - Commercial Traffic Only) toll barrier locations will no longer accept cash. The Thruway Authority will convert the Harriman toll barrier for northbound traffic from the Thruway (I-87) seeking to access Woodbury Common and NY Route 17 exit to cashless tolling. For southbound traffic from the Thruway's ticketed portion of the system, two toll lanes would remain in place.

Altogether these four toll barriers represent 22 percent of total traffic volume on the Thruway system. The conversion to cashless tolling is expected to save each commuter approximately 200 minutes annually.

In 2016, the Thruway Authority introduced its first cashless tolling location at what is now the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge (I-87 south - I-287 east) as part of the project to replace the Tappan Zee Bridge. The Grand Island Bridges in Western New York became the Thruway Authority's second cashless tolling location earlier this year.

As announced by Governor Cuomo in his 2018 State of the State address, the entire New York State Thruway will be converted to cashless tolling by the end of 2020.

Photo credit: NYS Thruway Authority.