Patrick interested in placing tolls at the border
By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff
Governor Deval Patrick said today that he was interested in placing tolls on vehicles on interstate highways at the state's borders and that his administration had already contacted the federal government, which would need to give its permission, about the idea.
"What I would love to see is ... border tolls at all of the interstate entrances, maybe Route 3 as well. In other words, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York. If we did that right, it would be possible to remove all of the tolls inside of the Commonwealth. Maybe you'd keep something at the tunnel," he said in an interview on WBUR-FM's Radio Boston show. It wasn't clear which tunnel he was referring to, but tolls are currently being charged at the Ted Williams and Sumner tunnels.
"We have made those overtures to the federal authorities to see whether they would work with us and they're open to it," he said.
“While he hasn’t endorsed any plans relative to new border tolls, the governor has said repeatedly that we need to have a full and open debate on transportation reform and all options should be on the table," the Patrick administration said in a statement released Friday afternoon by Klark Jessen, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Transportation. Jessen said there would be no further comment from the administration.
Tolls are already charged at the entrance to the Massachusetts Turnpike in New York and Connecticut.
In October, Patrick said on a WRKO-AM radio show that "there's some interest in looking at border tolls coming in from New Hampshire and from Rhode Island." But his communications director said after the interview that Patrick was referring to suggestions made by others.
Patrick also said in today's radio interview that he had looked at "dozens" of scenarios that would raise more money for the state's financially strapped transportation agencies. He noted that the border tolls would not completely address the need for more revenue.
He also said in the interview that he was "not hostile" to the idea of raising the state's gas tax, but said if the gas tax is raised it should be enough to put the transportation network on "a sustained basis," the tax should be dedicated to transportation; and it should be accompanied by a reform of the transportation system.
Nancy Singer, a spokeswoman for the Federal Highway Administration in Washington, said that the federal government would evaluate any proposal to impose tolls on federally-funded roads, weighing the specifics of the application and various regulations. She said no official request had been received from the state for tolling of the roads. But she noted that the agency has a division office in Massachusetts and "obviously, they have ongoing communications with the state."
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It is not a good idea, because it shows that our state is not that friendly and
less people come here for visit and that would hurt our economy, I drived to
New York and every bridge every tunnels they charge fee. And just not very
welcoming to others. I still go but much less often. Gonveror think about that.
How much longer is it until this guy's up for re-election? When are they just going to make it illegal to travel to MA from all other states without paying. Place a 12 foot high border fence and assign every resident a passport.
It’s about time with New Hampshire. I know they will claim that they have workers who work here pay taxes here but live in New Hampshire but it is there choice. What about all the folks in Massachusetts with 2nd homes in NH that pay their huge property taxes. Put the booths up.
I am getting very concerned. I live in NH (former NH native who moved back) but still work in MA. Besides the fact I already pay MA state tax with very little to no representation, now I am to pay a toll tax? Yes I know NH is thinking about a toll south bound 93 already so looks like I will be getting it on both ends. I really am considering finding a job in NH, pocketing the tax savings so that even with a pay cut I will probably still be ahead. Governor Deval think about the economic consequences if you drive the thousands of daily commuters back to their home states and the resulting loss of MA income taxes.
Finally. Something that makes sense.
Can we say "alternative routes?"
Beautiful Governor...Dems drove all the jobs out of Springfield (Unions and Taxes). Lets make all the people in Springfield pay the tolls on the way home from their jobs in Hartford. Make the people on the outskirts pay for the roads you use in Boston!
Make me pay everytime I want to go to Providence or Manchester NH...another well thought out plan!
It's been said here and elsewhere before but I think it bears repeating--RAISE THE GAS TAX!!! More tolls, especially at our borders is not the answer. This administration, and previous ones, are so concerned about getting reelected that they won't even consider raising our paltry gas tax. This, despite it being low by comparison to other states and being the most fair distribution of financial burden associated with driving. Their smugness and lack of vision amazes and angers me.
The governor should ask his Chief Counsel to review the proposal because it sounds as if this proposal could be found unconstitutional by the federal courts if challenged. It violates something known as the "dormant Commerce Clause" by placing a burden on out-of-state traffic that is not present for in-state motorists. In effect, Massachusetts would be penalizing out-of-state vendors with a charge not levied on companies who only do business within the state. Because the power to effect interstate commerce is given to the Congress by the Constitution, the state of Massachusetts may not impose its own regulations.
About time.....!!! Rt. 495 for an example is a free ride for out of state truckers and holiday travelers. Rt. 93 and 95 is a free ride for people traveling in from NH, RI or CT. I do not have to pay tolls were I live and it is very sad to see the people that live in MA "Boston area" getting screwed! I suggested this to the state years ago and I hope they put them up tomorrow. They do not need anything fancy and I am sure they can install modular units and be up in running within months. Let's get some extra revenue in to our state, take some of the load off of the people that live here and then capture revenue from out of staters that use or roads
Only a Democrat would charge admission to a socialist theme park like Massachusetts.
Marvelous! Let's start a border war. New hampshire can put up their toll booths and so can Rhode Island and Vermont. Then they can ALL hire toll collectors at $70,000/year. Good thinking Deval
"What I would love to see is ... border tolls at all of the interstate entrances, maybe Route 3 as well. In other words, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York. If we did that right, it would be possible to remove all of the tolls inside of the Commonwealth."
Remove all tolls in the Commonwealth--yeah--likes that's gonna really happen. After they put in border tolls you know they would find a reason to keep the pike tolls in place. Along the same lines as the "temporary" tax.
Stephen King might have inspiration for a horror movie here. The Pike from the Beyond--you can never kill it and it will never leave :) >insert scary music<
Does this not fly against the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution on the prohibition of tariffs between the States?
I hope Patrick doesn't think he can put tollbooths on every highway entering Mass. and not have the favor returned (hello from Connecticut).
Moving deck chairs around on the sinking ship won't solve anyone's problems.
Massachusetts should pay for its own highways.
Sounds like big brother wanting to control our movements...
I live near the RI Line near 95 and 295 this is so puzzling to me.
Instead of taxing the people that drive to Massachusetts, please look at two things: 1) they will usually be going there to spend more money in shopping or attending an event, so think of that. and 2) get your state spending in line. quit taxing everything that moves.
Great! Thanks MA & NH. I moved home with my parents just over four years ago to Windham from MA due to a long standing illness. But I still work in Cambridge, I have actively looked for a job in NH..no luck. I got sick while in college and been sick ever since and have just enough energy to get back and forth to work ...need health ins. Now both MA & NH want to put tolls at the border..great this will make the nasty Rt 93 commute even worse! Shame on NH for not having enough industry to provide decent jobs to it's residents and shame on MA for it's mismanagement of money!
Dear Gov.
Please, no more unnecessary stops and traffic jams on the interstates. If you must, just increase the gas tax.
Only if most of the toolbooths are Fastlane at state lines.
That sounds illegal and will eventually be challenged in court. But more than anything it would probably effect citizens who live in one state and travel to another for business. They would circumvent the toll by using local roads. Sounds like a desperate idea.
Good plan.
In retaliation, I suggest that all other states tax every Massachusetts citizen $1000 for every entry into any of their states. In addition, I suggest that surrounding states erect barriers on all roads leading from Massachusetts, denying egress of anyone from the state by road.
Then, we can keep these rentseeking socialists contained.
Wow, a Democrat who wants to raise taxes. Well, I can't think of a state more deserving of it. Can't wait for MA to tank.
Arent the interstate highways PAID for by federal(tax) funda and now the state wants to profit again off my tax dollar... greedy and inappropriate.
"state's financially strapped transportation agencies." ???
Maybe if they didn't waste millions on the Big Dig, there would be some money left over in the state for transportation.
Good. NH charges us $1.50 for the short section of I-95 just to go to Maine. NY charges us to enter their state. Why shouldn't we return the favor by charging them to come to ours?
The governor needs to come up with a better plan! Not everyone works or lives in Boston. What about people that live and work on the border of these states. People do business and travel over state lines everyday... Its a shame that the Governor thinks that people that live on the border of these states should pay for all the downfalls in the Boston area. Tolls in the area that the shortfall is should be where you look to gain the state's money back. Not miles away where people don't even go into Boston. The governor is listening to much to his friend the President about everyone doing their part. I live in one of these MA border towns and do my part everyday. My family pays our bills on time, work hard each day and are good citizens. Why should we have to take on these tolls because the governor is afraid of raising tolls where he SHOULD.....
We need to add border tolls, but we cannot afford to remove current tolling levels or locations...anything less is short-sighted pandering. We as a Commonwealth still have enormous obligations to infrstructure that transcend local interests. There needs to be a blend of revenue sources, so that the burden is not placed on one method, spread more evenly according to usage and that there are hedges against events...gas prices will NOT remain this low for long. We need: Current tolls maintained, more toll locations (@borders), modest gas tax of 8-cents per gallon AND a fee (approx. $0.0050/mile) for annual vehicle-miles-traveled to be measured and collected at time of vehicle sticker inspection by RMV. Anything short of this is deception and unfair to our common system and obligation to repair/maintain/improve "quality of life", safe access and economic development.
No problem, would like to see tolls for New Yorkers entering Connecticut...not a few cents, more like $5, like their tolls. Too many New Yorkers ruining CT.
Great idea while where at it put tolls at the Bourne and Sagamore bridges just for people with out of state plates and the Kennedys. Then we can stop the states employment tax. Before you no it Mass will be a tax free state. Boy I didn't no Deval was for change oh by the way if we get the three casinos in we citizens could get a yearly check just like Alaska.Oh we can see Marthas Vineyard from the mainland we could put a toll at the ferry. Oh just put tolls everywhere a dollar here a dollar there you no what I mean.
Not a bad idea. NH has been sticking it to Mass drivers for years by putting tolls just over the Mass boarders.
I like the fact that he's being proactive.. but I shudder at the thought of traffic backing up between the Hampton (NH) tolls and a proposed Salisbury toll.. absolute gridlock...
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh no, no, no, no. Tolls are a disaster. They completely screw up traffic and waste everyone's time. Never mind adding more people to the state payroll.
As much as I dislike it, a gas tax seems to be a more fair idea since it is proportional to the amount a person drives on the road.
Toll booths are a highly inefficient way of collecting taxes. Delays in travel, increased congestion and pollution are all bad consequences of such an outdated taxing method. Horrible idea!
I can't wait to sit in the traffic thanks to these tolls! I'm sure the surrounding towns on the borders will just love the increased traffic they will see too. And just think of what that traffic will do for the properties values. MA rules!
what is wrong with these jerk politicians. TAX TAX TOLL TOLL FEE FEE
RAISING THE GAS TAX IS ABSURD. IF YOU USE THE BIG DIG THAN PAY YOUR WAY!!!! I DON'T LIVE OR DRIVE IN BOSTON, WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT!!! THAT PROJECT WAS A WASTE SINCE DAY ONE!!!!!!! RAISE THE TOLL'S.LET THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT PAY FOR IT!
Put the northern toll as close as possible to the Hampton, NH toll, and the Western Mass toll right next to the NY toll.
This is the worst idea ever, and Deval Patrick and his "well salaried friends" have some pretty stupid ideas. Thanks Deval, this was once a great state, but you are ruining it, one idea at a time.
Don't I remember a Revolutionary War slogan, "No Taxation Without Representation?" Let's tax the people who don't have a vote. If we really want to enhance revenue lets raise all taxes on people coming into the state - triple the hotel room tax, the car rental tax, the passenger tax at Logan Airport, erect a toll booth on the tunnels that only catches the Logan Traffic, Let see, how else can we get people who don't have a vote. Tax seasonal rentals on the Cape and in the Bershires (but only on out-of-staters), tourist activities around the state. If we raise those taxes enough then maybe we can reduce taxes on the people who really benefit from them - the citizens of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I'll vote for him - he didn't raise my taxes.
The main reason we are in this mess is that the government has done its best, and it's succeeded, to conceal what the cost of government really is. It has done this by creating taxes of varying rates on so many different things in so many different ways that its no longer can comprehendible. If we really understood, it would be the end of huge government budgets. You may think that the amount you pay in taxes ends with the your tax return, your property taxes and the sales tax but every thing you buy has already been taxed at the corporate or business level too and adds to the cost of the product and service.
I've always believed that taxes should be voted on and paid for by the voters. By that I mean people who are eligible to vote and not just those who actually register and vote. Corporations should not be taxed. They don't vote; nor should they be allowed to contribute to political campaigns. Eligible voters should be the only ones to pay taxes and contribute to the political process. POWER TO THE PEOPLE.
Tax the poor, feed the rich
One thing NH should then do is institute a special toll rate for visitors from MA that is much higher than what anyone else pays. The EZ Pass system makes that possible and the collectors at the booths could enforce it too. Plus, this now means we NH state residents who work in MA will pay more MA state taxes than will MA residents and yet get no services. That's very fair. Since I will now be paying more MA state taxes than any MA resident, I should be eligible for full MA state services just like the residents.
Great idea. People that live over the border to avoid paying property taxes should pay to commute and work here, especially since there's so many of them on the morning commute. Rt 93 South looks like a NH parking lot every weekday morning, there's so many NH plates, and I pay more in MA property taxes than they'd pay in decades of commuting.
nononono, get RID of the Tolls. Raise the Gas Tax. Get RID of the Turnpike Authority. This makes sense on so many levels. I dont get it. I need to move out of this socialist state. Its not what it was growing up. I am disgusted.
This is a form of communism...
This is just plain dumb.... to charge everyone who lives out of state, who works in Mass., pays Mass. taxes. travelers would just bypass Mass. go through New York, or find a non-Interstate route. Does he plan to set up Mass passports or visas? Dis it ever occur to him that VT, NH, NY and ME would reciprocate? Just plain stupid.
and then he gave himself and sal a big 2 million dollar bonus and picked out a new caddie for 09. way to go deval...beacon hill is great!
To buccaneer81- BEAUTIFUL!!!
Only a Democrat would charge admission to a socialist theme park like Massachusetts. LOL!!
Why is it that states like Texas can thrive with low taxes and minimal regulations? Ever wonder why business is fleeing the northeast to low tax states?
Here's a radical proposal - let's make Massachusetts more business friendly! More business and more jobs equals more tax revenues.
At the present rate of driving businesses and residents out of Massachusetts we will continue squeezing every drop out of an ever decreasing pie.
Look, let's muster up a little tiny ounce of human strength here, Patrick. After all, without it, one is almost an animal. The problem is NOT REVENUES- it's EXPENSES, stupid! You know it; I know it; the public knows it. How long will this game of charades go on for?
You spend too much; you take care of your friends; you don't apply the same rules to yourself that are aimed at us. You're attitude is: Everybody is doing it; I'm going to do it, as well.
Essentially, you're attempting to have us all look in the direction of revenues, when the problem has always been expenses. (Materialism leads to decadence- idiot!)
You're just putting money in Amazon's pocket by setting up tolls in Attleboro, Swansea, Leyden, North Adams, and the like. Obviously, you want to lock us down, because nobody is going to come into MA if you start taxing their movements like this. In fact, people will leave.
THANK YOU GOV PATRICK, IT'S, OK- WE'LL ALL PAY! The people of MA really need to correct this problem. This idiot has to go.
It is such a bad idea in all respects: Tolls cause bottlenecks, waste precious time and gas, and are an archaic way to impose a tax!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please don't increase any taxes or tolls on your citizens. All that does is make the sons of bitches move South. God knows we have enough of them here now.
Don't give me the usual shit about how much your presence has benefitted the South. It just isn't true. You move here an immediately start telling us how you did it up North. We really don't give a shit how you used to do it. Go back if it was so damn great.
Great idea, borderjumper, and while you're at it deduct the taxes I pay on my NH vacation home from your school budget.
In fact, deduct ALL the taxes paid by MA residents who also own in NH, and you can hold a bake sale for books and a fire department.
Don't forget a law to make it illegal to use local roads "for the purpose of evading a toll." That way the police can stop and question you at any time. Probably catch a lot of drug smugglers that way.
YES! I am tired of being in traffic behind all of the NH Plates...
Why not a tax on pornography?
Instead of stroking we could be stoking the economy of
the Commonwealth.
Ridiculous, instead of solving the actual problem (mismanagement of the transportation authority in Mass) we are just going to further perpetuate this BS. While I partially agree with State tolls, the cons far out weigh the pros. The increase in traffic alone will be ridiculous. Plus how hard is it going to be for the locals to circumvent the tolls by using local access roads. I currently do it everyday in between West Newton and 128. I always get off at Rt. 16 and take the back roads, adds 5 mins to my commute but saves me $2.50 a day (you do the math).
Increasing the gas tax may sound great now with gas right below $2 a gallon, but what will happen if gas climbs back above $3 ? Bet their opponents will use that heavily against them come election time.
In all honesty, this state is going to have to come up with a long term solution to this problem, anything else is just going to be a bandaid until this problem really gets out of hand.
#43 - I've been advocating that idea for some time!
Please don't increase any taxes or tolls on your citizens. All that does is make the sons of bitches move South. God knows we have enough of them here now.
Don't give me the usual shit about how much your presence has benefitted the South. It just isn't true. You move here an immediately start telling us how you did it up North. We really don't give a shit how you used to do it. Go back if it was so damn great.
It's bad enough I have to pay a 5% income tax for a state I don't live in, have absolutely no say in how it is used, get absolutely no benefits (and don't give this "you got roads", or "we give you a job" crap). My employer provides me a job, MASS has nothing to do with it. And the roads are largely subsidized by the Federal Government, which I pay taxes to also.
To top it off, NH gives MASS residents tax free shopping, which they take full advantage of. Now Deval wants another way to soak us. Well, I guess he can, since I have no say in the matter.
I go back and forth on this one. I live in a MA town right on the border to NH. I would hate to see the increase in traffic on our side streets to avoid these proposed tolls. But, I get so freaking annoyed everyday with NH drivers on 93. I would love to tax the heck out of them for using our roads....It is no different than paying the tax to use the 2 mile stretch of 95 between MA and ME that NH puts on us. Stop complaining about paying MA state taxes cause you work here but not reaping the benefits because you live in NH. THEN DON'T WORK IN MA! You made that choice and you knew you'd have to pay taxes all along....It reminds me of a guy I used to work with who was from France but now lived here but all he ever did was complain about the US. Well, then go back to France!!
This guy is truly sick...where did you dig him up? Good grief.
This is fabulous. Let's see who in their right mind is going to drive in from another state, get whacked at the tolls, then get whacked again when they find out their hotel and meal tax has risen as well. Way to go Gov!
Of course like any other good tax/fee hike....."It's for the children"!
Why not just do what Oregon suggested and track each car and have you pay by the mile? Welcome to the police state, totalitarian Orwellian society.
Lock and Load..
I never understood why MA DOESN'T have a toll on its north/south highways. Delaware charges a toll on I-95 and Maryland has a toll on northbound I-95 just before the border to Delaware. New Jersey has the turnpike; New Hampshire has it's toll on I-93....
I would rather pay a toll on I-93/95 then pay $7.00 at the Ted Williams tunnel.
When this happens I will never travel to taxachusetts again or spend my hard earned dollars there again, I spend thousands every year in Ma. never again
Great, and every non-interstate road within 10 miles of the border will be jammed 24/7. Wrong answer, Deval. You need to work harder and smarter. That's what you were elected for.
Having people who live west of Boston pay tolls on the Mass Pike to pay for the Big Dig that benefits people driving into Boston from the North and the South is totally unfair. The people who benefit from that road should pay for it , which includes people who live out of state. Stop sticking it to the people who live in Metrowest and Worcester County!
To those of you who voted against eliminating the state income tax and slashing state government by 40%:
Congratulations -- you're getting the government you deserve. Patrick et al will find a million new ways to raise money during tough times, eliminate none of them when times are better, and make an already bloated state government bigger.
AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL. Does Deval really want cars idling at every boarder crossing of the Commonwealth? Such a stupid idea. This guy continues to throw any idea out there to see if anyone bites. Someone tell him that he needs a bigger boat.
I love it,
years ago Mass used to send staties to the NH liquor store parking lots and copy the plates of Mass cars. Then upon crossing the border they would arrest the offender for interstate transport of alcohol. When the NH governor heard this
HE then had HIS staties arrest the Mass staties for trespassing!!!
Because we cannot manage our own affairs (regulation and budgets) lets just fleece everyone else. The republicrats love to spend YOUR money. If you are one of em, please don't hesitate to part with your money but STAY AWAY FROM MINE!!!
Wow, they want to charge us a monthly fee for the transponders AND for driving into the state for work. Deval I have been a supporter of yours but if this passes my support for you is over! Due to family circumstances I have had to move to NH recently. Working in MA means I already have to pay income tax then I have to pay higher real estate tax in NH. Not a good time to look for a new job so I am potentially going to get screwed over 3 different ways? Lovely. The traffic going South is brutal and painful enough without toll booths to add to the jams and pollution. What you are doing will cause NH folks to work up north once the economy improves and then the MA economy will suffer. MA already loses population every year. Don't add to the problem Deval! Do what the rest of us are doing in tough economic times... cut spending and don't kick hardworking folks when we are already down.
Place a toll booth on the Southeast Expressway into Boston for the South Shore riders that have been getting a free ride for years!
Set up another toll booth on Ashburton street for all Politicians in the State House who have been getting a free ride for years!
Another absurd idea from appears to be an increasingly absurd Governor. The only way out and the most straightfoward, honest way is to simply raise the gasoline tax and remove ALL tolls west of 128 on the Pike. End of Story!
Are people in the Commonwealth so parochial that they are not aware that Connecticut did just that over 20 years ago? You never drove on I-95 or the Merritt Parkway and had to stop every 15 miles and pay a toll? and now suddenly never have to pay? Come on...get a life..this has been done in Mass. has to do it now!
Perhaps this will provide the commonweath with enough money to unlock the doors to the crapper at a state rest area on thanksgiving.
Thank you for blockading Northern New England
Government spending can never be cut. It has ruined the USA.
Ugh. Just leave Vermont out of this. We aren't bothering anybody.
Really bright idea Deval.........the traffic on 93 in norhern Mass is a nightmare as it is. So when is he up for re-election?? Remember his name as you sit in traffic for hours. It is only a 3 lane highway in that area. It is so bad that they had to open up the breakdown lane to try and lessen the traffic. Smooth move Patrick. I'll certainly remember you at election time and I'll make sure everyone around me remembers your plan. Maybe you can cut back on some of you and your staffs perks. Didn't you lease that fancy car and redecorate your office when you got in. to office? See ya on the unemployment line...
No more tolls! Cut the waste!
www.stopthepikehike.org
It's about time! You use the roads you pay for their upkeep. I travel Route 93 South every morning and there must be thousands of NH plates coming in to work and take jobs from Massachusetts residents. If they don't like it they can certainly go "Live Free or Die" in NH! Good luck finding a high paying job up there!
I thought Dems tree-hugging nutjobs like Deval LOVE the enviroment... they want to reduce "carbon footprint"... but adding more toll booths along the borders will add more car idling slowing down or idling in line waiting to pay the toll. Al Gore is shaking his fists in anger....
great idea - lets ruin the tourism industry next....great idea....
NH is on the verge of finishing up a huge highway project at exit 1 on 93 north and south. If MA puts in a toll southbound that would burden the traffic coming into the state going to Boston. Conversely, that would affect northbound leaving the state during rush hour in the evening. So, all this work would be for nothing.I imagine the project was designed to alleviate this problem. Local neighborhoods already have a traffic volume problem on the MA/NH border due to volume and construction. Tolls would compound the problem. All that work, in vain. My vote is for casinos!!
Wow - Winter went by so fast! I can't believe it's April 1st.
While he's at it why doesn't he have the Commonwealth start printing its own currency.
When is Deval gonna give a pink slip to his next door neighbor - the one he gave a state hack job to for 150K per year?
I am a metrowest resident who uses the Mass Pike to drive into Boston. I think it is a great idea to place tolls at the state borders. This will help reduce or eliminate the tolls on the Pike. Those who oppose this idea should perhaps be willing to consider tolls on I-93, I-95/128, Route 3 etc..
Why do metrowest residents have to keep paying tolls while everyone else has been getting breaks?
Ever hear of tariffs. Bad idea. Bad for business. Bad for citizens. Bad for tourism.
Rather than tolls to enter the state, why not have tolls on our Interstate Highways. Ct, Va., N.Y. & N.J. do it & probably many others
I'm not paying. Who will? If you are going to charge money, you'll have to have something worth paying for, right? Its a cold, bleak, grey, tundra with no jobs . How much is he planning on charging? Will I be able to make some quick cash helping people evade this tariff?
brilliant idea....and please tell me that the commuters from these states aren't going to try to divert onto the secondary routes into MA every day to try avoid the tolls....toll roads should be a thing of the past, grow a pair and just raise the gas tax...
I agree, tolls are a disaster, and extremely dangerous and waste fuel.
Is this how creative we can be?
What about a mandatory tax cut to force them to stop spending...oh yah that's right....the people of this state were swayed by unions and political hacks and the solution (question 1) went down to defeat...isn't this a great state?
sure add another hour onto the already awful commute Patrick !! and crowd the local streets with road rage !!! damn Democrats ! ask obama for the$$$ he spent 140 million on a DC cookout the other day !!!
Dumb idea. They will lose more money from lost business transactions than they gain from constructing more toll booths, paying tolltakers and other staff. All this does is discourage people from coming to the state.
Plus, if you consider the extra contribution to global warming from all those cars waiting in line to pay tolls, then we are just bringing Global Warming Armageddon a few days earlier.
Deval is just playing a shell game. He's raising the diversion of the border tolls,he'll do something more benign(gas tax, raise quickly before prices rise and window closes.)He will keep the border toll as his next trick( if he makes it to another term,doubt it).
Seems that Mass. looks all other places but their dysfunctional organization/politicians,which should be revamped. Mass has always taken from its cash-cow citizens. I lived there for 28 years,it's never stopped.
Maybe when he gets his new caddie, he can do without the spinners. Does he really think everyone is as stupid as he is. It reminds me of the movie blazing saddles when they st up a toll booth in the desert.. People will go around and clog up the secondary roads.
Great idea - all the big mouth NH residents who shoot their mouths off here about paying taxes in MA - who made you work here? And no, they are not going to leave and get jobs in NH, there isn't enough industry in NH.
They like to call us Massholes, let's live up to the name, tax their arses off.
Stupid idea! First of all for those (all of us) who have to pay for gas, we are being taxed on a tax and will waste more on the lines waiting to pay a toll. Many of us have paid taxes for the 'Big Dig' and I have only used it three or four times since its been built. What will the state collect after th costs of building toll booths and paying labor to collect tolls?
Aloowing gaming would solve the problem and a lot more, such as more and better jobs. Deval go back to the three casino plan. At least you were winning with the public.
Yeah more tolls so maybe I can get a 75k a year job to collecting tolls. Patrick please go to Washington so we can have a do-over for Governor
These politicians just don't get it. You got to put the toll booths on the OUTBOUND lanes.
Let 'em into the state for free. Once you get them in and they get a chance to look around, they'll pay ANYTHING to get out.
What stowe said (post 29) is what the state will do. Do you think the state will willingly give up a revenue source? All I've heard from Deval and his friends at the Globe is "more taxes". How about doing what the rest of us working stiffs are doing and cut wasteful spending. Tolls are the most inefficient way to raise money. Raise the gas tax, but remove the tolls that were supposed to be removed 20 years ago. If you need to pay for the Big Dig put a toll in Somerville going southbound and Dorchester going northbound so the people who use the Big Pig pay for it.
Increasing the gas tax is the fair way to go.
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont , and Rhode Island should erase their borders and become a solid New England State, then succeed from the union
I would only have the tolls by the NY border, and the4 NH border since they have them on their side of the border. NH puts or has everything on their side of the border to suck up MAss Dollars. They have for example :
fireworks stores that NH residents are not allowed to buy from.
Liquor stores, Dog tracks, Shopping malls,
and a nuclear power plant that MASS border communities had no say in,
and ridiculous real estate taxes on summer homes that only need police and fire protection . Bjut they mock the Massachusetts tax burden.
Da
Tolls should only built if Massachusetts is prepared to build an infrastructure that will minimize gridlock. Plenty of lanes are required so bridges and borders may not be the best spots for tolls. Tolls should be located in strategic places where alternate routes are few or far between. Tolls should not be limited to the borders. In New York City, tolls actually help keep traffic moving once cars are actually in the city.
Governor Deval Patrick's idea to place tolls at the borders will work if he creates high speed toll lanes modeled after the ones on the New Jersey Turnpike and the Atlantic City Expressway. EZ Pass should be accepted at all lanes. The tolls for EZ Pass holders should be discounted 50% for all drivers regardless of home state when they pass through the tolls when traffic conditions are light and 15% when traffic conditions are heavy. Drivers should be given a generous incentive to get an EZ Pass and drive during off-peak hours.
In Virginia, they are building HOT Lanes. These new lanes are an option for drivers who prefer to pay to avoid traffic congestion. Drivers who choose not to pay can drive for free on the existing lanes. The toll on the HOT Lanes varies depending on traffic conditions. Vehicles with three occupants or more can travel in the HOT lanes for free.
Governor Patrick should allow folks who don't have credit cards to get an EZ Pass by prepaying their account. I understand that some cabbies in Boston don't want to get an EZ Pass because they don't use credit cards. I imagine there are many folks who are wary of using credit cards due to the criminal attacks against computer systems that hold credit card data. EZ Pass needs to expand their payment options.
Do it right or don't do it at all.
Can you say one-term governor?
On my way to go skiing in north conway i go through 3 tolls on the way there and the way back: All in new hampshire. That's six tolls in one trip NH collects on, Massachusetts has none.
Almost all other states do it (new jersey anyone?), why shouldn't massachusetts? It's a good idea.
So if someone goes to Foxwoods and loses all his money, he can't come home.
For the last time, it's the STATE LINE, not the border. Check your AP manuals, people. Embarrassing.
I think it would be a good idea for the first year the governor pay for everyone to go through these tolls he wants to put in place and see what he thinks about it.
How about this...raise the gas tax AND put toll booths on every entrance in the state. All those thousands of idling cars at the toll booths would be burning all that extra gas and would have to refill quicker...and pay more gas tax. I should work for state government...
Hey, how about a toll at all arriving gates at Logan...pay the toll or get back on the plane. Amtrack stations, yacht clubs...I'm getting downright giddy with the possibilities...
Unless you're coming here illegally...then we'll give you a free pass, get you stateaid, let you drive without a license, and educate your kids. Alice in Wonderland would get get downright confused here.
Mick you are completely ignorant on the subject of Real Estate tax. New Hampshire Real Estate tax is much higher than MA Real Estate tax. You are not always a victim... except of ignorance
As with doing away with police details, I agree with Gov. Patrick in theory, but know that in practice it will never happen. I live in North Attleboro and Rte.95 is clogged with RI plates all day and night. That's tons of revenue being lost. Go for it, Deval!
And while you're at it, legalize casino gambling. Stop sending all that cash to CT!!!!
Unbelievable! We (those of us who work in MA) already pay taxes to support the infrastructure.... now we get to pay twice? I have no problem contributing to the roads, but I'm paying the same taxes as the MA residents & PD wants me to pay more? Wow! I don't even get to vote for the people who make these decisions...
Does anyoe know what roads would have a toll on the RI border ?
There is 95, 295, 195, 146 and 24 that are the major roads that cross the border
Which one(s) are we talking about ?
Let me get this straight. Being a resident of Massachusetts who works in New Hampshire, I'm already the only one who gets a chunk taken out of his paycheck for state income tax. So, not only do I have to have pay the commonwealth weekly out of the money I've worked hard to earn (and have never seen a return on), but I'd also have to PAY to drive to work to MAKE that money?! Deval: Are you serious?
All the work in NE is in Massachussetts. In the morning, all the highways are full going into the metro Boston area (personally driven all of these). Tolls create traffic and delays. It sounds like someone took a greedy helicopter ride.
Look, trucking companies are required to file gas tax according to the miles driven through any state. Commuters pay mass income tax at their mass job (esp. NH residents). And, the interstates are significantly federally funded.
Governor, please come up with a better idea- like increasing the gas tax.
I travel route 3 toward New Hampshire to work everyday. The majority of cars that travel on this road do have New Hampshire tags. We paid the way to make their travel on Mass roads easier. Put up the tolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, sounds good. Route 5 runs right next to 91 on the north side, route 28 runs right next to 93, route 1 runs right next to 95, route 98 runs very near 84, route 5 (again) runs next to 91 on the south side. Look for excessive traffic on the alternate roads while the shiny new toll booths on the interstates have toll takers falling asleep waiting for suckers, uh, customers.
OK, even with many vehicles staying on the interstates, the idea of stopping all of them so they can sit there with engines idling, getting 0 miles per gallon, polluting the air, wasting everyone's time, is so irresponsible as to be criminal.
Dear Governor Patrick, please retract this imbecilic idea. You are a smart man. Stop with the hare-brained schemes. You need revenue? Raise the gas tax.
Thank you.
Are you peopling nuts? They do not need to take anymore money from taxpayers. They need to act like the families they are supposed to represent. When you are out of money you need to cut back. Start by cutting welfare, section 8 and food stamps. Great program when we can afford it, but sorry the well is dry. Time for them to start contributing and being useful parts of the population. Start cutting there before taking more from me and putting me on welfare.
Slash spending instead of raising tolls. Reduce state employment by 50 percent. The biggest group of govt. dependent people are the people working for the govt., like the toll collectors.