Should Massachusetts charge tolls on the Cape Cod bridges?.A local politican suggested it this week, but the state's liberal governor and the district's state representative shot down the idea.Governor Maura Healey rejected the proposal when asked about it this week.The vice chairman of the Mashpee Board of Selectmen, David Weeden suggested, the idea during an April 28 meeting."I'd advocate for tolls to be imposed at the bridges," Weeden said, according to State House News Service. "Over 35 million vehicles come across those two bridges combined annually. Even if you did $2 an axle, only calculating cars, you'd bring in about $70 million a year. That money should be earmarked specifically to leverage [state revolving fund] funds and go towards coastal and water quality issues."'Weeden said the state could consider tolling only out-of-towners, using EZ Pass technology to let Cape residents cross the bridges for free."Massachusetts reaps the benefits of Cape Cod tourism, and it's a significant amount of money that comes into the state through the tourism that we receive here, and on the Cape they come over here and they leave their stuff behind, and then we're left to deal with it. So, you know, charging a modest rate," Weeden said.However, Governor Healey said she isn't interested in the proposal when she heard about these comments."I don't support the tolls on the bridges," she told State House News Service.Additionally, state Representative Steve Xiarhos (R-Barnstable), whose Fifth Barnstable District includes both the Bourne Bridge and the Sagamore Bridges, strongly opposed the idea in a Facebook statement on Wednesday, April 29.Here is what he wrote:NO TOLLSAccording to published reports, there’s a renewed push by some to place tolls on the Cape Cod bridges. As a Cape resident who regularly travels over the bridges and walks, runs, and rides along the canal recreation paths, I understand some of the sentiment behind the suggestion. But respectfully, I remain firmly opposed to any tolls on our bridges.A toll is a tax — and the working families who rely on those bridges for their daily commutes simply can’t afford the added burden. Yes, the bridges bring in precious tourist dollars that help drive our local economy, and that’s important. But they are also a lifeline to the mainland for those of us who call the Cape home. I’m not willing to charge people a fee just for the privilege of living here.As for the construction of new bridges — which I fully support — my position is the same: No tolls. The cost of rebuilding aging federal infrastructure should not fall on the shoulders of Cape residents.The Healey administration hopes to replace the Bourne Bridge and the Sagamore Bridge, eyeing 2027 as the state date. The administration wants to start with the Sagamore Bridge. However, the state has secured only about half of the more than $4.5 billion needed to replace both bridges, as the Massachusetts congressional delegation has repeatedly failed to secure funding for the bridges in federal infrastructure projects, budgets, and stimulus packages."I hope to make continued progress on the bridges," Healey said. "That's been something that we've prioritized, to move ahead on. But, no tolls on the bridges."
Should Massachusetts charge tolls on the Cape Cod bridges?.A local politican suggested it this week, but the state's liberal governor and the district's state representative shot down the idea.Governor Maura Healey rejected the proposal when asked about it this week.The vice chairman of the Mashpee Board of Selectmen, David Weeden suggested, the idea during an April 28 meeting."I'd advocate for tolls to be imposed at the bridges," Weeden said, according to State House News Service. "Over 35 million vehicles come across those two bridges combined annually. Even if you did $2 an axle, only calculating cars, you'd bring in about $70 million a year. That money should be earmarked specifically to leverage [state revolving fund] funds and go towards coastal and water quality issues."'Weeden said the state could consider tolling only out-of-towners, using EZ Pass technology to let Cape residents cross the bridges for free."Massachusetts reaps the benefits of Cape Cod tourism, and it's a significant amount of money that comes into the state through the tourism that we receive here, and on the Cape they come over here and they leave their stuff behind, and then we're left to deal with it. So, you know, charging a modest rate," Weeden said.However, Governor Healey said she isn't interested in the proposal when she heard about these comments."I don't support the tolls on the bridges," she told State House News Service.Additionally, state Representative Steve Xiarhos (R-Barnstable), whose Fifth Barnstable District includes both the Bourne Bridge and the Sagamore Bridges, strongly opposed the idea in a Facebook statement on Wednesday, April 29.Here is what he wrote:NO TOLLSAccording to published reports, there’s a renewed push by some to place tolls on the Cape Cod bridges. As a Cape resident who regularly travels over the bridges and walks, runs, and rides along the canal recreation paths, I understand some of the sentiment behind the suggestion. But respectfully, I remain firmly opposed to any tolls on our bridges.A toll is a tax — and the working families who rely on those bridges for their daily commutes simply can’t afford the added burden. Yes, the bridges bring in precious tourist dollars that help drive our local economy, and that’s important. But they are also a lifeline to the mainland for those of us who call the Cape home. I’m not willing to charge people a fee just for the privilege of living here.As for the construction of new bridges — which I fully support — my position is the same: No tolls. The cost of rebuilding aging federal infrastructure should not fall on the shoulders of Cape residents.The Healey administration hopes to replace the Bourne Bridge and the Sagamore Bridge, eyeing 2027 as the state date. The administration wants to start with the Sagamore Bridge. However, the state has secured only about half of the more than $4.5 billion needed to replace both bridges, as the Massachusetts congressional delegation has repeatedly failed to secure funding for the bridges in federal infrastructure projects, budgets, and stimulus packages."I hope to make continued progress on the bridges," Healey said. "That's been something that we've prioritized, to move ahead on. But, no tolls on the bridges."
