Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

  1. You have chosen to ignore posts from BostonDotCom. Show BostonDotCom's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:14 PM EDT

    A proposal to increase toll prices gained momentum today as officials discussed methods to dig the roadway out of a deep financial hole.What are your thoughts on the potential toll hike?

    The hike would mean an increase from $1.25 to $2.25 at Allston-Brighton and Weston tolls and a hike by $5, from $3.50 to $8.50 for tunnels.

    Would you support this hike? If not, would you consider using the commuter rail instead?
     

  2. You have chosen to ignore posts from jaybar. Show jaybar's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:33 PM EDT

    I don't support the hike, we should us commuters pay for the Big Dig Mishaps. I won't use the commuter rail, I'll just take backroads to avoid the tolls. That way we'll all clog up local communities streets..
     

  3. You have chosen to ignore posts from bruins4495. Show bruins4495's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:34 PM EDT

    Could this state get any more ridiculous? The Turnpike doesn't even provide good enough services to warrant the prices we pay now. There better never be even a flake of snow or a veneer of ice if this goes through. There is not enough perfume and make up in the world to make this pig look prettier.
     

  4. You have chosen to ignore posts from captainhurley. Show captainhurley's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:34 PM EDT

    How about some Quid Pro Quo? I'm fine with raising the tolls BUT also eliminate all speed traps.

     

  5. You have chosen to ignore posts from mcpu40. Show mcpu40's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:34 PM EDT

    My view?

    I'd encourage EVERY driver to bypass the Pike completely and travle thru the little towns that parallel it all the way to Boston creating a gridlock nightmare in protest of this nightmare road.
     

  6. You have chosen to ignore posts from daz7245. Show daz7245's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:35 PM EDT

    Nice work by those in charge...that's the best solution you can come up with??? Raise the tolls. Here's an idea, instead of screwing the folks who live along the pike and the north shore, how about a gas tax so ALL who use the roads can pay for them. I guess that just makes too much sense.

    So go ahead and raise em up....I'll just use local roads.
     

  7. You have chosen to ignore posts from hudson. Show hudson's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:35 PM EDT

    A better suggestion SLASH the payroll of the Cash hungry board members, Force them to work for free - and while at it, dice the salary of any toll taker working more then 40 hours, the more over time, the less you see on your check. Abuse the system, LOOSE the system.

    The mass pike and toll roads are so over payed for, that this system should have ended LONG ago - bridges I see it on going, maybe tunnels too- but the roads themselves - FREE!

    One reason I avoid the TOLL roads when ever I can, and YES I have a transponder for when I get forced to ride the toll roads due to time constraints, at least I don't to have to stop and waste gas idling so some cheapskate can dig all over the car for loose change.
     

  8. You have chosen to ignore posts from dtam83. Show dtam83's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:36 PM EDT

    I say abolish the tolls altogether and raise the gas tax, only fair way of doing it. you drive more, you use up the roads more, you pay more. tax the rich for buying gas guzzlers
     

  9. You have chosen to ignore posts from mrkleen2002. Show mrkleen2002's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:37 PM EDT

    So people that live in the downtown Boston area get the short end of the stick again.

    8.50 to go over the Tobin or through the Callahan Tunnel?

    Watch what kind of traffic this creates in Chelsea and Everett, even with gas prices - it would cost less to drive around then to use one of those two.
     

  10. You have chosen to ignore posts from rexsmith. Show rexsmith's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:39 PM EDT

    The tunrpike is the most expensive highway in the State to maintian becuase of patronage etc. A great deal of the moeny goes to the toll collection process itslef. Implement a gas tax that is fair to all residents regardless of where they live. Don't just tax thouse coming from the east or west. Eliminate the tolls altoghether and the authority and just impose a gas tax. Get it done Deval before you run off with Obama if he is elected.
     

  11. You have chosen to ignore posts from pcal. Show pcal's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:40 PM EDT

    How about doing some restructuring like a corporation. Can't expect tax payer to bail this out too, do you?

    Get rid of those non worker bees! All companies do it when they need to trim the fat, why shouldn't the govt.
     

  12. You have chosen to ignore posts from Scorpio75. Show Scorpio75's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:40 PM EDT

    Lets see the big dig benefited mainly the metro Boston area, so they need to suck it up and get on paying for it. They didn't want that ugly double decker but a nice green space...well pay for it. No more discounts for those going through the tunnels I don't care where you live, you get the benefit you pay for it.

    Thank god I only drive a small portion of the pike, from 290 to 84 but it sounds like my toll is going up too. That blows.

    What they need to do is make some serious reforms in the pay structure of toll takers and install more fast lanes. Fine up the toll for those that actually hand their money over to some one because that costs more to process. I am an EZ pass kind of person myself and so is everyone I know. I want to see some real effiencies at the pike in their adminstration and staffing before toll hikes.
     

  13. You have chosen to ignore posts from HappyPatsFanUS. Show HappyPatsFanUS's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:41 PM EDT

    Bring back Mitt Romney, get rid of the tolls.
     

  14. You have chosen to ignore posts from frankjcapp. Show frankjcapp's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:42 PM EDT

    Wait a minute. Were not tolls going to be completely eliminated 4 years ago? What happened?

    With GPS now out there, I can certainly see where ppl will start using surface streets instead of the pike or tunners. Then the road cost will shift to the towns instead.

    This State is soooo screwed up.
     

  15. You have chosen to ignore posts from celtsfan. Show celtsfan's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:42 PM EDT

    The state is willing to force its commuters to pay outrageous tolls to cover up for all its kickbacks and blunders from the big dig. Meanwhile, millions of tax dollars are leaving the state each year because the state won't approve casino gambling. This makes complete sense.
     

  16. You have chosen to ignore posts from skidds. Show skidds's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:42 PM EDT

    Just get rid of the Union workers that collect the tolls. What kind of skill does it take to be rude to people while taking their money
     

  17. You have chosen to ignore posts from Brodie38. Show Brodie38's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:43 PM EDT

    >> How about some Quid Pro Quo? I'm fine with raising the tolls BUT also eliminate all speed traps. <<

    I like this idea, but i'll take it a step further... raise the tolls, but no speed limit on the Pike...
     

  18. You have chosen to ignore posts from clank3377. Show clank3377's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:44 PM EDT

    How about ending all the unecessary road work? How can the road need work every summer?

    Currently the Mass Pike, 128, route 20 all have road construction is this all needed?
     

  19. You have chosen to ignore posts from Woodoc. Show Woodoc's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:46 PM EDT

    It is unfair the way those West of the "Holy City" are treated. Why should I pay tolls to pay for the ills of the Big Dig when I am driving from Worcester to Sturbridge. Furthermore, my trip into Boston typically ends BEFORE I even reach the Big Dig. The people who should pay are those who drive from the north (New Hampshire, etc.) over the fancy new bridge and through the new tunnels, not us. Why can they use the roads for free while I can't? Can we move the tolls from I-90 to I-93? We were promised long ago that the tolls would go when the road is paid for. Thanks for keeping your promise.

     

  20. You have chosen to ignore posts from captainhurley. Show captainhurley's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:46 PM EDT

    [Quote]Just get rid of the Union workers that collect the tolls. What kind of skill does it take to be rude to people while taking their money[/Quote]

    Great suggestion.
     

  21. You have chosen to ignore posts from harrylook. Show harrylook's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:54 PM EDT

    My view? Like that matters! Not one taxpayer in the state would support a toll hike, yet it will pass through like hot knife through butter. The politburo decides. Average Joe must pay.
     

  22. You have chosen to ignore posts from doobiroo. Show doobiroo's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:57 PM EDT

    Since the last toll hike, there has been a substantial increase in traffic on Rt 9. Everywhere you look, there is someone with a transponder on their windshield that isn't being used. All a toll hike will do is create further congeestion on Rt 9.
     

  23. You have chosen to ignore posts from dahoss33. Show dahoss33's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:57 PM EDT

    When private sector businesses have a shortfall, they immediately look for ways to cut costs including trimming worker raises and bonuses. The public sector immediately tries to stick it to their customers by making ridiculous increases to things like tolls. I'm getting gouged by both ends.

    Thanks Massachusetts!
     

  24. You have chosen to ignore posts from mahones. Show mahones's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:58 PM EDT

    Get rid of the Turnpike Authority by combining it with Mass Highway. You would be able to get rid of most of the administrative overhead. They should also get rid of most of the toll collectors and require the use of transponders.
     

  25. You have chosen to ignore posts from harrylook. Show harrylook's posts

    Toll Hikes for the Mass. Turnpike

    posted at 9/25/2008 12:58 PM EDT

    Maybe we can do something. Like, what if one day, everyone on the Pike decides to drive through the toll without paying. They can't arrest everyone. A more legal approach would be to go to the ballot box in November and let the hacks who rule over us know how we really feel about them by approving repeal of the income tax. While you're there, vote against every incumbent.

    Final option: move to a state where the pols don't spend all day trying to figure out how to pork the people.