Provides electronic toll collection discounts for certain fuel efficient vehicles

1 Co-sponsor

• Carl L. Marcellino

BILL NUMBER:S2646A

Title of bill

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to providing electronic toll collection discounts for certain fuel efficient vehicles

Purpose

The bill provides owners of vehicles with a high mile per gallon fuel efficiency a ten percent "Green EZ-Pass discount" on tolls in New York.

Summary of specific provisions

The bill amends the public authorities law by adding a new section 389 that provides persons that have an electronic toll collection system account with the New York State Thruway Authority a ten percent discount on tolls incurred on New York State toll roads, if they use a motor vehicle which has a highway mile per gallon fuel efficiency of thirty-five miles per gallon or higher when incurring such tolls.

Justification

Transportation remains one of the greatest sources of carbon dioxide emissions in our society. The promotion of vehicles with high fuel efficiencies is desirable for environmental, public health, economic, and energy goals. Incentives should be greater for those vehicles that have high fuel efficiencies. Persons that utilize the toll roads of New York should be given incentives to drive vehicles with high fuel efficiencies. This bill provides encouragement for the greater use of such vehicles by the public as they travel on New York's tolled roads.

Prior legislative history

S.4363 of 2007/08; Passed Senate in 2008 S.857 of 2009/10; Referred to Transportation

Fiscal implications

Minimal.

Effective date

This act shall take effect 180 days after it becomes a law.