By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – A bill that would have increased turnpike tolls for any motorist who does not have a NH E-Z Pass was recommended to be sent to interim study on Monday.
The House Ways and Means Committee voted 11-9 along partisan lines to recommend it study the bill SB 627-FN, for at least the next six months, despite Democrats who supported the measure and want to see it pass.
Chairman John Janigian, R-Salem, said there is no reason that the bill can’t be studied this fall to make sure it is exactly what the state wants and that it could be passed in January.
State Rep. Jordan Ulery, R-Hudson, said the state does not know what the effect of it would be on tourism and that it needs to “get it done correctly.”
But others said the bill is ready to go and makes sense and that it is not likely to be a big concern for those coming to New Hampshire.
Rep. Susan Almy, D-Lebanon, said, “we know that the problem is there,” in terms of deferred maintenance of the roadway systems and “we are now facing ….a crisis in all of the local roads and partly on the highways because of the terrible winter we have been through.”
State Rep. Mary Hakken-Phillips, D-Hanover, who served as a substitute for another Democrat on the committee Monday, said it seems like a “no brainer” and that anything else would be passing the buck to the New Hampshire taxpayer.
She said all that is being asked for is to request neighbors from other states who do not have NH E-Z passes to pay a little bit more. Other committee members noted that neighboring states of Maine and Massachusetts charge more to NH E-Z pass holders now.
On March 5, the New Hampshire Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 627 with only two Republicans voting against it. Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state.
The last statewide toll increase was in 2007 and at Hampton, in 2009.
The state has experienced increasing inflationary costs for road construction and has a huge gap between the needs of the 10 year highway plan and funding available from turnpike tolls, David Rodrigue, commissioner of the Department of Transportation said.
While he said it would not entirely fill the $400 million gap in funding in the state 10 year highway plan it would go a long way and if the intent is to not increase tolls for New Hampshire E-Z Passholders this would be the way to go.
In the first six months, it would be estimated to collect $26.4 million more for the turnpike system.
It would not increase tolls for those who currently have NH E-Z passes and would offer free passes for New Hampshire residents who want them, under the terms of the bill. The bill now heads to the full House for a vote.