Bastards.

Adding insult to injury, the bastards at the NYS Thruway Authority want more money for a road that's long since been paid off. In the latest effort to avoid "killing the job", the Thruway wants to increase tolls by 25%. That means the $12.50 you pay right now to travel from the Williamsville toll to the Major Deegan in the Bronx would go up to $15.62. Along the way, you'll be jostled by trucks and stuck behind left lane bandits along the mostly four-lane highway. You'll have the pleasure of eating overpriced stale excreta at various Roy Rogers and Burger Kings. Don't forget the "discounted" gas at the service stations. And God forbid you break down on the Thruway - your AAA is useless. You have to pay a Thruway approved tow truck. I think that this passage from the Buffalo News' article was beautiful in that it summed up what Albany considers to be "commuter-friendly" or a reduction in fees or less of a shiv-up-the-rectum:

Additionally, sources said the agency, in an effort to expand the E-ZPass system, will propose a 10 percent discount for drivers of passenger vehicles who sign up for the program. That would mean, officials said, that a current $1 toll that would rise to $1.25 under the 25 percent toll hike proposal would be discounted to $1.13 for E-ZPass users. For commercial users, the E-ZPass discount would be 5 percent.

Hooray. And instead of eliminating the nickel-and diming of WNY residents trying to get to and from Buffalo and Niagara Falls, they'll offer us a "commuter discount." I.e., we will remain the only city in the State, apart from the woefully congested Manhattan, where you have to pay to travel downtown. They may move Williamsville tolls back to Pembroke or so, but they won't eliminate the Grand Island, South Buffalo, or Black Rock tolls.