A Plurality of Bay Staters are Open to At Least Learning Congestion Pricing
About half of Massachusetts residents backed phasing out the state’s gasoline tax and as a substitute increasing roadway tolling or imposing charges based mostly on mileage, in keeping with a brand new ballot that took the temperature on a variety of transportation-related concepts.
Fifty-one % of respondents mentioned they’d considerably or strongly assist changing the fuel tax with a “price based mostly on how a lot folks drive, whether or not they drive a fuel automotive or an electrical automotive,” a MassINC Polling Group survey revealed Wednesday discovered. Thirty-one % opposed the concept, and 18% mentioned they have no idea.
Pollsters discovered an almost similar break up for eliminating the fuel tax and as a substitute deploying “tolls on extra Massachusetts roads”: 52% assist, 32% opposition and 16% who mentioned they didn’t know.
Massachusetts depends on income from the 24-cents-per-gallon fuel tax to fund its transportation investments, however consultants argue that funding from that supply will decline as automobiles grow to be extra environment friendly or as drivers shift to electrical automobiles.
Gasoline tax revenues elevated from $603 million in fiscal 2023 to $615 million in fiscal 2024, in keeping with the Division of Income’s “blue book” report.
The MassINC poll performed on behalf of advocacy group Transportation for Massachusetts additionally discovered a plurality of Bay Staters are open to at the least learning congestion pricing, a apply of charging motorists larger charges at sure instances and in sure places to disincentivize driving when site visitors is at its worst.
Of their query to respondents, pollsters referenced the beginning of congestion pricing in New York Metropolis and mentioned early studies point out “the price has led to 1 million fewer vehicles and 10-30% much less site visitors on the bridges and tunnels into Manhattan.” In addition they famous President Donald Trump desires to cancel this system.
Requested if Massachusetts ought to research using congestion pricing in and round Boston, 48% mentioned sure and 35% mentioned no.
MassINC surveyed 702 Massachusetts residents between Feb. 21 and Feb. 25. The ballot’s margin of error is 4 proportion factors.
Transportation for Mass. supports legislation that might overhaul the Metropolitan Freeway System and its tolls (S 2353) and payments that might push for reductions in what number of miles Bay Staters journey in motor automobiles (S 2246 / H 3726).
