Dedicated E-ZPass lanes at the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge

HIGHLAND – The New York State Bridge Authority, which operates the five Mid-Hudson Valley region bridges, this weekend, marked the 10th anniversary of the implementation of E-ZPass to pay tolls.

Today, almost 60 percent of all vehicles crossing its bridges use E-ZPass.

“Crossing our bridges easier, faster and safer were the original objectives of E-ZPass”, Authority Chairman James Sproat said.  “We’ve met those goals and achieved additional benefits in reducing congestion and air pollution.”

The state Bridge Authority began installing the electronics for E-ZPass in 1997 and ‘officially’ launched the E-ZPass operation on February 23, 1998.

 “For travelers, the convenience of E-ZPass is a great asset.  All metropolitan New York toll agencies use E-ZPass and the same tag you use for mid-Hudson bridges is now accepted in 12 states, with more to come,” Sproat said.

E-ZPass is accepted in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia and West Virginia.  Travelers will also benefit as E-ZPass is expected to expand in Ohio and Rhode Island over the next two years.

E-ZPass was first deployed on the Thruway at the Spring Valley toll plaza on August 3, 1993 and covered the entire 496-mile system by 1997.