Why Pay Pike Tolls?

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority was created in 1952 and charged with responsibility for constructing, operating, and maintaining Massachusetts' east/west toll highway. When the MTA was created, the Legislature made a commitment to stop collecting tolls once the original debt from the construction of the Turnpike had been repaid. Now, that debt has been paid several times over, and toll money has been appropriated to pay for overruns at the Big Dig.

Christy Mihos will tear down the tolls from Weston to the New York border. He will lease the eleven service areas west of Route 128, and use the money to pay off the $230 million that remain in outstanding Turnpike bonds.

Why can't we remove the tolls east of Route 128? In 1997, the Legislature passed the Metropolitan Highway System (MHS) act, which gave the MTA responsibility for supervising the Big Dig and divided the Pike into separate parts: the original Massachusetts Turnpike (from Route 128 to the New York border) and the Metropolitan Highway System, which includes I-90 east of Route 128 and all of the new roadways, bridges, and tunnels constructed during the Big Dig. Tolls taken within the Metropolitan Highway system are still needed to operate and maintain the bridges, tunnels, and roadways in and around the Hub.

What about Pike exits 1-6? The westernmost exits of the Mass Pike have been free to local traffic since 2001, but the toll plazas still remain. Under Christy's plan, the toll plazas will be removed entirely, improving the flow of traffic, reducing travel times, and making the Pike safer for all of us.