Poll gauges Mass. residents' interest in gas tax reform, congestion pricing
Photo | Timothy Doyle
A gas pump in Whitinsville
About half of Massachusetts residents backed phasing out the state's gasoline tax and instead expanding roadway tolling or imposing fees based on mileage, according to a new poll that took the temperature on a range of transportation-related ideas.
Fifty-one percent of respondents said they would somewhat or strongly support replacing the gas tax with a "fee based on how much people drive, whether they drive a gas car or an electric car," a MassINC Polling Group survey published Wednesday found. Thirty-one percent opposed the idea, and 18% said they do not know.
Pollsters found a nearly identical split for eliminating the gas tax and instead deploying "tolls on more Massachusetts roads": 52% support, 32% opposition and 16% who said they did not know.
Massachusetts relies on revenue from the 24-cents-per-gallon gas tax to fund its transportation investments, but experts argue that funding from that source will decline as vehicles become more efficient or as drivers shift to electric vehicles.
Gas tax revenues increased from $603 million in fiscal 2023 to $615 million in fiscal 2024, according to the Department of Revenue's "blue book" report.
The MassINC poll conducted on behalf of advocacy group Transportation for Massachusetts also found a plurality of Bay Staters are open to at least studying congestion pricing, a practice of charging motorists higher fees at certain times and in certain locations to disincentivize driving when traffic is at its worst.
In their question to respondents, pollsters referenced the start of congestion pricing in New York City and said early reports indicate "the fee has led to 1 million fewer cars and 10-30% less traffic on the bridges and tunnels into Manhattan." They also noted President Donald Trump wants to cancel the program.
Asked if Massachusetts should study the use of congestion pricing in and around Boston, 48% said yes and 35% said no.
MassINC surveyed 702 Massachusetts residents between Feb. 21 and Feb. 25. The poll's margin of error is 4 percentage points.
Transportation for Mass. supports legislation that would overhaul the Metropolitan Highway System and its tolls (S 2353) and bills that would push for reductions in how many miles Bay Staters travel in motor vehicles (S 2246 / H 3726).
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