Central MA Residents Say Yes To Tolls At RI, NH Border: Survey

WORCESTER, MA — MassDOT Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt's recent suggestion that drivers commuting to the Boston area from New Hampshire and Rhode Island should pay tolls to use Massachusetts highways made a lot of hay, especially among the Boston media elite.

But step outside the Route 128 ring, and you'll actually find plenty of support for the idea.

Residents from the Worcester and Framingham areas overwhelmingly support tolls for border-crossers, according to results from a (very, extremely informal) Patch survey this week. That might be because many Boston commuters from this side of the state pay plenty in tolls, and have been doing so for about 70 years.

On Wednesday, Patch asked readers to give their opinion on the border toll idea. Just under 200 people answered, and here's what they said:

Is it fair for NH, RI commuters to pay tolls to use MA highways?

• Yes, I have to pay them! —171 (90%)
• No, because I might move there someday! — 19 (10%)

Do you pay tolls for your commute right now?

• Over $4 — 37 (19.5%)
• Under $4 — 58 (30.5%)
• No — 95 (50%)

Whereabouts do you live?

• Worcester area — 126 (66.3%)
• Framingham area — 47 (24.7%)
• West of Worcester — 17 (8.9%)

Well, there you have it, the people of MetroWest and central Massachusetts have spoken. Look for toll booths in Newburyport, Attleboro and Methuen any day now.