Senate president nixes interstate fee proposal

Oct. 5, 2007

Senate President Therese Murray Oct. 3 shot down a proposal that would charge Bay State residents five cents per mile to ride on interstates.

The plan, which would require residents to install a GPS tracker in their vehicles, would likely lead to a costly lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union, Murray said.

The proposal was suggested by a special legislative commission with the hopes of helping close a $1 billion-per-year transportation deficit. The commission also suggested an 11.5-cent increase in the gas tax.

Senate President Therese Murray Oct. 3 shot down a proposal that would charge Bay State residents five cents per mile to ride on interstates.

The plan, which would require residents to install a GPS tracker in their vehicles, would likely lead to a costly lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union, Murray said.

The proposal was suggested by a special legislative commission with the hopes of helping close a $1 billion-per-year transportation deficit. The commission also suggested an 11.5-cent increase in the gas tax.

Murray has not discounted the gas tax suggestion, though she said any gas tax hike would have to be at least 15 cents to have the desired effect. She said she wants to examine all options before even considering such an increase.

Sponsored Recommendations

The Science Behind Sustainable Concrete Sealing Solutions

Extend the lifespan and durability of any concrete. PoreShield is a USDA BioPreferred product and is approved for residential, commercial, and industrial use. It works great above...

Powerful Concrete Protection For ANY Application

PoreShield protects concrete surfaces from water, deicing salts, oil and grease stains, and weather extremes. It's just as effective on major interstates as it is on backyard ...

Concrete Protection That’s Easy on the Environment and Tough to Beat

PoreShield's concrete penetration capabilities go just as deep as our American roots. PoreShield is a plant-based, eco-friendly alternative to solvent-based concrete sealers.

Proven Concrete Protection That’s Safe & Sustainable

Real-life DOT field tests and university researchers have found that PoreShieldTM lasts for 10+ years and extends the life of concrete.