If you’ve ventured down the turnpike in Maine since November 1, 2021, you may have noticed higher toll charges for all vehicles. The Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA) adjust the toll structure with new rates beginning in November. They cited the following reasons in explanation for the changes:
- COVID-19 resulted in a loss of $60 million in toll revenue in Maine. That figure was determined by comparing projected revenue to actual revenue for 2020.
- The MTA created capital works projects totaling $106 million in 2020. Less traffic created a golden opportunity to complete some much-needed work on the turnpike while the projects provided jobs to help stimulate the state’s economy during the pandemic.
The last toll rate hike in Maine was nine years ago. The MTA justifies the decision by noting that more than half of all tolling agencies in the country have raised their rates due to the pandemic. They also note that they will spend $939 million on road improvement projects over the next 15 years.
Why Pass the Buck to Drivers?
The MTA receives no state or federal funding, so they depend entirely on toll revenue to operate. When travel restrictions decrease the number of vehicles passing through toll booths, that revenue drops. The dramatic and unexpected traffic slowdowns that occurred in 2020 placed a significant financial strain on the toll agency for 2021.
The impact of losing millions in toll revenue could linger for years. Increasing toll prices is one of the best options the MTA has at recovering quickly.
Truck Drivers Stimulating the Pandemic Economy
The pandemic did lead to far fewer cars moving down the highway throughout much of 2020. Most businesses experienced shutdowns and were forced to create remote work arrangements, which resulted in less commuting. Government lockdowns also stopped many people from enjoying road trips.
Fortunately, truck drivers were in high demand to move goods throughout the country during the pandemic. According to data collected by PrePass, more than 13 million commercial drivers passed through their bypass locations across the country in March 2020. That was comparable to the number of commercial trucks passing through in January of the same year and slightly higher than commercial traffic in February.
While that data isn’t specific to Maine, it shows the contribution that the trucking industry made to highway tolling agencies throughout the country during the pandemic. Truckers willing to keep freight moving despite the potential health risks and volatile political scene provided the bulk of revenue for tolling agencies like the MTA.
Without truckers out keeping the highways warm, the financial standing of many state tolling agencies would likely look far worse for 2021 and possibly many years to come.
Source: usnews.com
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