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Paying the toll in Woodbury may become easier, quicker
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| Artist rendering of Highway Speed E-ZPass lanes with walkway possibly for use at Woodbury. |
By Bill Lemanski
Published: April 11, 2008
Harriman
- The state has approved the $75 million project to upgrade the
Woodbury toll barriers at Exit 16 on the New York State Thruway,
Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun (R-C-Blooming Grove) announced this week.
''This
significant project will help alleviate traffic congestion, especially
on those Sunday evenings when automobiles have a tendency to converge
at Exit 16 and come to a standstill - in some cases for hours,'' said
Calhoun.
Travelers proceeding in either the north or south bound
lanes possessing an E-ZPass will be able to travel at 65 mph with
special overhead equipment recording their tolls. Toll booth employees
also will be able to cross from one side to another with aid of a new
walkway built over the roadway.
According to the New York State
Thruway Authority, the new Highway Speed E-ZPass will process more
vehicles than manual ticket distribution and collection toll booths and
allow cars and trucks to move more efficiently through toll plazas
while reducing fuel consumption, congestion and travel time. About 19.5
million vehicles go through the Harriman tolls each year, or between
53,000 and 54,000 cars, buses, trucks and motorcycles each day.
The
first contract for the E-ZPass project was released in March 2007; the
project is scheduled for completion at the end of 2009.
Highway
Speed E-ZPass is predicted to eventually service up to 75 percent of
traffic passing through a toll plaza during peak travel times. The New
York State Thruway Authority opened its first Highway Speed E-ZPass
lanes at the Spring Valley toll barrier in Rockland County in January
2007. The Thruway Authority claims the new toll system provides for:
•
Reduction in traffic congestion and travel delays both for motorists
using Highway Speed E-ZPass and those using a staffed toll lane. All
traffic would be able to flow through the Plaza safely and efficiently.
•
Reduction in the overall noise associated with a Toll Barrier by
reducing the volume of traffic decelerating, stopping and accelerating
to highway speeds. A significant reduction in tractor-trailer braking
noise would be evident.
• Reduction in vehicle emissions due to
a reduction in the number of vehicles braking, stopping and
accelerating at the barrier. A reduction in vehicle delays and
associated idling fumes at the barrier would be measurable.
The
new Highway Speed E-ZPass system has been in use on other regional
highways. Interchange 6 on the Pennsylvania Extension of the New Jersey
Turnpike currently uses two high-speed E-ZPass lanes. The Atlantic City
Pleasantville toll plaza added two lanes in each direction at 45 mph.
In 2009, new Highway Speed E-ZPass toll lanes will be added at the Egg
Harbor toll plaza.
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