Canal Corporation Announces Revised Hours for Upcoming Navigation Season

ALBANY, NY (04/07/2008)(readMedia)-- The New York State Canal Corporation today announced revised hours for the 2008 navigation season. The new hours of operation for Canal Corporation locks and lift bridges for the 2008 season are now as follows:

May 1 to May 22 - 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

May 23 to September 3 - 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM

September 4 to November 15 - 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM

The Canal Corporation had previously announced on March 19, 2008 a planned reduction in the hours of operation from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. as a result of reduced staffing for its seasonal work program, allowing for a savings of roughly $1 million.

Under the revised plan, for the 2008 season, the Canal Corporation will slightly reduce its seasonal work program as well as suspend the “Green Thumb” program, a program that assists with grounds keeping at Canal locations, allowing for a savings of $435,000.

During the Thruway Authority’s public hearing process, the message from the recreational and commercial boating community was that the shortened hours proposed on March 19 would have a devastating impact on the economic benefits of the Canal System in 2008. Canal Corporation staff revisited the plan to determine where other cuts could be made, without eliminating essential functions and services. As a result, the Canal Corporation will restore the summer hours for the majority of the boating season, while still reducing its operating costs.

The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.

The New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major incidents and emergencies that may affect travel on the Thruway or navigation on the Canal System. To sign up for the Canal TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Corporation's website at www.nyscanals.gov/tas/. To sign-up for Thruway TRANSalerts please visit the Authority's website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.

For boating information, vacation opportunities and news about the New York State Canal System, please visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.

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