Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara announced today that he’s introducing legislation to suspend thruway tolls for a three-month period: June, July and August, to help encourage travel and tourism during this critical period of New York’s economic recovery.

“Typically, the summer months are when most people make their travel plans and this savings will encourage tourism in our upstate areas,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara. “These active months are important for local businesses, and we must do all we can to encourage economic activity when they need it the most.”

Santabarbara’s bill is designed to also serve as a temporary relief measure for New Yorkers to help mitigate some of the effects of inflation and rising gas prices. “This investment will not only help get our economy moving this summer but will also help reduce the cost of shipping and deliveries, and gives middle class working families a break, especially commuters here in the Capital Region,” Santabarbara added.

The bill would suspend Thruway tolls for the summer months of June, July and August using the surplus of federal dollars expected in this year’s state budget to make up for the loss to the thruway.