Cashless Tolling Starts At Hudson Valley Toll Barrier on Friday

Starting on Friday, cash will no longer be accepted at a congested toll booth in the Hudson Valley.

On Tuesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced cashless tolling will go live at the Harriman toll on the New York State Thruway late Thursday night into Friday morning.

The transition to cashless tolling at exit 16 complements the $150 million Woodbury Road, Transit and Economic Development Hub, which Governor Cuomo announced in November 2017 to help ease traffic and spur economic development around the Woodbury Premium Outlets area, officials say.

"We're making historic investments to bolster our infrastructure and modernize our transportation network to stay ahead of the curve, and cashless tolling is a key part of that effort," Cuomo said. "Cashless tolling at the Harriman toll plaza will ease congestion for millions of motorists each year and help strengthen the region's economy by providing greater access to Woodbury's economic hub."

Drivers will use E-ZPass or can pay the toll through the mail after a bill is sent to the address where the car is registered.

The existing Harriman toll will be removed in several phases. For a short time, drivers will drive through existing toll lanes, at reduced speeds without stopping, until the booths are removed and the road reconfiguration is completed.

According to the Governor's Office, around 21.7 million motorists travel through the Harriman toll each year, accounting for over 8% of the Thruway's overall traffic volume.

"As one of the most traveled interchanges along the 570-mile New York State Thruway system, travelers using the Harriman Toll Barrier will greatly benefit from the implementation of cashless tolling almost immediately," Thruway Authority Acting Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll said.

The Harriman Toll Barrier becomes the Thruway's fourth cashless tolling location. In June, Gov. Cuomo announced all remaining fixed toll barriers in the lower Hudson Valley will be converted to cashless tolling by the end of 2018. Cuomo plans to make the Thruway completely cashless by the end of 2020.

The Thruway Authority encourages drivers to sign for E-ZPass to ease with the transition.

Spot a typo? Let us know.