Local & State
New Hampshire lawmakers override vetoes to raise tolls, park fees for out-of-state drivers
PN Team • 2 months ago
New Hampshire's legislature has overridden Gov. Kelly Ayotte's vetoes to enact two laws raising costs for out-of-state visitors. A new 10-year transportation plan increases tolls for drivers paying cash or using an E-ZPass issued outside New Hampshire, while those with a funded New Hampshire E-ZPass account avoid the hike. Starting in January 2027, the Hampton toll on I-95 rises from $2 to $4, Bedford and Hooksett tolls double from $1 to $2, and the Spaulding Turnpike tolls in Dover and Somersworth increase from 75 cents to $1.50. It marks the first statewide toll increase since 2007.
A separate law will roughly double state park parking fees for out-of-state visitors, from $4 to $8 for most parks, with supporters citing heavy use by Massachusetts residents. Ayotte called the toll increase a tax hike on state residents, though both overrides passed with bipartisan support. Out-of-staters can avoid higher tolls by obtaining a New Hampshire E-ZPass regardless of residency.
Sources:
Sentiment
- Kelly Ayotte Ayotte's vetoes were overridden by the legislature, portraying her position as rejected despite bipartisan support for the new laws.
- New Hampshire New Hampshire is the central subject of a policy story about raising fees on out-of-state visitors, a mostly neutral governance matter.