Canal Corporation Announces Target Opening Date & Hours for Upcoming Navigation Season

ALBANY, NY (03/19/2008)(readMedia)-- The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that the target date for opening the 183rd consecutive navigation season on the New York State Canal System is Thursday, May 1, 2008, weather permitting.

The Corporation also announced a reduction in the hours of operation and its staffing for seasonal work program, which allows for a savings of roughly $1 million. The hours of operation for the 2008 navigation season will be 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. These hours were most recently in place during the 1991 and 1992 navigation seasons.

Recreational tolls for use of the Canal System locks and lift bridges have been reinstated for 2008. All pleasure craft boats passing through any lock or lift bridge must purchase a Two-Day, Ten-Day or Seasonal Pass. Tolls for recreational craft are based on vessel size as follows:

Vessel Length Two-Day Pass Ten-Day Pass Seasonal Pass
Under16 ft. $ 5.00 $12.50 $ 25.00
16 ft. – Under 26 ft. $10.00 $25.00 $ 50.00
26 ft. – 39 ft. $15.00 $37.50 $ 75.00
Over 39 ft. $20.00 $50.00 $100.00

Passes are available for in-person purchase at a number of sales locations: designated Canal System locks; Canal Corporation Section Headquarters; Canal Corporation Headquarters; and at designated vendors. Passes can also be purchased through the mail by sending a request to New York State Canal Corporation, P.O. Box 22058 Albany, New York 12201-2058.

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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