Reader Reaction: Toll Editorial Baffling
Dear Editor,
I've just finished reading your most recent editorial on the Governor's proposed elimination of the Turnpike Authority and increased tolls inside Route 128. I find your conclusion that this is the more equitable solution baffling.
The toll structure in Massachusetts has never been anything remotely like "equitable". There are millions of citizens in the Commonwealth who never travel using the Pike and therefore have never made this "contribution" to the state's infrastructure. In one of the most inequitable government levies in history, those traveling East-West are now paying for a new tunnel used almost exclusively by those who travel North-South.
You make the point that a $7 toll to enter a major city is becoming the norm. I would agree that some major metropolitan areas have gone to this, although most have geographic advantages to make it feasible (like being on an island!). So, as soon as you are prepared to add $7 tolls to routes 1, 2, 3 and 9 along with Interstates 93 and 95, not to mention all of the service roads which will soon be clogged beyond belief by commuters dodging the increased tolls, I'll go along with your statement that the plan is equitable. For then and only then would all travelers in and out of Boston be contributing.
The toll, as a revenue generating tool, is extremely inefficient compared to a gas tax so it takes more money from taxpayers to accomplish the same things. Revenue from toll collections is siphoned off to fund toll collection infrastructure such as the booths themselves and the equipment to manage the fastlane program needs. Then still more money goes to pay the estimated 441 toll-takers who earn an average salary of $71,000. Then still more tax-payer money is lost paying retirement benefits, health benefits and lest we forget the salaries of the infamous board. All this is after whatever theft goes on prior to the money getting counted (and let's not kid ourselves, there's theft!).
The sad truth is the citizens of Massachusetts have been getting robbed blind by the MTA for decades. It was created with the promise that the toll booths would come down in FIVE YEARS. We should all remember that the next time a politician promises something is temporary - like the income tax increase from 5% to 5.8% which the voters had to hold a referendum to get reduced and still only got our trustworthy politicians to reduce the tax rate to 5.3%. The doors to the MTA should be shuttered tomorrow. All tolls should be removed from ALL roads immediately. Then, if the state can't balance its financial obligations relative to infrastructure a gas tax increase would make sense.
Unlike toll collections, every dollar generated via a gas tax goes straight to infrastructure improvement. There are ZERO collection costs. Every person who drives in the Commonwealth would contribute to the Commonwealth's roads and bridges and tunnels - what could possibly be more equitable than that? A 10 cent/gallon increase to the gas tax equates to $75.00 per year to a Massachusetts driver who gets 20 miles per gallon and travels 15,000 miles per year (drive more, pay more - drive less, pay less). None of us are excited about paying additional taxes in these tough economic times, but $75.00 per driver is a lot more "equitable" than $14 a day roundtrip for one small segment of the population that happens to travel on the Mass Pike while everybody else in the Commonwealth rides for free.
Sincerely,
Mark Chiavelli
Senior Business Advisor
Sunbelt Business Sales & Acquisitions
Worcester
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