- Massachusetts Governor Nixes Highway Border Tolls Idea
- Metro NYC Communities Are Wary Of Congestion Pricing's Possible Air Quality Impacts
- Truckers, Hikers And Cyclists: All Will Benefit From PA Turnpike Service Plaza Upgrade
- Ohio DOT Spending On Roadside Cleanup Has Doubled With Spike In Litter
- These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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Massachusetts Governor Nixes Highway Border Tolls Idea
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (D) yesterday attempted to put the kibosh on any suggestion of implementing tolls at state borders, WGBH reports. “‘To be clear, I am not proposing tolls at any border. I have spoken to [MassDOT Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt] and made that clear,’ she said.” The idea came up earlier this month when the secretary summarized potential solutions under discussion by the gubernatorial transportation funding task force she’s chairing. The news quickly ignited a political firestorm. WGBH’s coverage includes reactions from a range of political leaders, including Senate President Karen Spilka, who’s filed similar tolling legislation in the past; a spokesman for Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, who called Tibbits-Nutt’s comments “simply reprehensible;” and New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R), who said tolling border points sounded like one more good reason for people from Massachusetts to relocate north of the border.
Telegram & Gazette also covers this story.
Massachusetts Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Massachusetts TurnpikeMetro NYC Communities Are Wary Of Congestion Pricing's Possible Air Quality Impacts
CBS News New York reports on responses to a concern that congestion pricing may increase pollution and related public health problems in some parts of the New York metro area. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) environmental assessment identifies locations where toll avoidance is likely to generate more traffic and pollution after the Manhattan congestion pricing starts. “It says the diversions will be ‘most pronounced at the approach to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in Queens, across the South Bronx and the George Washington Bridge, and into northern New Jersey. Diversions to the south would occur across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and through Staten Island.’ The MTA study [also] forecasts an increase in all pollutants in Bergen County, parts of Staten Island and the South Bronx.” One nonprofit group, South Bronx United, runs a sports-oriented youth development program. It plans to install additional air quality monitors to keep tabs on the environmental impact in an area dubbed “Asthma Alley,” where about a quarter of residents already have the disease. And a branch of the NAACP has signed onto Staten Island’s lawsuit aiming to stymie the tolling plan on the grounds that resulting pollution would create “an environmental injustice.” CBS notes that MTA anticipates the program will improve overall air quality in the metro area. It’s also committed to spending millions of dollars in toll revenue to mitigate potential air pollution flare-ups.
Congestion Pricing Environmental Protection Policies Procedures And Initiatives Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New Jersey New York New York CityTruckers, Hikers And Cyclists: All Will Benefit From PA Turnpike Service Plaza Upgrade
Pittsburgh Union Progress reports on the status of a two-year, $28.1 million service plaza upgrade the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is undertaking at Sideling Hill. “The work is part of a two-pronged project that contractor New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Inc. began in May 2023.” Upon completion, the plaza — it serves both east- and westbound traffic — will have expanded parking facilities for both cars and commercial trucks. The number of truck parking spaces alone will nearly double. An outstanding part of the several infrastructure and amenity improvements is the addition of a new trailhead facility, which will include a pavilion, bike racks, and bike repair and washing stations. In combination with the additional parking, the trailhead features will expand access to the surrounding area’s recreational trails for hikers and bikers.
Alternative and Active Transportation Highway and Bridge Maintenance Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) Service PlazasOhio DOT Spending On Roadside Cleanup Has Doubled With Spike In Litter
Ohio DOT is now budgeting $10 million per year for trash cleanup, up from just $4 million a couple years ago, WCPO reports. Press secretary Matt Bruning attributes the increase to a drastic spike in litter, which Keep Cincinnati Beautiful executive director Jonathan Adee attests to, noting an observable uptick in littering since the COVID-19 pandemic. ODOT has collected 89,000 bags of trash so far this year. The cleanup is about more than appearances: Adee said crews have picked up weapons, drug paraphernalia and bags of human waste that make it a safety concern. Piled up trash also can lead to flooding when storm drains become clogged.
These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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