The fair way to pay for the Maine Turnpike’s increasing expenses would be to charge cars a uniform $2 toll at all entrances and no toll at all exits.

The only exception to the uniform toll would be the New Gloucester toll barrier, where tolls would no longer be collected. That barrier was originally designed as one of two additional main line toll barriers. Since the second toll barrier was never built in Scarborough, the one in New Gloucester has served as an unfair financial burden to drivers north of Gray.

Here are a couple examples of how a uniform $2 toll would create fairness throughout the Turnpike.

A 27-mile round trip between Auburn and Westbrook would cost $4, which is 50 cents less than the current fee and $2 less than the new toll proposed by turnpike staff. A 29-mile round trip between Wells and Westbrook would cost $4, which is $2 more than the current fee and $2 more than the turnpike staff proposal.

Under a uniform toll system, no longer would Turnpike drivers north of Gray be forced to pay more than their fair share.

Don Lamontagne, Auburn