Gov. Deval Patrick promised to veto an $800 million transportation funding bill the Massachusetts legislature passed without his amendments, but lawmakers appear to have enough votes to override.
Patrick wants to further increase the gasoline tax to cover what he said would be a revenue shortfall from the expected removal of tolls on most of the Massachusetts Turnpike by 2017.
“It’s still not satisfactory because we have a $130 million uncertainty. Even at $800 million, it does not meet all our needs,” Patrick told reporters.
Patrick has 10 days to act on the bill.
But Senate and House approval of the version without Patrick’s amendment was overwhelming. The Senate passed it 29-9 on Thursday. One day earlier, House approval was 121-31. Both are well above the two-thirds necessary to override.
“We did exactly what the House did,” Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, said at a press conference. “We went over the governor’s concerns, but we still gave him a pretty good bill.”
The bill is intended to fund transportation needs through 2018. It includes about $110 million to eliminate a budget gap at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which serves Greater Boston’s mass-transit riders; expands commuter rail to the South Coast; hikes the gas tax to 24 cents from 21 cents; raises the cigarette tax by $1; and imposes a state sales tax on computer and software items.
Without the aid, MBTA riders could be in store for a fare increase or service cuts. The “T,” as the system is commonly known, raised fares 23% last year.
About 30% of the MBTA’s budget goes toward debt service, making it the most leveraged public transit agency in the United States.
State officials are scheduled to remove tolls from the original 123-mile stretch eastward from the New York State line to the state Route 128/Interstate 95 interchange in Newton on most of the Turnpike on Dec. 31, 2017. Tolling would continue along the remaining 15-mile extension into Boston.
Moody’s Investors Service rates the commonwealth’s general obligation bonds Aa1, while Fitch Ratings and Standard & poor’s assign AA-plus ratings.
