The New York State Thruway Authority Board of Directors recently approved the selection of Cashless Tolling Constructors as the design-build team for the installation of cashless tolling on the Thruway.
The state is investing $355.3 million in the project.
Installation of gantries and cashless tolling equipment will begin soon.
Cashless Tolling Constructors will convert the entire Thruway’s ticketed system to cashless tolling by the end of 2020. The system extends approximately 450 miles between exits 15 and 61 and exits B1-B3.
Approximately 267 million motorists travel on the Thruway annually.
“When completed, the millions of people who travel the Thruway each day will benefit by never again having to stop at a toll booth which will ease congestion, enhance safety, and lower emissions from idling,” Matthew J. Driscoll, Thruway Authority executive director, said.
Once the project is completed, Thruway travelers will drive under gantries equipped with sensors and cameras that read E-ZPass tags or take photos of license plates.
Cashless tolling is already operational in the lower Hudson Valley region and the Grand Island Bridges.
Existing toll plazas and barriers will be removed after the cashless system is in place. Drivers will not need to stop but will need to travel through these areas at 20 miles per hour.