Thruway Authority, New York State

Agency Web Site: http://www.thruway.ny.gov/index.shtml

Mission

The Thruway Authority operates a 570-mile highway system, including the 426-mile mainline from Buffalo to New York City. Through its subsidiary, the Canal Corporation, the Authority maintains, operates, develops and makes capital improvements to the 524-mile navigable waterway, which includes 57 locks, 17 lift bridges, numerous dams, reservoirs and water control structures.

Budget Highlights

The Authority's 2015 annual operating and capital budget, including Canal Corporation activities, totals $2 billion.

While Thruway Authority and Canal Corporation programs are overwhelmingly supported by Authority funds, the Executive Budget continues to provide State funding assistance to the Thruway Authority, including a direct State appropriation of $21.5 million which subsidizes Thruway operating expenses (a decrease of $2.5 million from 2014-15 levels to reflect anticipated operational and administrative efficiencies). This support, which began in 2013-14, continues to offset the need for a commercial toll increase. Other offsets include State funding of the personnel costs of the Division of State Police Troop T (which patrols the Thruway), and a waiver of certain annual billings due from the Authority to the State.

The 2015-16 Executive Budget includes a new appropriation of $1.285 billion from settlement fund sources for a new Thruway Stabilization program that will help offset the impacts of major Thruway investments on toll payers. These include the $3.9 billion New NY Bridge project replacing the Tappan Zee bridge between Rockland and Westchester, and meeting transportation needs on the rest of the Thruway's core system throughout the State.

The Thruway has awarded a $3.9 billion design-build contract for the replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge. Funding sources for the New NY Bridge project include a $1.6 billion Federal loan under the US Department of Transportation’s Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, the largest in TIFIA program history. Construction began in Spring 2013 and is expected to take approximately five years.

The Executive Budget also includes reappropriations of $8.6 million to fund the Canal System Development Fund. Revenues collected from canal tolls and other user fees are deposited into the Canal System Development Fund and, in accordance with the State Constitution, are used exclusively for the canals.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Transportation (PDF)

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2015

Click for additional detailed appropriation tables