Phillip Pantuso is reporting for the Times Union the state Thruway Authority Mon., Dec. 5, will propose the first widespread toll hikes for E-ZPass holders since 2010. If approved, New York E-ZPass users will see a 5 percent increase in tolls beginning Jan. 1, 2024, with a second 5 percent increase in January of 2027. A proposed 50-cent annual increase for the Mario Cuomo Bridge would go into effect over a four-year period from 2024 to 2027, increasing the base-rate toll on the bridge from $5.75 to $7.75. The news was first reported by LoHud [dot] com and confirmed by Thruway Authority spokesperson Jonathan Dougherty. Even if the increase gets the go-ahead, the tolls on the Thruway, one of the busiest toll highways in the U.S., will be among the lowest in the country compared to similar toll roads, Dougherty said. An analysis by the engineering firm Stantec determined that "there are additional revenues required for the Authority to fulfill its system-wide operating, debt service, and capital needs," Dougherty said in an email. If approved by the board of directors, the proposal will begin a lengthy public process that will include public hearings, a public comment period, potential revisions and ultimately final consideration by the board of directors within the next year. The last toll increase was on Jan. 1, 2021, when the Authority increased rates for non-E-ZPass customers and for all drivers on the Mario Cuomo Bridge. The state Thruway Authority receives no state, federal or local tax dollars to support its operations. Read more in the Times Union.