MA Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation Proposes New Tolls (Boston: houses, neighborhood)

[Amontillado]

What I saw was "Bill S.2060 would "study and report on the feasibility of establishing all-electric tolling along state and interstate highways of the Commonwealth that are not currently subject to a toll."


That potentially seems to cover the interstates, and every state highway too. Better get used to those scanning gantries, because there's going to be one on every block.

[bugelrex]

Longer term, as consumers move towards electric cars the current gas tax is not going to cover maintaining the roads. Its inevitable that the government will move to a 'per-mile' tax for electric cars.

would it be fair to require a "mile tax" (based on odometer each year) on electric cars each year when you register your tags?

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by bugelrex

would it be fair to require a "mile tax" (based on odometer each year) on electric cars each year when you register your tags?

Not if it would be shown to slow down any of the state's climate goals surrounding transportation. Way easier to just make it the same for everyone. The infrastructure is already there as it can be counted during an annual inspection. Out of state drivers would just get tolled at an out of state rate

[GeePee]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

The right way to fund this is a business-paid commuter tax. Every day an employee commutes, you pay the daily tax. If they telecommute, you don't pay the tax. If you pick a location where employees have to car commute, you pay more than if employees can get there by public transportation.

I actually like this idea. Tax these businesses we lure by the size of their workforce driving everyday. If you are a company that advertises an enjoyable commute to downtown Boston, then be part of that solution.
Since 1998 we have had a 3% increase on gas tax and over 300% increase on MBTA fare. What message is that sending?

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by GeePee

Since 1998 we have had a 3% increase on gas tax and over 300% increase on MBTA fare. What message is that sending?

Drive more.

[bugelrex]

Originally Posted by GeePee

Since 1998 we have had a 3% increase on gas tax and over 300% increase on MBTA fare. What message is that sending?

Since the MBTA hasn't improved much since 1998, the message being sent is "suckers!". Did the extra money only go towards pensions and healthcare???

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by bugelrex

Since the MBTA hasn't improved much since 1998, the message being sent is "suckers!". Did the extra money only go towards pensions and healthcare???

3% is about one year of inflation, not 20. There is no extra money. There was a huge cut in real dollars from the fares. They've also lost hundreds of positions. No money. They're short in both operating costs and capital costs.


You're not going to improve an ancient system like that giving it less money.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Drive more.

Yup. And that message has been received.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Yup. And that message has been received.

Yup.

Throw tolls on the highway's that I used to commute, and i'll just take the backroads. I imagine many others would do the same.

So basically tolling wouldn't reduce congestion, it would just move it into the neighborhoods.

[bugelrex]

Didn't france try to reduce cars by increasing the gas tax?

The yellow vest protests by the folks in the outer suburbs and rural areas...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_vests_movement