Mass Pike board to consider toll increases tomorrow

Board members say they expect to vote on toll increases and a budget for the Massachusetts Turnpike at a meeting tomorrow. The Turnpike has been operating without a formal budget or spending authority since the beginning of the month. Last month's board meeting was postponed at the behest of chairman Bernard Cohen who is keeping his proposals until the meeting tomorrow.

This morning in the Boston Globe op-ed page Governor Deval Patrick said toll increases are inevitable. The Turnpike is very close to defaulting on debt service covenants.

They will likely be around 25% to generate another $60m to $70m on the present tolls of $270m. All tolls will likely be affected - the harbor tunnels, the metropolitan Boston segment and the rural segment. Some board members favor reinstating car tolls on the ticket segment Exit 1 to Exit 6 where only trucks presently pay tolls.

TOLLROADSnews 2008-11-13