Toll Bills in Front of Committee on Thursday

The Public Works and Highways legislative committee is holding a work session on Thursday, Sept. 20, for two bills relating to the tolls in Merrimack, one that would seek to provide relief to Merrimack drivers and one that would move the main toll plaza from Bedford to Merrimack's Exit 10. The public is invited to attend but will not be able to participate.

HB 1192 is sponsored by Merrimack Reps. Richard Barry and Chris Christensen, and Sen. Ray White of Bedford. It is intended to relieve some of the burden on residents who use the turnpikes daily. This burden would likely be greater if HB 1392 passes. Toll rates are established by the Governor and Council with recommendations from the Department of Transportation. EZ Pass discount rates are set by the Legislature in bills that become law. The Merrimack delegation has supported this bill.

HB1369 is sponsored by Reps. David Campbell and Carl Seidel of Nashua and Rep. John Graham of Bedford. All three are on the Public Works and Highways Committee, which will make a recommendation to the House of Representatives on the future of this bill. The premise is that moving the Bedford Mainline Toll Plaza to Exit 10 in Merrimack would help recover revenues lost with the opening of the airport access road. The other effects would be to possibly double the cost of commuting south for Merrimack residents and virtually ensure that no tolls would ever be built in Nashua. The Merrimack delegation has opposed this bill.

Contact information for Merrimack’s Representatives and Senator is available at http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/wml.aspx.

–Submitted by Rep. Chris Christensen.