Turnpike Authority outlines toll hike options

PORTLAND – The Maine Turnpike Authority has come out with three versions of a toll increase plan that favors motorists who use the York-to-Augusta highway on a fairly regular basis and pay with E-ZPass instead of cash.

The higher tolls are slated to take effect Feb. 1, a year ahead of schedule. Turnpike officials have cited a need for $20 million in additional revenue to continue highway and bridge repairs at a time of rising costs and lower traffic counts.

Under the new rate structure, increases would average 30 percent statewide, but motorists who pay their tolls electronically with E-ZPass would be spared the brunt of the higher rates and, in some cases, pay the same or less.

The changes could vary from a 67 percent toll increase to a 33 percent reduction.

Out-of-staters account for one-third of turnpike travelers and now pay 51 percent of the tolls. But they may pay an even larger share under the new system, turnpike spokesman Dan Paradee said.

The cash cost of traveling the entire length of the 106-mile highway would increase from $4 to between $4.75 and $5, depending on which plan is adopted. New tolls for cash customers would rise from 60 cents to $1 to enter the turnpike from exit interchanges, from $1.75 to $2 at the York plaza and from $1 to $1.25 at the West Gardiner plaza.

The turnpike’s current per-mile toll rate is the fifth-lowest in the nation, and officials say it will remain in the bottom 25 percent even after the new increase.

Forums to allow public comment on the proposals will be held next Tuesday in Saco and next Wednesday in Auburn. Turnpike directors plan to meet Dec. 12 to choose among the three slightly different sets of increases.