For Immediate Release: December 21, 2006

THRUWAY AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES CONVERSION OF SEVEN HIGHER SPEED E-ZPASS LANES IN BUFFALO DIVISION
20 MPH E-ZPass Lanes Now Available at Interchanges 45, 48A, 49 & 57

The New York State Thruway Authority today announced that seven additional 20 mph higher-speed lanes have been completed in the Buffalo Division, under the Authority's ongoing E-ZPass enhancement plan. Higher-speed E-ZPass lane are now available at Interchanges 45 (Victor), 48A (Pembroke), 49 (Depew) and 57 (Hamburg).

"The addition of seven higher speed E-ZPass lanes at selected interchanges from Victor to Hamburg will allow motorists to reach their destinations more efficiently," said Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer. "The Authority has been proactively implementing a number of initiatives aimed at providing a higher level of service to Thruway customers in the Greater Buffalo area and across the State.”

The Buffalo Division now offers 22 higher-speed E-ZPass lanes. Higher Speed E-ZPass lanes are now available in the Authority’s Buffalo Division at: Interchange 45 (Victor), Interchange 48A (Pembroke), Interchange 49 (Depew), Interchange 57 (Hamburg), Interchange 45 (Rochester),  Interchange 46 (Henrietta), Interchange 48A (Pembroke), Interchange 49 (Depew), Interchange 57 (Hamburg), Interchange 58 (Silver Creek),  Interchange 59 (Dunkirk),  Interchange 61 (Ripley), and the North Grand Island Bridge, under the Authority's $3.5 million E-ZPass enhancement plan.

Under the plan, the Authority will expand the number of lanes capable of being dedicated E-ZPass lanes to 238, while expanding the number of lanes to accommodate higher-speed E-ZPass to nearly 60.

To ensure the safety of Toll Collectors, the higher speed E-ZPass lanes have been placed in locations within the toll plaza so that Collectors do not have to cross the higher-speed lanes.

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