NY Thruway postpones meeting, possible toll hike

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Under public pressure, the New York State Thruway Authority has postponed a meeting that was expected to include a vote to increase tolls for truckers by as much as 45 percent.

The authority board rescheduled its meeting from Friday afternoon to Tuesday.

The Unshackle Upstate business group and a Republican assemblyman accused the authority of trying to sneak in the vote while the public was focused on Superstorm Sandy recovery.

Earlier this year, the agency proposed what it termed a "modest" 45 percent increase

Republican Assemblyman James Tedisco of Schenectady said Thursday the authority clearly doesn't want the public to see it enact a hike that truckers say will boost costs for all New Yorkers.

Thruway Authority spokesman Dan Weiller says the meeting wasn't postponed because of Tedisco's criticism, but he wouldn't comment further on the reason.