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. The Thruway is a vital lifeline that connects people to their jobs and their families and moves billions of dollars of products to market. For nearly six decades the Thruway has served as the central artery of the state's transportation system.

Budget Highlights

The Authority's 2016 annual operating and capital budget totals approximately $2 billion.

The FY 2017 Executive Budget includes a new $700 million Thruway Stabilization appropriation from the Special Infrastructure Account, in addition to the $1.285 billion provided in FY 2016. Together, these funds provide for capital investment in the New NY Bridge project and the rest of Thruway's core system throughout the State, allowing the Thruway to freeze tolls for all drivers until at least 2020.

The FY 2017 Executive Budget also includes legislation transferring operations and management responsibility of the New York State Canal Corporation from the Thruway Authority to the New York State Power Authority, including $6.2 million in Capital reappropriations that will be likewise transferred to the Power Authority. Canal toll and user fees will continue to be deposited in the Canal System Development Fund and will be used exclusively for the canals as required by the State Constitution.

Subsequent to the transfer of the Canal Corporation, expenditure levels at the Authority will remain unchanged from last year due to the Thruway’s assumption of the entire cost of State Police Troop T, the elimination of State appropriated operating support previously provided to the Authority and the resumption of cost reimbursement payments by the Thruway Authority to the State.

In 2012, the Thruway awarded a $3.9 billion design-build contract for the replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge. The New NY Bridge will form the centerpiece of the region's transportation system, ensuring the connection of communities and economic centers across the Hudson River for generations to come. In addition to resources from the Thruway Stabilization program, funding sources for the Bridge project include a $1.6 billion Federal TIFIA loan, the largest in TIFIA program history. Construction began in the Spring of 2013 and is expected to take approximately five years. The Bridge is on-budget and on-schedule for completion in 2018.

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 01/13/2016

Click for additional detailed appropriation tables