The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority last week reviewed different toll-increase scenarios in order to generate needed revenue.
Officials are considering boosting tolls on the Metropolitan Highway System and the Western Turnpike to help fill a $70 million to $100 million funding shortfall for the current fiscal year, which began July 1. The increases would also support debt service costs and capital expenditures for fiscal 2010-2013, with proposed capital programs ranging from $50 million to $70 million, based on different toll-hike scenarios.
A $50 million capital program would generate 1.5 times debt service coverage on $2.24 billion of MHS debt while a $70 million capital program would allow for 1.7 times coverage. But to support programs in that range, cash-paying passenger cars would need to pay 25-cents to $1 more on Boston Extension tolls and $1 to $5 more on tunnel tolls, depending on which plan officials chose to implement, according to MassPike documents.
Officials presented toll increases on the Western Turnpike as well, ranging from 25% to 63% for passenger cars. MassPike may also restore tolls on exits one through six on the Western Turnpike.
