Officials, legislators and members of the public have debated four plans unveiled during the course of the past two months all with one goal: Paying for transportation in Massachusetts for the foreseeable future.

Writers of these plans are trying to find ways to pump as much money as possible into the system, while trying to avoid dramatic fare increases, tax hikes and fees.

Gov. Deval Patrick unleashed "The Way Forward: A 21 st Century Transportation Plan" in Januray. The plan is an ambitious, multi-billion dollar budgetary proposal for state transportation during the next decade. Patrick said the state would need to raise $13 billion in new revenue during the course of the next 10 years, thus amounting to $1 billion for 2014 through a variety of tax hikes and fees.

This plan was unveiled at a packed State House press conference April 2. It was the first transportation budget plan to follow Patrick's "The Way Forward," and it caused immediate controversy. The plan would raise $500 million in new revenue during the next five years by way of taxes to tobacco and gas. The plan leaves out capital improvements across the system, and no funds for education, as Patrick's plan had. Patrick has said he would veto this plan, arguing it falls far short of what is needed. Conversely, Sen. Stephen Brewer, chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, called the possible results of Patrick's plan "draconian."

Plan Highlights:

3-cent gas tax increase

$1 per-pack increase on cigarettes

New business-related tax

Patrick said he would veto this plan

Writers: State Senate

Money: About $626 million

Date of Announcement: April 9, 2013

In the wake of inadequacies brought up following the joint House/Senate plan presentation, Senate leaders drew this one up. According to The Boston Globe this plan improves upon its predecessor by adding about $126 million more.

Plan Highlights:

Same tax increases as House/Senate plan

Additional $126 million on top of House/Senate plan

Companies would be required to pay $40 million in new charges for new infrastructure

Writers: State Senate Republican Caucus

Money: $2.031 billion during next five years

Date of Announcement: April 10, 2013

By far the most divergent from the first three plans, state GOP Senate leaders released their proposal one day after the full Senate's plan was unveiled. The Senate GOP plan would not require any tax, fee or fare increases, and relies on the appropriation and prioritization of supposed gaming revenue. The plan would also change current HOV lanes into HOT lanes or High Occupancy Tolling lanes, upon which solo drivers would pay a fee depending on time of day of travel.

Plan Highlights: