Mass. Lawmakers Consider Raising Tolls For Drivers During Rush Hour

(Mario Jarjour/WBZ NewsRadio)

BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Lawmakers on Beacon Hill are considering three bills that would charge drivers higher tolls during rush hour.

Congestion toll pricing would raise costs by 25 cents during peak commuting hours and lower them by 25 cents during slower times.

The goal of the bills is to help ease traffic congestion and encourage commuters to use public transportation.

Chris Dempsey, the director of advocacy group Transportation for Massachusetts, was one of several who testified in favor of the bills at a joint committee hearing at the State House on Tuesday.

“Of the ten most populous regions in the country, Greater Boston is the only one that does not use some sort of time-of-day pricing," Dempsey said.

Dempsey said those who would be paying more in tolls would actually save money and time.

“Getting 5 percent of people off the road can have a 20 percent reduction in traffic,” Dempsey said. “They actually benefit from having a much faster trip into work.”

WBZ NewsRadio's Shari Small (@ShariSmallNews) reports

Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App