BE030124I am not a native New Yorker, per se, but I have lived in areas in Upstate and Central New York for the past nine years, so I nevertheless typically feel qualified to gripe  about the state of the roads.  And I do — frequently.  However, having just completed a nine hour drive, a majority of which took place on the Thru-way, I have to say, I’m … surprised.  Pleasantly surprised.

Tolls have been raised in New York recently, unbeknownst to me.  Last time I got off at my exit — after coming into New York from PA — the toll ended up being something like $8.40.  That was something like last November.  This time it wound up being nine something.  Good grief.  Upon discovering this, I was at first disgruntled.  I then realized, however, that besides some heinously frightening construction work going on somewhere near Buffalo and Rochester, the roads were actually … great.  Wow, I then thought to myself; my toll dollars actually are at work.  Sweet.

So, to those of you traveling through the great state of NY any time soon — yeah, it’s gonna cost you a ridiculously amount, but new or old, the ride’s gonna be good for your car.