For Immediate Release: May 22, 2008

Motorists Reminded to Prepare for Heavier Traffic During Memorial Day Weekend
Travelers Encouraged To Sign Up For Free TRANSalerts Before the Holiday Weekend

New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer today reminded motorists that the Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the busy summer travel season and travelers should be mindful of heavier traffic and obey the State’s traffic laws, especially within work zones.

The Authority now offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major unscheduled incidents that may affect their travel on the Thruway. Since its inception in August of 2006, more than 5,300 subscribers have signed up to receive TRANSalert notifications.

For the most up-to-date information about incidents affecting travel on the Thruway, sign up for the TRANSalert service by visiting the Authority’s website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.

“The Authority anticipates that motorists will take an extended weekend to enjoy the Memorial Day holiday, leading to increased traffic volumes on the Thruway. In an effort to help alleviate extra holiday traffic, the Authority has suspended construction activities and deployed additional personnel on the road to assist travelers during this busy holiday,” said Fleischer.  “As always, motorists are reminded to drive with caution and allow for extra travel time to reach their destinations safely. Motorists are also encouraged to sign up to receive TRANSalerts for information on unscheduled incidents that may impact travel.”

Troop T will also deploy additional Troopers to conduct speed and aggressive driving enforcement during peak travel times from Friday, May 23, through Monday, May 26, as well as enforce Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) laws and monitor seat belt usage. Last year during this period, more than 2.5 million vehicles traveled more than 85.7 million miles on the New York State Thruway.

Due to the anticipated increase in traffic, the Authority will take the following steps to help alleviate congestion statewide along the System:

Suspend Construction: The Authority suspends construction along its System each year for Memorial Day Weekend, in an effort to minimize traffic congestion.

• Construction in the New York Division, between Thruway Interchange 1 in Yonkers to Interchange18 in New Paltz, will be suspended from noon on Thursday, May 22, to 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27.
• Construction in the Syracuse Division, between Thruway Interchange 29A in Little Falls to Interchange 44 in Canandaigua, will be suspended from 7:30 a.m. on Friday, May 23, to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, May 26.
• Construction in the Buffalo Division, between Thruway Interchange 45 in Rochester to Interchange 61 at the Pennsylvania line, will be suspended from noon on Thursday, May 22, to 10 p.m. on Monday, May 26.
• Construction in the Albany Division, between Thruway Interchange 19 in Kingston to Interchange 29 in Canajoharie will be suspended from noon on Thursday, May 22, to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27.

Monitor Traffic Incidents: In addition to Troop T and maintenance patrols, the Authority will monitor traffic conditions for accidents and incidents by using closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras. Cameras will be used along the Tappan Zee Bridge Corridor, the Niagara Thruway between downtown Buffalo and the Peace Bridge, at Interchange 24 in Albany, near Interchanges 25 (Schenectady, I-890, Routes 146 and 7), Interchange B1 (Albany, Hudson, Rensselaer) on the Berkshire Spur, the Ripley Barrier (Pennsylvania State Line) and between Interchanges 50 and 52 in Buffalo. Active monitoring facilitates quicker incident detection and response, thereby minimizing delays.

Holiday traffic delays are most likely to occur at the Lackawanna, Ripley and Williamsville Toll Barriers and on the Grand Island Bridges near Buffalo; at Rochester-Victor Interchange 45; at Albany Interchanges 23 and 24; at the Canaan Toll Barrier on the Berkshire Section, which connects the Thruway to the Massachusetts Turnpike; at Newburgh Interchange 17; at Harriman Interchange 16; and at the Woodbury, New Rochelle and Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge Toll Barriers near New York City.

The busiest section of the Thruway System will most likely be the Tappan Zee Bridge Corridor (Rockland and Westchester Counties). Traditionally, traffic is heaviest on Friday between noon and 8 p.m., on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., on Sunday between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m., and on Monday between noon and 8 p.m.

Motorists are encouraged to listen to traffic information by tuning their vehicle radios to the following frequencies: New York City area and Tappan Zee Bridge Corridor 530 AM; Newburgh, Kingston, Albany, Rochester and Buffalo areas 1610 AM; Syracuse and LaFayette areas 1620 AM; Ripley area 98.7 AM; and Utica area 540 AM. Motorists may also receive up-to-date road condition information by calling toll-free 1-800-THRUWAY (1-800-847-8929) or logging onto www.nysthruway.gov .

In the event of an emergency, breakdown or minor accident, motorists are advised not to stop within or near travel lanes. Instead, travel to the nearest exit, a safe location or pull well off to the side of the road. To report an emergency on the Thruway, motorists may call 1-800-842-2233.

Additionally, motorists are reminded that the Ulster Travel Plaza, located southbound between Interchanges 20 (Saugerties) and 19 (Kingston), at milepost 96, and the Clifton Springs Travel Plaza, located eastbound between Interchanges 43 (Manchester) and 42 (Geneva), at milepost 337, are currently undergoing fuel station renovations and therefore no fuel will be available at these locations during the Memorial Day holiday.

Prior to the Ulster and Clifton Springs travel plazas, several signs will be posted along the Thruway alerting motorists to plazas where fuel is available so they can stop for fuel before reaching the plazas undergoing renovations.

During these renovation projects, restroom and food services will continue to be available to motorists 24 hours a day at the Ulster and Clifton Springs travel plazas.

The Sloatsburg Travel Plaza, located northbound on I-87 between Interchanges 15A (Suffern Rt. 17N) and 16 (Woodbury Toll Barrier),  at milepost 33, which had been undergoing fuel renovations, has since been reopened and fuel services will be available to motorists during the Memorial Day holiday.

For additional information on the Sunoco fuel renovation projects, please go to the following link on the Authority’s website: www.nysthruway.gov/news/pressrel/2008/03/2008-03-21-fuel-service.html.

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The Authority offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major unscheduled incidents that may affect their travel on the Thruway.  To sign up for the TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Authority’s website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.

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