The free ride on the far western portion of the Massachusetts Turnpike will come to an end in mid-October according to a plan announced Monday by state transportation officials.
Tolls will be reinstated on the Mass Pike between interchange one in West Stockbridge and interchange six in Springfield on October 15th according to a timetable released by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. A public hearing will be held in Lee on September 10th and one in Springfield on September 12. Officials say the tolls will be the same as what was in effect in 1996 when the tolls were removed. Reinstating the tolls was part of the $500 million transportation finance package approved last month by the Massachusetts legislature. Revenue from the new tolls is estimated to be $12 million a year.
