Blind vendors say they’re being pushed out of Thruway rest stops as $450M overhaul begins

There’s concern among blind business owners who operate the vending machines at New York’s rest stops along the Thruway that they are being squeezed out.

The 27 facilities along the Thruway are being overhauled over the next two years, which is part of a $450 million project.

According to Gannett, a letter from the Thruway Authority laid out which vending machines blind vendors would be allowed to operate at the new facilities.

The letter indicated that blind vendors would be limited to ATM machines and coin-operated laundry.

A complaint has ben filed with the state Commission for the Blind moving to force the Thruway Authority to include more vending opportunities.

The entire $450 million project is privately funded, which is preventing taxpayers in New York from dealing with the costs associated with overhauling the aging rest stops.