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1st hearing on 45% Thruway toll hike to be held Thursday

 

BUFFALO -- The first of three public hearings on the Thruway Authority's plan to raise truck tolls by 45 percent will be held in Buffalo.

Thursday night's hearing at the Buffalo-Erie Public Library is expected to draw plenty of angry New Yorkers eager to voice their opposition to the plan, which the agency's chairman called a "modest" increase when it was announced in May.

Thruway officials say they need to boost tolls on trucks in order to keep the 570-mile highway system safe and in good repair.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says a toll hike is needed to keep the authority financially sound, but he has also asked Thruway officials to find ways to minimize any increases.

Other public hearings are scheduled for Friday in East Syracuse and Saturday in Newburgh.    AP-WF-08-16-12 1052GMT 

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