Bragdon: Tolls Bill Still Alive in Senate

UPDATED, 4 p.m.: State Sen. Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, said legislation that he sponsored to eliminate one of the Everett Turnpike tolls in Merrimack is still alive in the State Senate and support is building to keep the issue alive in the new session.

Bragdon explained in an e-mail on Thursday that Senate Bill 3 is still alive in that legislative chamber because it was approved by the full Senate in 2013. The bill was later killed by the House Public Works and Highways Committee last fall.

But because it was approved in the Senate, Bragdon said it can be attached to another bill that seeks to do the same thing. "So the issue will be coming up again, I can assure you, but not as a separate bill," he wrote.

Bragdon said that gaining Senate passage of Senate Bill 3 was a victory and that he knew it would not gain support in the House. He also noted that Senate President Chuck Morse, R-Salem, is a big supporter of getting rid of the toll plaza in Merrimack.

"I have already had several conversations with Senate President Morse and other Senate leaders about how to best move this issue forward in the second year.  Senator Morse is a strong supporter of toll relief for Merrimack," Bragdon wrote.

Currently, Senate Bill 3 was removed from the House Consent Calendar earlier this month and while the legislation is still scheduled to go before a a full floor House vote next week, Bragdon said he doesn't expect the bill will get much support.

Earlier story: The latest effort to eliminate one of Merrimack's toll plazas on the Everett Turnpike officially ended when the New Hampshire House of Representatives refused to vote on it.

According to the House Clerk's office, Senate Bill 3, which was originally sponsored by State Sen. Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, and co-sponsored by several Merrimack House members, was removed from the House Consent Calendar on Jan. 9.

This action essentially means that the bill, which was scheduled to be voted on by the full House on Jan. 8, was subsequently removed from consideration a day later.

Rep. Richard Barry, R-Merrimack, wrote in an e-mail on Wednesday he is not planning to file any legislation in this session to close down any Everett Turnpike tolls because House rules would not allow that.

"My plan is to work on the 10-year Transportation Plan to help provide toll relief for Merrimack. At this stage, that is the best avenue that may have some support in the Legislature, and within the Dept of Transportation. This is expected to get significant consideration during the process," Barry wrote.

Senate Bill 3 was deemed inexpedient to legislate by the House Public Works and Highways Committee in October. According to the bill's text, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation said that closing the Exit 12 toll plaza would have been very costly and hindered the state agency's ability to maintain and operate the rest of the toll plaza system on the Everett Turnpike.

"The Department of Transportation states this bill eliminates the ramp tolls at exit 12 on the Everett turnpike in the town of Merrimack. Based on the “Traffic and Revenue Study” completed by Jacobs Engineering dated August 14, 2012, the Department estimates the closing of the exit 12 ramp plazas will result in a decrease of state restricted revenues of $893,767 in FY 2014, $905,297 in FY 2015, $917,790 in FY 2016, and by $931,281 in FY 2017," the bill text reads.

In November, the Merrimack Town Council voted to spend $5,000 to hire an attorney to see if the town could sue the state and ask a judge to decide might if the burden the town has shouldered is unjust in the wake of continued improvements on the Everett Turnpike without further construction of toll booths in other towns.

Do you think state legislators and town officials should continue their quest to eliminate the Everett Turnpike Toll Plazas? Tell us in the comments below.