Out for now

Hearing is not quite wrapped up, but we’re taking off. Thanks for joining us.

Aloisi knows his history

Saying whoever made the decision was a “knucklehead,” he decries the Pike not being built to reach Worcester, causing longterm costs to build and fix other routes.

We like pepperjack

Brimfield Rep. Smola calls the higheway in his district “the world’s largest block of swiss cheese.”

The western reps. are clearly peeved at the idea of a hugh gas tax that would barely support them.

Tolls beyond the Pike

Lot of talk right now about the geographic equity of tolls…where they are, who pays them, etc. Should tolls be added to other roads? Say, 93? Aloisi says he likes the idea, but the legislature needs to debate and discuss the issue.

Trains to Worcester

Aloisi: We’ve gotten more trains to Worcester, “We need to do more of that.”

But, he adds, we need new engines, etc to make up for those frequently breaking down.

He calls the current situation, mixed with the past a “perfect storm.”

9 cents is not enough

Aloisi says he thinks passing 9 cent gas tax would be a “halfway” measure that wouldn’t solve anything.

Aloisi has a recurring theme: That’s he’s inherited a “legacy of deferral,” a broken system, and a history of one-time revenues.

Toll merging

Under both the Senate and Governor’s plans, says Aloisi, all tolls – both east and west of 128 – would be pooled together…a change from the current “Metropolitan Highway System.”

“If you abolish the turnpike one of the advantages,” says Aloisi, “is you can restructure the debt.”

Cuts all around

Three RMVs will close under the current budget proposal: we missed the names, but none are Central Mass, based on what we heard.

Other cuts: highway maintenance. But, says the commissioner, “we can absorb the cuts” and expects to clear up the maintenance backlog over the next four years.