Study of tolling more Maine interstates canned
Posted Wed, 2007-10-24 16:59
Maine Turnpike Authority board has canned a study of tolling additional interstates in Maine. They said there was no point to
the study with the state Governor John Baldacci opposed to extra tolls.
The idea for the study came from legislators. The joint transportation committee of the legislature in search of extra money for roads voted Sept 26 twelve to one in favor of allocating $40k for the study to be done by the Turnpike.
They wanted the study to focus on tolls on:
- I-295 which loops off the Turnpike and parallels tolled-I-95 between Scarborough and rejoins it at West Gardiner,
- extending tolls on I-95 north of where they presently end near Augusta
See maps in previous report: http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/3168
Gov Baldacci denounced the idea of more tolls within hours of the committee vote declaring grandly: "I can assure you it will not happen in my term of office (not due to end until 2011)."
The governor has not suggested any alternative funding to tolls. He has merely suggested there may be "economies" in merging the Turnpike into the state DOT. He also joined in criticism of the Turnpike sending four people to the Vienna annual meeting of IBTTA.
TOLLROADSnews 2007-10-24
the study with the state Governor John Baldacci opposed to extra tolls.The idea for the study came from legislators. The joint transportation committee of the legislature in search of extra money for roads voted Sept 26 twelve to one in favor of allocating $40k for the study to be done by the Turnpike.
They wanted the study to focus on tolls on:
- I-295 which loops off the Turnpike and parallels tolled-I-95 between Scarborough and rejoins it at West Gardiner,
- extending tolls on I-95 north of where they presently end near Augusta
See maps in previous report: http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/3168
Gov Baldacci denounced the idea of more tolls within hours of the committee vote declaring grandly: "I can assure you it will not happen in my term of office (not due to end until 2011)."The governor has not suggested any alternative funding to tolls. He has merely suggested there may be "economies" in merging the Turnpike into the state DOT. He also joined in criticism of the Turnpike sending four people to the Vienna annual meeting of IBTTA.
TOLLROADSnews 2007-10-24