Under legislation being considered at the N.H. Statehouse, tolls for drivers with out-of-state license plates would double, increasing from $1 to $2 at Bedford and Hooksett, $2 to $4 in Hampton and 75 cents to $1.50 in Dover and Rochester. (Adrien Olichon / Pexel)
A bill pending in the N.H. Legislature would mandate the first systemwide hike in turnpike tolls in 19 years, but the increase would be borne entirely by out-of-state residents.
The state Senate passed Senate Bill 627 in a voice vote on Thursday, but Gov. Kelly Ayotte's spokesman, John Corbett, said in an email Monday that she "has made it clear that she is a no on toll hikes.”
Sen. Donovan Fenton, D-Keene, is a co-sponsor of the legislation, which wouldn’t change the tolls for Granite Staters, but would double them for those with out-of-state license plates.
Tolls for this group would increase from $1 to $2 at Bedford and Hooksett, $2 to $4 in Hampton and 75 cents to $1.50 in Dover and Rochester.
Fenton said the plan could help pay for $500 million in projects that otherwise wouldn't be funded under the state’s proposed $4.5 billion 2027-2036 transportation plan.
A fiscal note on the bill said it would result in increased revenue of at least $53 million per year.
“This raises tolls for out-of-state drivers similar to what other states do to New Hampshire drivers,” he said Monday. Massachusetts, for example, has higher tolls for nonresidents.
“Other states charge a higher rate for out-of-state drivers and New Hampshire would be following suit under this bill.”
Sen. Mark McConkey, R-Freedom, spoke in favor of SB 627 before the Senate on Thursday, saying the increase would pay for turnpike improvements and regional projects.
“Presently, we have the lowest per-mile toll rate of any state in the country,” he said. “When this toll increase goes into place, we will still be 27th lowest.”
Nobody spoke against the bill on Thursday. It now goes to the N.H. House. If it passes there, it would go to Gov. Ayotte's desk.
Rick Green can be reached at 603-352-1234, extension 1435, or rgreen@keenesentinel.com.
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