It's going to cost 25% more to drive the New York State Thruway !

[In_The_Wind]

Starting on May 15, 2005 the tolls will be increased again.

When the Thruway was built the tolls were put into place for an undisclosed period of time until the original construction was paid for. However, the tolls were supposed to end. Now instead of ending the tolls, they are going up by 25%.

When a family thinks about their vacation time together, now they'll have to dig even deeper into their pockets.

[IrateCitizen]

1. Well, just don't go as far from home...

That's what my wife and I are looking at. We live in Westchester, and will take a camping vacation in the Catskills and a wine tour near New Paltz and Woodstock.

An increase in tolls for trips like those will be pretty negligible.

[In_The_Wind]

3. The wine tours are all around me and they're wonderful .

Our county and the surrounding ones all rely on tourist traffic both winter and summer so the increase in tolls will have a long term effect on our local economy.

I hope you and your wife enjoy your camping.

[purr]

2. Are there any back roads to take?

In Pennsylvania I know how to get anywhere without taking a toll road. I like the back roads - get to see some interesting things :)

[In_The_Wind]

4. During the tourist season our roads are packed.

I've driven on most of our smaller roads because I also prefer them to the highways.

But I'm thinking about the increased toll cost being added to everything we buy because the additional burden will be passed on to the consumer.