Reforming the Turnpike: Higher Gas tax

The Governor's Plan to reconfigure the turnpike is ill conceived

(Patrick seeking turnpike shakeup, Boston Globe, November 11, 2008:

A1; Redirecting our Transport System, Boston Globe, November 13, 2008).

As an organization theorist, I find the idea of two different agencies

running different sections of the turnpike as absurd as the current

system of one road being run by the turnpike and the rest by Massachusetts

Highways department (except for the Tobin Bridge which is run by

Massachusetts Port Authority).

We need to simplify not create an equally complex infrastructure. The

problem with two agencies is that financial resources have to be

expended to coordinate their activities where the two roads meet. If

coordination is poor we will have a strip on unploughed and unrepaired

road because both agencies pass the buck saying "It is their job." At

least that's what happens with the ploughing of a section of sidewalk

near my home.

Here is the solution:

1. Give the Mass Pike to the Highways Department.

2. Give the Tobin Bridge to the Highways Department

3. Remove all the tolls.

4. Increase the gasoline tax to about $0.50.

Here is why:

All of us benefit from the turnpike every day of our lives. The food

we eat, the consumer products we buy all reach the cities and towns of

the state via the turnpike. Those of us who live closer to it may

benefit a little more through reduced congestion when other users

travel the turnpike rather than local roads. Those of us who use the

turnpike benefit most of all, but we do not benefit more than those

who use Interstate 95 and pay no tolls at all.

It is therefore clear, that the turnpike tolls are an additional tax

imposed on those who drive on the turnpike; logic -- as opposed to

politics -- tells us that, as we all benefit from the turnpike then we

should all pay for it.

Last year, the gas tax at 23.5 cents per gallon raised about $600

million. Raising the tax to 50 cents per gallon would raise about

$1.26 billion or an additional $626 million. While, if oil prices stay

constant, the price would increase to about to about $3.00 per gallon.

This would cover all the turnpike revenue from tolls (about $250

million as of December 2006) and leave over $370 million to be

allocated to the road and bridge repairs that we desperately need or

to pay down the debt.

Sent to Boston Globe