The Maine Turnpike Authority has proposed a $26 million toll increase, largely to continue paying down debt associated with a massive widening project on Interstate 95 from several years ago, Director Peter Mills announced Friday.
The breakdown of the proposed changes, which would equal an overall toll increase of 26 percent, is “an intricate calculus,” Mills said, and there are still several options under consideration. The option preferred by the MTA would add $1 to the toll at York, 75 cents at New Gloucester, 75 cents at West Gardiner and 50 cents each at the Wells northbound toll and the Gray southbound toll. The minimum tolls would jump from 50 cents to 60 cents and all others would be unchanged. EZ-Pass users’ mileage rate would increase by an average of 13 cents per mile.
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Mills and other MTA officials plan to host public hearings in Auburn, Portland and Saco in a few weeks to explain the options to the public and get feedback. Changes could take effect by November 1.
“Widening was such a huge project and we are still paying for it,” Mills said in a phone interview on Friday. He said the project was expected to benefit users not only at the time, but in the future and that it’s made a big difference.
“The stretch between Saco and Scarborough is the busiest section by far. It’s jammed southbound in the afternoon and northbound every morning,” he said. “Can you imagine if we hadn’t widened?”
In addition to debt from the project, the proposed toll increase would help pay for turnpike improvements north of Falmouth and to help build a $24 million exit in Lewiston, according to Mills. The increase could have been even higher if not for the recent refinancing of some of the agency’s bonds to a lower rate, he said.
The MTA’s last toll increase was in 2009, a year ahead of schedule. That was 23 percent and included increasing side entry fees from 60 cents to $1 and cash tolls from $1.75 to $2 at the York plaza, from $1.25 to $1.75 in New Gloucester, from $1 to $1.25 at West Gardiner and from 60 cents to $1 at the Gardiner/I-295 plaza.
The 2009 changes were met with criticism, and that is expected this time around, too.Sen. Ron Collins, R-Wells, co-chairman of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, said he hopes all options are considered before a decision is made.
“I’m not going to say I’m for it or against it, but I think it’s a good idea to hear from the public,” he said. “I guess it’s a user fee, so people do have other options, but the turnpike is a well maintained and convenient road and I understand why people want to use it.”
Sen. Dawn Hill, D-Cape Neddick, represents York County, whose toll could see the biggest increase and said she has concerns.
“Adding $1 to the York toll would be a 50 percent increase. That’s going to force a lot of people onto secondary roads like Route 1, which is already gridlocked this time of year,” she said.
Hill also wondered why no public hearing is being held closer to York where the impact could be greatest.
The MTA is a quasi-government agency that oversees 106 miles of road from Kittery to Gardiner. Its annual operating budget is about $133 million and most of that goes toward contract costs for projects. For instance, Mills said, the top layer of the turnpike is replaced every 15 years to prolong the road’s life.
Mills, a former lawmaker and candidate for governor, took over leadership of the turnpike authority last year after its former director, Paul Violette, stepped down amid scandal. Violette, who led the MTA for more than two decades, was investigated for theft, mainly in the form of gift cards, from the agency over a period of several years. He pleaded guilty to charges earlier this year and was sentenced to serve 3 1/2 years in prison. Violette also agreed to a settlement to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars to the MTA.
Mills said the MTA’s recent decision has nothing to do with its former director.
“This toll increase is not the result of a few gifts gone astray,” he said.
Still, MTA remains under financial scrutiny, although many have lauded the leadership of Mills and others. The agency’s recently approved budget included a 10 percent decrease in the revenue fund budget, which covers all operating costs, and eliminated about 20 toll collector jobs to account for the shift from fewer toll-paying drivers to more E-ZPass users.
Brian Parke, president of the Maine Motor Transport Association, which represents Maine truckers, said Friday that he has talked to Mills about some of the proposed changes, but he didn’t want to weigh in until he saw the options. Parke did say that many MMTA members use the turnpike and any increases would have an impact.
Mills did stress that all of the toll increase options would retain the 20 percent discount program for commercial trucks that use the E-ZPass. He said the goal of most of the options is to ensure that E-ZPass customers would be affected the least by any changes.
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