Thruway toll hike approved at 5% for most vehicles in 2024

Thruway tolls for most vehicles will go up 5 percent on Jan. 1, the first increase for E-ZPass customers in 14 years, the New York State Thruway Authority Board of Directors announced today.

“The toll adjustment creates a responsible, stable financial plan and ensures the Authority can meet its future capital and infrastructure needs,” the Authority stated in a news release. “The Thruway is a user-fee supported roadway and receives no dedicated federal, state or local tax dollars.”

E-ZPass customers are the most frequent users of the Thruway and receive the steepest discounts and highest level of convenience for payment, the Authority said. They will pay another 5 percent increase in January 2027.

Non-NY E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail customers pay a differential and are much more infrequent users of the system. While E-ZPass customers will pay 5 percent more in 2024, the non-NY E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail users will see the pay differential go up from 30 percent more to 70 percent higher than the E-ZPass rate.

The differential covers additional processing costs and incentivizes customers to get a NY E-ZPass tag for the easiest and most affordable way to pay their tolls, the Authority said.

Motorists can view what the adjusted toll rates will be on the 2024 Toll Adjustment Calculator on the Thruway Authority’s website.

“The toll adjustments approved today by the Board of Directors follow a year-long public process and represent a responsible approach to ensure continued investment in the 570-mile Thruway system for years to come,” said Thruway Authority Board of Directors Chair Joanne M. Mahoney. “The Thruway Authority receives no dedicated federal, state or local tax dollars and relies primarily on toll dollars to maintain and operate the Thruway which is one of the safest and reliable toll roads in the country.”

The adjustment keeps the Thruway toll rates among the lowest in the country compared to similar toll roads. The Thruway base passenger vehicle toll rate is less than $0.05 per mile, compared to the Ohio Turnpike ($0.06 per mile), the New Jersey Turnpike ($0.11 and $0.31 cents per mile) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike ($0.14 per mile), the Authority said.