Massachusetts state transportation officials announced Aug. 19 that plans to toll I-93 have been dropped, which leaves Pike drivers to pay for any toll hikes required to pay off the Big Dig.
“They are off the table and will not be advanced,” said Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen spokesman Adam Hurtubise.
Pike board member Mary Connaughton said the announcement ruins the plan to make toll payments equitable throughout the state.
“I just don’t know how you can consider toll equity without having I-93 tolls on the table,” Connaughton said. “I guess the political heat just got too hot.”
After payments for the Big Dig forced Pike tolls to increase, board members voted to create a panel to investigate how to even out toll payments to prevent East-West drivers from paying the brunt.
As part of that study, Cohen requested that the Pike count the number of cars using the Leonard Zakim Bridge and other arteries in Boston, with the intention of evaluating how much money the state could make by putting tolls there and whether the current system of tolls is fair.
But Pike spokesman Mac Daniel said the study was never conducted because the agency already had the traffic counts. Officials dismissed the idea of putting up tolls on I-93 before studying how much the state would take from potential tolls there.
Sen. Steven Baddour (D-Methuen), who has consistently argued against tolls on I-93, said he’s glad Cohen has dropped the plan.
“I’m happy he’s seen the light,” Baddour said.
