Tolls or Trolls? Mixed Bag of Pay Road News

Utah--Utah Department of Transportation officials recently looked into dipping drivers for dollars to bankroll Interstate 15 construction in Utah County. The state’s Transportation Commission was told tolls could front 13% of the $3 billion cost for interstate reconstruction. The Commission took the matter under advisement, but took no further action.

Massachusetts--Any thoughts of having the tolls come off the Massachusetts Turnpike west of Route 128 are apparently vapor. State Governor Deval Patrick didn’t see eye-to-eye with the local turnpike board, who suggested tolls should be lifted.

Indiana--Last June Indiana’s Toll Road was privatized (read, "leased out") and taken over by ITR Concession. Not everyone was moved by the change--about one in seven toll road employees opted not to work for ITR and took positions in other state government jobs.

New Jersey--While "Joisy’s" governor hasn’t made a formal proposal, he is considering a move that would lease out the New Jersey turnpike to private interests, this to make a few bucks for the state. But residents would like to put the brakes on his plans before they even get rolling. Surveys by state AAA clubs show that over half of respondents would rather toss their money in state-owned baskets than to pass them over to private interests.