New York State Thruway Authority

Gas Prices at Thruway Travel Plazas (Follow-Up Report)

The New York State Thruway has 27 travel plazas that offer gas, food and other amenities for travelers. These services are provided by vendors under concession contracts awarded by the New York State Thruway Authority. In audit 2008-S-159, we examined the gas prices at eight selected travel plazas to determine whether they were higher than the prices allowed under the contracts with the concessionaires. We found that gas prices at these travel plazas were not always in compliance with contractual limits. Specifically, three of the eight stations exceeded their approved prices, and thus overcharged for their gas, on at least three days and as many as 44 days, during the 123-day period we examined. We recommended that a number of improvements be made in the Thruway Authority’s oversight of the gas concessionaires. When we followed up on these matters with Authority officials, we found that they had made progress in addressing the problems identified by our audit, but additional actions were still needed.

For a complete copy of Report 2010-F-24 click here.
For a copy of the 30-day response click here.