MassPike OKs Toll Hike, But Gas Tax Increase Could Replace It

Massachusetts motorists will begin paying higher cash tolls in late March, but that increase could be temporary if lawmakers pass legislation to increase the state's gas tax to 42.5 cents per gallon.

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority yesterday approved, in a four-to-one vote, a two-part toll hike that will generate an additional $100 million per year for the authority, according to board member Mary Connaughton. MassPike needs the additional revenue to help meet current operating expenses and debt service costs.

Administration officials could roll back the new toll increases if the legislature approves Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal to increase the state's gas tax to 42.5 cents per gallon, a 19-cent boost. That increase would generate an additional $500 million to $600 million of revenue for the state. Of the 19-cent hike, four cents would eliminate the cash-toll increases that MassPike approved yesterday.

Many legislators do not favor toll increases, even on a temporary basis, and have called for reform of the state's transportation systems before asking motorists for additional revenue.

Sen. Steven Baddour and Rep. Joseph Wagner, who each head their chamber's transportation committees, sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation James Aloisi, urging him to postpone a toll increase. Aloisi chairs MassPike's board.

"As you are aware, the proposal to increase tolls had been predicated upon the legislature's consideration of a package of transportation reforms proposed by Gov. Patrick," according to the lawmakers' letter to Aloisi, dated Feb. 24. "As of this date, no reform legislation has been filed by the administration. The idea that revenues would be placed above reform is troubling."

MassPike officials approved increasing cash tolls, with Boston extension tolls increasing to $1.50 on March 29, a 25-cent boost. That toll will increase again on July 1 to $2, Connaughton said.

Cash tolls on tunnels will also go up, with motorists paying $5 beginning March 29, an increase of $1.50. On July 1, tunnel tolls will further increase to $7.

If the legislature approves Patrick's gas-tax proposal, the above toll increases would roll back, or in the case of the July 1 hikes, be eliminated. Connaughton said she proposed an alternative plan that would generate $60 million for the authority through lower cash-toll hikes and additional cost-saving measures, yet the board chose not to vote on that plan.

The governor released a broad outline of his transportation reform proposal last week and the administration is drafting legislation of the proposal. Along with the four-cent dedication to MassPike, another six cents would support the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which oversees the commonwealth's largest mass-transit system, and hold off a proposed 25% fare hike on its trains and buses.

The goal of the initiative is to reform how the state finances its roadways, bridges, and tunnels. The plan includes terminating MassPike and folding the system into a division of the state's Executive Office of Transportation. As for MassPike's $2.3 billion of bonds, the governor has yet to announce if the state or another authority would take on the debt.

"The actual legislation has yet to be filed," said EOT spokesman Karl Jessen. "So I'm not sure how much more specific we can be other than that the governor's plan would raise enough revenues to address the long-term debt needs of both the turnpike and the [MBTA]."

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