STATE CAPITOL BRIEFS – TUESDAY, DEC. 2, 2008
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
LAWMAKERS ASK FOR TOBIN TOLL FREEZE
A bipartisan group of 16 legislators is asking Massport to delay toll increases on the Maurice J. Tobin Memorial Bridge until after a “comprehensive reform plan” for the state’s transportation bureaucracy is in place. The coalition of lawmakers, mostly from districts north of Boston, followed up on requests from Metrowest lawmakers to freeze Turnpike tolls with a Tuesday letter to Massport CEO Thomas Kinton. “Given that both the Legislature and Governor Patrick are firmly committed to producing a comprehensive reform plan early in next year’s legislative session, we respectfully request that you and your Board of Directors refrain from enacting any tolls increases until such legislation is debated and adopted,” wrote the group. “To do so otherwise, would be an affront to the toll-payers who rely on this portion of our transportation network to travel to work, school and our vast medical network.” The group included 7 senators, including Senate Majority Leader Frederick Berry and Transportation Committee co-chair Steven Baddour, and nine House members, including Minority Leader Bradley Jones. Also Tuesday, Rep. David Linsky's bill to eliminate certain tolls and raise the gas tax was referred by the House to the Revenue Committee and Rep. Steven Walsh's bill calling for a special commission to investigate toll equity was sent by the House to the Transportation Committee. A Massport spokeswoman declined to respond immediately.
