Toll hike vs. gas tax a hot debate

LYNN – With a 75-mile daily commute, Melissa Hoey is going to feel the pain if Williams and Sumner tunnel tolls jump to $7 or if the tax on gasoline is hiked, but the sometime car pooler prefers sharing her misery with everyone in the form of a gas tax hike.Exactly how much she will end up paying is a question the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the state Legislature have yet to answer. The board overseeing the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Thursday delayed the vote on a toll hike until February.Turnpike Executive Director Alan LeBovidge told the board Thursday that a $100 million increase is needed to complete critical bridge and tunnel repairs.But board member Michael Angelini called for a $15 million stopgap increase to get through the current fiscal year and allow the Legislature to continue discussion of comprehensive transportation reform.Some lawmakers have suggested that it would be more fair to hike the state gasoline tax than force western commuters to pay higher tolls – while commuters north and south of Boston drive for free.Turnpike Chairman James Aloisi says some immediate toll increase may be needed to prevent the authority from defaulting on its bonds.Legislators like Lynn’s Steven Walsh want a plan in place before North Shore commuters get hit with a doubling in tunnel tolls and an expected hike in Tobin Bridge tolls. Kore Alexis said legislators and Turnpike board members need to consider tough economic times in proposing any type of hike.”Spread it out so one group is not hit hard,” she suggested.The toll hike proposal is aimed at helping the Turnpike cope with $2.2 billion in debt associated with construction of Boston’s Central Artery project.The proposal triggered howls of protests at four recent public hearings, prompting Pike officials to convert a planned final vote on the hike into a general discussion of the subject.Gov. Deval Patrick, members of the Legislature and Turnpike officials have been working on a comprehensive solution to address an array of transportation issues, from crippling debts at the Pike and MBTA, to billions in road and bridge repairs, to changes in the agencies’ lucrative pension programs.The announcement also came the same day the Turnpike released a report showing a decline in Massachusetts Turnpike business last year. Statistics show there were 6.7 million toll collections in 2008, a drop of 3.4 percent from 2007.Nonetheless, the Turnpike Authority collected $22.3 million in tolls last year, an increase of 8.5 percent from a year earlier.That was due to a toll hike instituted last January.Turnpike spokesman Mac Daniel said the change is not aimed at increasing Turnpike traffic, but making it more efficient while also addressing a complaint of cash customers.Of roughly 800 people who responded to a recent Pike survey for cash customers, 75 percent of them said the reason they continued to pay cash tolls was because of the upfront transponder cost.Aloisi announced Wednesday he was eliminating the up-front cost for new Fast Lane transponders but instituting a monthly service charge on all users of the electronic devices that allow them to pay Massachusetts Turnpike tolls without stopping at a booth.Aloisi said effective Feb. 15, those signing up for the Fast Lane program or replacing existing transponders will no longer have to pay a $29.95 product fee. Those signing up for the program in the prior 30 days will also be refunded the cost of their transponders.At the same time, everyone using the transponders will be levied a $6 annual service charge – per device – beginning in June. The charge will apply even to those who previously bought their transponders.The switch could prove to be a revenue boon for the cash-strapped Turnpike. Only about 1,300 people are signing up for the Fast Lane program each month, while there are already 1 million Fast Lane users.They will have to pay $6 million in annual service fees, while, at current levels, the Turnpike will be forgoing onl