ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - The New York State Thruway’s move to all cashless tolls has taken another step forward. Governor Andrew Cuomo says that the final of the 70 steel gantries being built as part of this system has been installed. It’s located on the Thruway at exit 42 in Geneva. There’s a total of 21 gantries along the main part of the thruway and another 34 at the entrance and exit ramps.
The crews are now installing sensors and cameras at those overhead gantries that read EZ pass tags and also take license plate images. The system is expected to be operational by the end of this year. When that happens, Thruway drivers will no longer have to stop to pay tolls. Vehicles with EZ Pass tags are automatically charged and those who don’t have EZ pass will be mailed a bill after the cameras take a photo of their license plates. Officials say that following the conversion to cashless tolling the existing toll plazas and barriers will be removed in phases. Following the conversion to cashless tolling, the existing toll plazas and barriers will be removed in phases. During the deconstruction phase, drivers will continue to travel through existing toll lanes at reduced speeds without stopping until the booths are removed and road reconfigurations are complete. Drivers will be required to use caution around the toll plazas during this time, as it will be an active construction zone. The posted speed limit when traveling through the toll lanes will be 20 MPH.
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