AUGUSTA — The Maine Turnpike Authority on Tuesday moved one step closer to eliminating its 30-year-old commuter discount system. 

The Legislature’s Transportation Committee voted unanimously to allow the quasi-public agency to replace the system with E-ZPass, the electronic toll-taking system that MTA officials believe will help create more equity among toll-payers.

MTA Executive Director Peter Mills has acknowledged that some motorists might pay more, depending on the specific program the agency develops. However, Mills said, the idea was to create a volume-based system that would give discounts to commuters while creating a single toll-transponder system. 

Mills said the current commuter system is underused because it requires commuters to pay three months’ worth of tolls up front. The current system also requires the MTA to program 23,000 transponders to accommodate different commuter routes. 

The agency previously testified that eliminating the commuter discount program would give discounted rates to most motorists who use the system. The agency estimated that 43.7 percent of E-ZPass patrons would pay less under the proposal, while 45.1 percent would pay about the same.

Another 11.1 percent would pay more, but it’s not yet clear which motorists would be affected. 

Mills said the MTA would establish a study panel to review the impact of eliminating the current system and developing a new one. Citizens will be invited to sit on the committee. 

Mills said the process could be a contentious one. 

“If you have constituents who are fearful of these changes, send them my way and we will include them on the citizen panel,” he told lawmakers.

In addition to swapping out the commuter-discount system established in 1982 for an across-the-board E-ZPass system, the bill would allow the authority to acquire more land for expansion.

Another provision that would have allowed the MTA to raise tolls during high-traffic times such as holidays was struck down by lawmakers.

The bill also clarifies language that obligates the authority to send 5 percent of its operating revenues to the Maine Department of Transportation. 

Rep. Richard Cebra, R-Naples, co-chairman of the Transportation Committee, said the latter provision would strengthen the agency’s bond rating and remove any ambiguity about the authority’s obligation to the state.

Mills last week told the committee that switching the agency’s commuter system could lead to about $1.6 million in annual revenue losses because E-ZPass rates are lower than standard cash rates. However, Mills hoped the change would yield lower operational costs, presumably fewer toll workers.

Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, was hopeful that the MTA would create a more equitable system.

“If you can create a toll system, for the first time, that makes sense, you will have a lot of support,” Diamond said. 

smistler@sunjournal.com

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