Editor’s note: For details on the Massachusetts ballot questions, see Ballotpedia.org.
To the editor:
Voting “no” on Question 1 keeps the gas tax indexed to inflation as adopted by the State Legislature.
Fifty-three percent of Massachusetts bridges alone are now structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, making Massachusetts second worst among the 50 states. Twenty-seven bridges have been closed because they are unsafe. The ten busiest structurally deficient bridges in Massachusetts carry more than one million cars per day. Roadway conditions are a significant factor in one-third of all traffic fatalities. According to current legislation, the turnpike toll revenue may decrease substantially when the western Massachusetts tolls are phased out in 2017.
Last year, the legislature voted to increase investments in our entire transportation system with the passage of a transportation financing bill that raised the gas tax for the first time in 22 years. According to the private Tax Foundation, Massachusetts ranks only 29th of all states for 2013 gas tax rates.
Investments in transportation infrastructure supports thousands of jobs. And every $10 million we invest in public transportation generates $30 million in increased business sales. A good transportation system drives our economy. We can’t afford not to invest in transportation.
Sincerely,
Gary Davis
20R Indian Camp Lane
Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.
Leave a Reply