Big toll hikes called northern overexposure

Commuters, leaders say they unfairly target one region

(David L. Ryan/Globe Staff/File)

George Paskievich of Swampscott thinks $3.50 already is too much to pay to drive through the Ted Williams Tunnel to get to his job as a doorman at a South Boston hotel.

So a proposal by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority to double the toll to $7 makes no sense at all to him. "It's just asinine," said Paskievich, who drives through the tunnel four times a week. "Two years ago, it cost maybe $1.50 or $2. It already has gone up the last two years 100 percent. Now they want to double it again? That's like a 200 percent hike. Nothing in the world goes up 200 percent. Especially our pay."

In Revere, Karen Ryan, a taxi driver at Royal Cab, is bracing for a drop in business if commercial tolls to go through either the Sumner or Ted Williams tunnels leap to $9 from the current $5.25.

"I don't feel comfortable charging passengers $9 per toll," said Ryan, seated in her cab at a taxi stand on Broadway. "That increase is going to hurt the cab business. People will start taking the train."

The turnpike authority - which will hold a public hearing on the toll proposal Dec. 15 in Lynn - has said the increases could generate $90 million to $100 million annually to help reduce $2.2 billion in debt, due in part to the Big Dig construction project.

"The Turnpike felt it was important to have a hearing in Lynn, because the proposed toll hikes at the tunnels could really impact traffic traveling down Route 1A into the city," said Mac Daniel, a turnpike spokesman. "It will be a good opportunity for people to be heard."

The potential hike has sparked intense criticism from commuters, business leaders, and legislators north of Boston who say it unfairly targets thousands of local commuters and businesses that rely on the tunnels for their livelihoods.

"We are our own economy up here," said Robert Bradford, president of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce, which has asked for a study of alternatives. "It doesn't seem fair that one region of the state should have to pay so much to reach our capital city."

State Representative Steven Walsh, a Lynn Democrat, has filed legislation to freeze tolls at their current rates, pending a review of the state's transportation system by Governor Deval Patrick. The turnpike authority - which took a preliminary vote to approve the toll hikes - would also raise tolls at turnpike booths west of Boston, though by a smaller amount.

"We want to partner with the governor on a transportation reform package," Walsh said. "To raise the tolls so much in one region is something we've suggested is entirely unfair."

The Legislature's transportation committee must still hold a hearing on the bill, which may not occur until January, Walsh said.

The possible increase could also have a severe impact on local roads. In Everett, for example, officials estimate between 5,000 and 20,000 more vehicles per day could completely swamp lower Route 99, which connects the city to Charlestown. Since tolls on the Tobin Bridge were raised to $3 three years ago, the roadway is already clogged at peak commuter hours by motorists seeking to avoid the toll.

"It's a parking lot as it is right now," said Erin Deveney, chief of staff to Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria, who opposes the toll hike. "Now, we're looking at potentially traffic backing up onto Broadway that would definitely have a significant impact on residents and local businesses."

The tunnel toll increase comes as the governor proposes dismantling the financially struggling turnpike authority entirely and dividing its duties among other agencies. Under one scenario, Massport, which runs the Tobin Bridge, would manage the tunnels and other eastern portions of the turnpike.

If that were to happen, Massport would also be assigned a portion of the Big Dig debt, which could also lead to toll hikes on the Tobin Bridge, a Massport spokeswoman said. "We are not prepared to do anything just yet, but obviously everything including raising tolls is on the table," said Lisa Langone.

At the Dec. 15 hearing, only the turnpike toll hike will be up for discussion. The hearing will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the council chamber at Lynn City Hall. Turnpike staff will take public comments, an agency spokesman said.

Daniel, the turnpike spokesman, said a professional stenographer will be on hand "to take down everyone's testimony verbatim, and submit into the package that will be sent to the board before a final vote is taken."

A final vote on the proposal could come as early as Jan. 15, the board's first meeting after a series of hearings, Daniel said. In addition to Lynn, hearings are scheduled for Dec. 10 in Boston, Dec. 17 in Framingham, and Jan. 7 in Worcester. "The public hearings are important," Daniel said. "A lot of people sometimes feel these are just 'rote,' something we have to do. But in the past, the public hearings have certainly helped influence changes in proposed toll increases. . . . It's important that [the authority] listens with an open mind about what people have to say."

Paskievich, 55, the Swampscott-to-Southie commuter, said he likely will attend the Lynn hearing. "I'm going to tell them that I think this is asinine," he said, repeating his earlier assessment. "How much do they want to gouge us?"

In Everett, DeMaria is encouraging residents and business owners to attend, to voice concern about the impact on their hometown. "The mayor was saying recently that Everett was a commuter community, where it was easy to drive to Boston," Deveney said. "With the toll at the Tobin, and now and with this [possible] hike at the tunnels, Everett's become a pass-through community."

Kathy McCabe can be reached at kmccabe@globe.com.