State to take closer look at tolls on I-93
May 19, 2008 01:26 PM
By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff
Governor Deval Patrick's top transportation official signaled today that he wants to take a closer look at adding tolls on Interstate 93, but stopped well short of endorsing that method for raising more money for the state.
The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority will count the number of vehicles on the Zakim Bridge and at other major points on I-93 at the request of Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen. The data will help determine whether tolls are a viable option.
jacobs_cohen_1.jpg.jpgTransportation Secretary Bernard Cohen
"Everything is on the table here and we need to look in all corners," Cohen said today at the board?s monthly meeting. "Whether we will find the money in all corners, I don't know. But we need to look in all corners."
Cohen, who also chairs the turnpike board, made the comments during a discussion about possible changes in the state?s tolling system. There are currently tolls on the east-west Massachusetts Turnpike, Tobin Bridge, and tunnels beneath Boston Harbor, but not on I-93, the main north-south thoroughfare.
When asked after the meeting whether the traffic count was a signal he was ready to consider tolls on I-93, Cohen said, "It just means that I want to have as complete a picture as possible."
A Toll Equity Working Group convened by the turnpike board reported it has reached no conclusions about how to equalize payments for drivers, but it presented a roster of 37 options. A final analysis is due in July. The board will spend the summer evaluating a broad list of possible changes.
"If you look at the matrix, there are 37 possible tolling options," said Cohen, who stressed that he is not moving in the direction of tolling on I-93. "As far as I'm concerned, they're all on an even playing field."
Given federal regulations and local concerns about bottlenecks, it is unlikely that any new tolls booths will be installed on I-93. There is the potential, however, for some type of electronic tolling. Possible locations include the Zakim Bridge and the south end of the Tip O'Neill Tunnel.
Adding tolls to I-93 has been discussed for years, but it is usually avoided by politicians who fear the wrath of the driving public. The addition of any form of tolling along I-93 would require federal approval.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/05/state_to_take_c.html
The discussion thread responses at Boston.com are pretty predictable (surprisingly, no one wants to pay more!), but there are a few supporters in there. It's worth checking out.