jflynn@repub.com Want to pay more at the gas pump? More often on the turnpike? And tolls on Interstates 291 and 391? If a high-powered state commission gets its way, drivers in Western Massachusetts will be digging even deeper to finance the state's wobbly bridge, highway and mass transit systems. Within a week, the Legislature-appointed Transportation Finance Commission is expected to recommend a 9 cent gas tax hike, restoring toll collections on Massachusetts Turnpike exits 1-6, and collecting tolls for the first time on interstates 291 and 391. The tax and toll hike needs approval from the Legislature, which is trolling for dollars to support the Big Dig and dozens of other transportation projects. But based on reactions yesterday, the election season proposal could become a political piņata, pummeled from all sides, especially in Western Massachusetts. Both GOP gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey and her Democratic rival Deval L. Patrick denounced the plan, and state Rep. Sean F. Curran, D-Springfield, began a letter-writing campaign to derail it. Curran, whose district includes I-291 in Springfield and Chicopee, said the idea is unfair and impractical. "They are definitely going in the wrong direction," said Curran, adding that I-291 was "built 40 years ago and all paid for." Besides forcing local motorists to shoulder even greater costs for the Big Dig, installing tollbooths on I-291 could "triple the traffic" on already-congested Carew Street, which runs parallel to the highway. Patrick also strongly opposed boosting costs to motorists. "As far as he is concerned, this could not have come at a worst time for consumers," said Patrick spokeswoman Libby DeVecchi. DeVecchi said some of the estimated $735 million in excess spending Patrick wants to trim from the state budget could be used to shore up the transportation system. Healey also ruled out any gas tax, saying: "There won't be any hike in the gas tax in a Healey Administration." Nor, Healey said, would she support the commission's idea to turn over interstates 84, 291 and 391 to the state Turnpike Authority so it can install toll booths. The 13-member commission, including transportation specialists and business executives, is also considering keeping the Turnpike authority, scheduled to be disbanded in 2017, alive indefinitely, according to a report in the Boston Globe. State Rep. Joseph F. Wagner, D-Chicopee, said he was reluctant to comment until the commission's recommendations have been made public. But Wagner said a gas tax and toll expansion were likely "nonstarters," even though the state needs to finance infrastructure improvements. "We're going to be looking very skeptically at (the commission recommendations) if they're leading with a gas tax and tolls on roads that don't already have them," said Wagner, co-chairman of the Legislature's Transportation Committee. "I don't think that will get much traction."
Posted by: Wolfman
I think the guys at SP Springfield are already bringing in enough revenue on 391...
Posted by: HELPMe
Its a stupid plan now i heard on the news yesterday that they want to pull all the toll booths west of 128. Seems like quite the reversal in light of the election.
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