By JAMES FINK
jfink@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1611

Grand Island residents should be protected against a possible threat against losing their rights to deeply discounted toll rates when they use access bridges.

Sen. Charles Schumer said Feb. 24 that he would re-introduce legislation that guarantees the discount tolls for Grand Island residents.

His stance comes as a court is preparing to rule in Rhode Island whether the discounts are unconstitutional. The Rhode Island judge is expected to decide on a class-action lawsuit involving residents of that state and the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. Much like Grand Island, residents of the cities of Newport and Jamestown get a discount when paying tolls to cross the Pell Bridge, which connects them.

An earlier case involving the New York Thruway Authority is still being heard by the second circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. It involves certain discounts for some New Yorkers living in towns that border various sections of the Thruway.

Grand Island residents pay 9 cents in tolls to cross the bridges that connect the town with the Tonawandas or Niagara Falls, while other drivers pay $1.

Schumer's proposed legislation would allow Grand Island residents to maintain that discount.

"Grand Islanders leave the island and pay tolls on a daily basis for work and more, and without the residential toll discounts, this would be a huge financial burden," the senator said.

"With no other way to drive off the island except via bridges and their tolls, Grand Island residents deserve a break. And through this legislation we can guarantee that these fair and essential residential discount programs will hold up in court."

Schumer said Grand Island residents, who leave the island daily to commute to work, annually spend $23.40 on tolls for the bridges.

If the discount was eliminated, commuters would be looking at an annual toll cost of $260.