ATA Urges Governors to Reject Toll Hike

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves called on Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey and Andrew Cuomo of New York to reconsider an "ill-conceived and unprecedented" toll hike which was recently approved, at their request, by the 'Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.'

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"We urge you to veto this proposal, which will not only devastate trucking companies who serve the New York City area, but will also increase the cost of doing business in a region already regarded as among the most expensive in the nation," Graves, the former two-term governor of Kansas, wrote in an Aug. 25 letter.

Graves added that ATA, along with the state trucking associations in New York and New Jersey, were vehemently opposed to a plan where "a majority of new revenues will subsidize projects with no benefit to those paying the tolls."

"The trucking industry is willing to pay its fair share for the roads and bridges we depend on," Graves said. "But this increase will primarily pay for the Authority's other operations, notably the reconstruction of the World Trade Center."

In his letter, Graves said the proposed tolls will be nearly three times higher than for comparable bridges nationwide. Furthermore, Graves said the combined effect of toll increases in the region must be considered by policy makers before moving forward.

For example, if these, as well as other proposed increases in the I-95 corridor are implemented, a truck hauling goods from Baltimore to Manhattan will see its toll burden rise from $114.25 today to $209.25 in just three years.

To read Gov. Graves' letter click here.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It!

SOURCE American Trucking Associations