The Maine Turnpike Authority will not undertake a study of whether tolls should be collected on Interstate 295 and on Interstate 95 north of Augusta.

The turnpike authority’s board of directors voted unanimously Friday against a resolution for the $40,000 study, according to authority spokesman Dan Paradee.

The resolution by the authority's board said it "does not consider it prudent to commit its resources and funds” to the study given Gov. John Baldacci's opposition.

The turnpike authority last month went before the Legislature’s Transportation Committee and offered to conduct the study and pay for it after several lawmakers asked it to examine the issue.

The study was to focus on the feasibility of a tolling system on I-295, which runs from Scarborough to West Gardiner, and on I-95 north of Augusta. The turnpike forms the portion of I-95 south of Augusta and already is a toll road.

The committee voted 12-1 to authorize the study and said it wanted to explore all options to raise money to repair and maintain the state’s roads and bridges. The state’s transportation system is facing a $2.2 billion funding shortfall over the next 10 years.

However, Baldacci immediately blasted the plan to study tolling the state’s freeways, saying, “I can assure you it will not happen during my term in office.” He will hold his seat until a new governor is inaugurated in 2011.

Instead, Baldacci said he wanted to look at merging the turnpike authority and the Maine Department of Transportation to save money.