Nov 20, 2008 1:46 pm US/Eastern
Gas Tax Hike Instead Of Toll Hike?
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Amid talks of
raising tolls on the Massachusetts Turnpike, an alternative proposal is being filed in the State House Thursday – raising the
gas tax.
HOW MUCH?
The proposal that would add 11 cents to the existing 23.5 cent per gallon tax.
House Speaker Sal DiMasi believes raising the gas tax would be a fairer way to share the burden than raising tolls.
"When we come back in January, this is one of the issues that will be in the forefront of our agenda," he said Thursday.
The Legislature can't pass formal legislation right now because it's in informal session.
But DiMasi and two other lawmakers told WBZ said this is an idea with a lot of support and that it might be more likely to pass with gas prices so low.
One bill filed would freeze any toll hikes until a gas tax is explored, another would eliminate them.
DiMasi initially proposed raising the tax six months ago.
The gas tax hasn't been raised in Massachusetts since 1991.
WHAT ARE OTHER STATES PAYING?
Here are the current gas tax rates across New England:
Massachusetts 23.5 cents (could rise to 34.5 cents)
Rhode Island 31 cents
New Hampshire 19.6 cents
Connecticut 44 cents
Vermont 20 cents
Maine 29 cents The national average is 30 cents a gallon.
Check: Gas tax prices state by state.Boston Mayor Tom Menino says the city wasn't asked about toll increases, which he says would force more cars onto city streets.
"I'm not hostile to a gas tax as a practical matter," Gov. Deval Patrick said Wednesday. "Those ideas, and there are a few of them, need some time to be developed, to be debated. Meanwhile, there are bills to be paid...the problem is, the Big Dig."
"It's not about the Big Dig only," DiMasi said.
"It's about applying this revenue not only to the Big Dig but to repairing the transportation infrastructure across the state."
Earlier this month, the Turnpike Board approved toll hikes to help pay off
Big Dig debt. The plan would increase tolls inside Route 128. The biggest increase would be at the tunnels, where tolls could double from $3.50 to $7.
If the public hearings go smoothly, and technology at the tolls is updated to reflect the new rates, the earliest the increase would go into effect would be March 2009.
HOW TO AVOID TOLLS: If you have the time and the patience, there are routes to avoid the tolls.
Take a look at
Google Maps, then click on "Get Directions", then click "Show Options" and choose "Avoid Tolls." From there, enter your start and finish points.
Some GPS units also have an 'avoid tolls' routing feature.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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