Driscoll: “extra resources
NEWBURGH – The New York State Thruway Authority is gearing up for
the winter season, more specifically, the snow season. Thruway officials
announced Wednesday that not only are they ready for the snow, but they
are employing some new equipment and technologies to keep New York drivers
safe.
The division from New Paltz to the state line will employ 57 plow vehicles,
260 for the entire state by December. Three new plows, estimated at $200,000
per vehicle, have been transferred from the state Department of Transportation
for Thruway use. Forty salt sheds across the state are fully stocked,
with 11 salt sheds in the local division holding approximately 31,000
tons of salt.
Also, new for this season, there will be an enhanced GPS system installed
in all vehicles by the end of the year. This will provide operators with
pavement temperature, air temperature and indicate when plows are engaged,
helping to coordinate efficient plowing and salt usage. In addition, a
pilot program being launched in Syracuse and Buffalo with the help of
SUNY, called Mesonet, will track weather and snowfall rates, allowing
for more predictability in their operations.
“The installs are currently happening, right now, across the Thruway
and we’ll be training, basically, those watching from a computer
on how to use it, how to run reports on it, essentially how to get the
most out of it,” said Acting Thruway Division Director James Konstalid.
Thruway Acting Executive Director Matthew Driscoll said it’s all
in an effort to provide motorists with the safest commuting possible.
“These extra resources mean a safer Thruway for all of us, for all
of the people that use the Thruway to get to where they need to be and
it’s important that we have a safe and efficient system,”
said Driscoll.
The authority is currently hiring for plow operator positions. Individuals
would require a Class B Commercial Driver’s License and are preferred
to have experience. Interested candidates are encouraged to visit http://www.thruway.ny.gov
to fill out an application for employment.
