Turnpike board approves toll increases

crooks that is what they are. Keep robbing the public and wasting the money.

"If the Legislature raises the gas tax after tolls go up, the toll increases will be rolled back, they promised."

that's hysterical! if anyone believes that, please talk to me as i have some land on the moon to sell you at a reasonable price.

rolled back? lol
this is a joke.
Deval put the disbanding of the turnpike authoirty in the bill with the gas tax. so they wont be around to roll the tolls back. Thats why they did this, so it will be blame deval for both ! And the turnpike authoirty retires with thier pensions.

Let's just make it an even $10 for everything. Less confusing. When will this end?

Board members said both of the increases can be averted if the Legislature increases the gas tax before they take effect. If the Legislature raises the gas tax after tolls go up, the toll increases will be rolled back, they promised.

Promised. HA! Did they pinky swear on it too? Expect the gas tax to take effect and the toll hikes to stay. You can't have your cake and eat it to unless you work on Beacon Hill...

how come routes 495, 128 and 91, are all in such good shape, without the use of tolls... have you ever noticed the disrepair of the road out past the rte 84 exit, terrible road

The term of "Taxachussets" is certainly appropriate...

I think I would literally fall on the floor in shock, if after the tolls go up & than the gas tax is put into law (which is utterly disgusting) they actually do go down to the present toll fee...I guarantee, they will find some reason to keep the toll hike, or at the very least a portion of the hike...How often in Massachusetts do they ever lower or eliminate a tax or hike...NEVER...

Boston Tea Time? The users of the Turnpike are being unfairly taxed. Where is our representatives?
Good Bye Deval!

I think we should tax Desks and Chairs at the Statehouse. If you use a Desk or Chair at the statehouse - you pay a tax.

sounds fair to me.

Funny how we get both a gas tax hike and toll increase. I thought it was one or the other..............................

Get rid of the MTA all together and see how much money we save.

What do you expect from the Mass. Democrats??? All you liberals out there who voted for him deserve it!

you should look at internal departments and start some cost cutting and layoff. stop turning to the public for money. you guys have plenty. i own a small business and i have to cut cost to stay afloat. where is my help???

Raising $12.8 million to plug an $8.1 million budget gap? So where does the $4.7 go, I guess this will be the reason the board will give themselves big raises for solving this mess. Give me a break.

This is absolutely insane!

Why stop at $7? Go for $10, $15....make it $20. Obviusoly no cares what the citizens think so why not go for more? Can you imagine....$7 per day for residents of he North Shore to get into the city everyday...while all on Rt 93 can drive for free....incredible.

Massachusetts has had some bad politicians in it's history but I really can't remember any as bad as the lot we have now. Truly pathetic

I can't wait for them to realize that they are actually losing money as people turn to alternate routes. Then what?

M

Rt. 16, here I come. No more tunnels for this Winthrop resident.

Is this really news? It's like the comedian that said war in the middle east isn't news put up a headline when they declare peace.
Put up a headline when the decide to lower the tolls.

EX LT. GOVERNOR KERRY WAS GOING TO ELIMINATE THE TOLLS SHOULD WE BELEIVE HER OR PATRICK ?

Exactly how much money CAN Deval and crew take from Mass. residents? Unbelievable. The tolls will never come down, the toll hikes will never be rolled back. "Yes, We Can" take as much money as we like!

Massachusetts Turnpike Authority meeting minutes, Hey our ridership is down, so how do we pay our bills while keeping our fat cat salaries, and get more people to use the Pike? Oh! Oh! I know, lets raise the tolls, that way more people will want to use the Pike! Duh!

Isn't ridership down? Isn't raising the tolls going to drive, (sic) more people away from using the Pike? Really people, who is running the Turnpike anyway? Please show one cost saving anywhere done by the Turnpike. I dare you.

I live west of Boston and won't take the PIke unless I absolutely have to even if it takes more time....

What will the tolls be for Fast Lane users?

looks like i will be taking 9 or 135 from JP to framingham

How much freaking money does the stupid pike need? With these constant toll hikes, you'd think that the pike was paved in gold. I am so sick of hearing about how the state/federal government/local govt. is going to RAISE money instead about how they are going to LOWER costs and get some control over themselves.

If you're not disgusted by now with this and the bailout, you're out of your mind. Enough is enough.

They need to take a bulldozer to the tolls and get rid of that bloated agency.

The state and the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is just passing the buck to the citizens to pay for their mismanaged, over-budgeted projects. This is ridiculous. $7?! Restaurants, businesses and property owners of East Boston, Revere, etc. are going to suffer for the MTA's mistakes.

I do not believe they will ever roll back any hike for a second. The tax will always go up never down. I will be buying my gas in RI since I commute to work there everyday.

I THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE ELIMINATING THOSE IDIOTS-I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS NOTICED, BUT OUR FINE GOVENOR HASN,T DONE MUCH OF ANYTHING SINCE HIS ELECTION.

Crooked Massachusetts...this was supposed to be free by now. Oh, but when you have a moron running the state....

Please, don't take us for fools. Does ANYONE really believe that the toll hikes will be rolled back when the gas tax goes into place? Zero percent chance. That I am 100% sure of.
Just like the rollback of the income tax in the 90's and the removal of tolls all together on the Pike in 1987 (per Pike charter), it won't happen.

It's ALL a lot of BS. They're going to raise the tolls AND increase the gas tax. Maybe after that they'll institute a personal existence tax. The primary goal of the state government is to devise ways to get at more of the taxpayers' money. Period.

I avoided the Sumner Tunnel when it was $ 3.50 but would use it for an occasional trip into the city. Now that it's $ 5.50, I'll avoid it even more. The restaurants, theaters and stores in Boston don't need my money anyway- do they ?

Oh yeah, they'll roll the tolls back, just like the state rolled back the "temporary" 5% tax hike of the 70's. What an incompetent, corrupt government we have in this state. The tolls on the Ted Williams tunnel were $1.50 just 4 years ago. Then they doubled to $3.00, then up to $3.50. Wonder where that money went?
I, for one, won't pay an additional $.01 to the tolls when they go up if I have to leave 2 hours earlier to get to work in the morning.
Time for another Tea Party.

I am simply amazed that the hundreds of thousand of commuting workers that use the Turnpike can sit idle and let this happen. A grass roots movement is needed that targets the Politicians of the State that can override the actions of this run-away agency. The only fair thing for the people of Massachusetts is the REMOVAL OF ALL TOLLS throughout the State. People need to commute to work on any roadway in an economically fair way. Why should certain Mass residents pay for the mis-management of Massport? And I don’t even use the Pike in my commute. Please, can’t someone with the ability start a web-site to organize a protest? It’s shameful that Massport claims that this action had Public Input.

Here's a newsflash..get rid of the authority and all the patronage jobs. Then we won't see anymore of these ridiculous ideas. Don't see anything about cuts through attrition, redundancy,etc..Just keep raising tolls/taxes. Way to think outside the box!

Who really thinks they'll roll back the toll increase if the gas tax gets approved? (At least, not without a ton of protesting and noise-making . . .)

"If the Legislature raises the gas tax after tolls go up, the toll increases will be rolled back, they promised."

I think we've all heard this type of "promise" before.

It's heart-warming to know that legislators promise to roll back toll increases if the gas tax passes. I mean, they've kept their promise about getting rid of the tolls once the pike was paid for, so why shouldn't we believe them now?

Ha HA! I hope this hits all you Democrats who put these tax & spend MA. liberals in office right in the wallet, you deserve it!!! You all probably like paying higher tolls though for some warped reason.

$5.50 a day for the tunnel? Are they for real? Its long time to wipe out the Turnpike Authority and make tolls a thing of the past or at least reasonable.

IT'S ALL OBAMA'S FAULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Turnpike board,

Regrettably, we cannot accept your mere verbal promise of a toll rollback if gas taxes are increased. Given the dozens of broken promises on the part of the Turnpike Authority, not to mention the hundreds of broken promises from government overall, you can understand why we, frankly, don't trust you any further that we can throw you.

If you are genuinely sincere, we can offer you a way forward. Simply etch the following in 100-foot large letters in a field somewhere: "We, the Massachusetts Turnpike Board, solemnly promise to roll back these toll increases if a gasoline tax hike is approved. If we fail to do so, we agree to resign and never hold public office again, ever."

Once Google Earth's satellite takes a picture of that field, then we will accept your promise.

Regards,

Everyone in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

If the Legislature raises the gas tax after tolls go up, the toll increases will be rolled back, they promised.

The government promises a lot of things, rolling back revenue will be one they break. Together we can!

I say double em again!

When has the Turnpike ever "rolled back" tolls?

If the Legislature raises the gas tax after tolls go up, the toll increases will be rolled back, they promised.

AAAHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Oh I needed a good laugh.

Anyone who actually believes that they they will live up to their "promise" to roll back the increase is a fool. Once this increase is in, it will stick regardless of what Patrick does with gas taxes.

South Shore freeloaders, pay up!

Let me hold my breath the tolls will be rolled back...stop me if you have heard this before...We voted to roll back the income tax, and we all know how that turned out...This state has never seen a tax it dd not like!

Unreal...Thanks!

Great even more of a money burden on those of us that have to travel the pike and no one else in the state has to contribute any money toward this! I would rather see the gas tax as it is applied to everyone that drives a car and not a penalty tax for those of us that have to travel the pike.

This toll hike is totally wrong and we should have a revolt. The biggest mistake was to pass the cost of the BIG DIG to the Turn Pike. The problem was that when this project was 1st approved the Federal Government would pick up 80% of the cost. As this boon dogle progressed and cost over runs increased the state realized that they were not going to get as much from the Federal Government. The reimbursement decreased. Lets get one thing straight the State Government ran this project with the State Department of Transportation over seeing this project. So what happened was, that they shifted the project over site to the Turn Pike. The Turn Pike sold financial obligations that were not typical Municipal Bond obligations. They had no expertise in this field and let the Big Banks run the sale and financing of the debt ( Swapations?). The issue is the Turn Pike had no experience in Financing billions of Dollars of Debt. The bottom line is that State should step and tell the banks to screw. We should sue them. They sold the Turn Pike an inferior debt obligation system. Then the State should issue new bond obligations at a 7% fixed rate. People are looking for safe havens for there money. Also the buyers of these bonds should be the state pension fund. That way we do not need any market rate financing. Also screw the bond rating agencies because they are same people who graded mortgage back securities which where junk grade but told investors that they were A grade. The same issue exists in the financing of the MBTA bonds. In conclusion the state has to reassess how they finance huge amounts of debt. This is a state problem that Beacon Hill caused and everyone has to pay for their incompetence. VOTE OUT EVERY INCUMBANT POLITICIAN. This issue has occurred over the past 20 years.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

Something tells me we will end up with both the toll increase and Gas hike.

Taxachusetts strikes again, when dop legislators learn to live within their means like real working people

Are you glad you didn't vote yes on one ?

So let's just drive our local economy into more of a recession...most of us are just trying to work and pay the bills...now you're going to make it more difficult for us to pay our bills because more of our money will go towards commuting to the jobs that pay the bills! Some people don't have options to take public transportation because it just isn't available to us!

Welcome to the bankruptcy effect - building insane amounts of infrastructure at federal instruction for decades, then watching as states go bankrupt trying to maintain it all or improve upon it. Maybe we should have taken a page out of Germany's book and built our roads more like the autobahn (twice as thick, better materials).

This country is headed for infrastructure collapse while union/city & state workers rake in tons of money at our expense. Start a mass exodus (oops, already happening) to send a message.

"The first hike is meant to get the authority through the end of its current budget year, by raising $12.8 million to plug an $8.1 million budget gap."

Huh???????

Can I get a check for the $4.7 extra million you don't need?

This whole thing is a joke. It's a political tactic to get Deval(who will never get reelected in this state) to push through his gas tax.

This plan is more than fair. I'm willing to fork over the extra funds as long as Gov. Patrick can assure me he won't layoff his neighbor with the FAKE state job pulling down 120K per year....

what a joke...

You know how you tell people that you'd like that job for a day. Well the Turnpike is one of those agencies I'd like to get my hands on. Those clowns at the Pike never fail to satisfy our urge for classical stupidity. It doesn't matter what political hack runs the place, they're all incompetent. I am tired of being just another fool who pays for other people's mistakes - also look at the bigger picture. This is a government itching to be thrown out of office and the more we're treated like other people's pocketbooks, the closer we will get to a real revolution, removing every last idiot in our way. Keep it up. The day is well on its way.

Roll it back. I think not!

Raise the gas tax, tax us on the number of miles driven, raise all the toll fees.

I thought Deval was getting RID of the Turnpike Authority!!!!

haha. I hope the state ends up with both tax increases. The people of this state deserve it so much for voting in these liberal morons for years. I pray it happens... It would be awesome..

Bye Bye Deval!

Can someone explain to me why those coming from the North Shore via Rte 1 or the tunnels have to pay almost NYC-esque tolls now, but those coming from the South Shore do not have to pay any? My apologies if I'm missing something, but does this make sense? Is it fair?

The leadership in Massachusetts just sucks. Raise the tolls. Double the gas tax. Subject beer, soda, and candy to the 5% sales tax. Track the miles we drive so we can be charged a mileage tax. This administration is bringing a whole new meaning to the word Taxachusetts.

Instead of upping tolls and taxes they need to cut spending.

The article states

"The first hike is meant to get the authority through the end of its current budget year, by raising $12.8 million to plug an $8.1 million budget gap."

Why 12.8 in hikes if they only need 8.1?

What they don't say is how that the "rollback" will not go so far as to totally reverse the toll hike...so instead of choosing toll hikes or gas tax increases we get both...I would say that they are insulting our collective intelligence, but that would require us to have a level of intelligence

It's ridiculous that people on 93 everyday don't have to pay a dime for the big dig...How about the pike just file bankruptancy and get rid of the tolls entirely...maybe Obama will supply the bail money.

They are going to raise tolls at Weston and Allston-Brighton booths to $2 on July 1st, 2009? Are they out of their mind? That is a 60% increase in toll fare in 1 year in the middle of a recession. I already spent over $1,000 this past year on tolls commuting to work, now they want to impose another $600 onto that? This state is unreal, I am moving.... and bringing my tax revenue, and business spending with me. Liberals are going to run this state and country into the ground. Instead of raising penalties on hard working people, maybe they should cut back on their 6 figure salaries, and/or the toll collectors making $80K a year.

Thats right Taxachusetts, keep on punishing the middle class! Don't you realize that we're in a recession? Do you care that unemployment is rising?

Despite what they say, the increased revenues will be used to pay bonuses and salary increases to the transportation executives and politicians.

and a big rasberry to you MTA, where toll booth operators make more than assistant district attorneys.

I cant comment anymore on this subject. Im so tired of this. Once the increase is in effect, that's it for me, I'll take back roads It will take me an extra 5 mins. but will save me $. Thanks for nothing (once again) Massachusetts, or should I say Taxachusetts!!

I can't believe that the powers that be in Massaschusetts can't come to realize what's obvious to the citizens and taxpayers of this state; that these agencies need to look at themselves and their ability to fiscally manage themselves. It's been this way for a very long time now......when money's short, take it from us.

It is nice that the Mass Turnpike Authority is holding a gun to the head of commuters to get the Legislature to act. I am done with the tunnels and will travel extra miles each day to avoid it and will be turning in my Fast Lane Pass. My hope is that many others do this as well. It has been reported that the Turnpike Authority has seen a decrease in use over the past several months, I say they have not seen anything yet!

Type your comment here...

Just another day in mismanaged Massachusetts bureaucracy.

No wonder why people are leaving the State. Taxes left and right because this brainless didn't make the right decision.

Time for those of us in Newton to start blocking the roads with our trafffic while going through Brighton and avoiding the tolls. This time, DON"T LET THE STATE lie to us and scare us out of blocking the roads due to what they call safety. The Allston/Brighton toll was supposed to be gone years ago and look what this state has done to us now? This is not only a disgrace but we now need to act and show them just how serious we the public are.

IMPEACH GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK

This state is so messed up!!! I am outraged that in this type of crisis we would even consider any type of toll increase or higher gas tax!!!!! Elected state officials please read: Before you raise taxes or increase the tolls please try to do your jobs---- by cutting services or eliminating some programs to try and save money!!!!! The people of Massachusetts do not have any more to give!!!!

To all the tax paying citizens of Massachusetts, please let me take this opportunity to apologize to you. It is my fault that we are seeing all these increases in taxes, tolls and fees. THEY warned me that, if I voted "yes" on question 1, this would be the result. Did I listen. No. I foolishly went to the polls and voted to repeal the State income tax. As a result of my foolishness, THEY have punished not only me, but other tax paying cititzens of this commonwealth. And for this I am truly sorry. I wish to especially apologize to those responsible citizens that voted "No" on question 1. You listened, you understood THERE message. You voted "NO." But because of my lack of judgement, you too must now pay the price. I hope you can all forgive me, and I promise that I will listen to THEM next time.

I WAS TOLD THAT DURING DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES THAT A TOLL INCREASE WOULD NOT BE ENACTED.

THEN ON THE OTHER HAND THIS IS TAXACHUSETTS.

I have no faith in this being rolled back...if...the legislature even approve a gas tax increase or any other plan for that matter. My house in Winthrop is worth pennies now.

Welcome to taxachuestts

ridiculous, Yes we can !!!! go broke under deval "do nothing" Patrick plan. im staying off these roads, staying locked in the city till this rates vanish.

They don't call this state "taxachusetts" for nothing. No matter how you cut it, we're all going to pay through the nose whether it's taxes, tolls and gas taxes and still get squat for our tax dollars with the cuts in local aid. Our town already closed the elementary and middle school libraries last year. This year we're facing a $1.1 million shortfall in the budget with cuts in local aid and no one can afford an override (we tried last year). Not to mention we already have bus fees, sports fees, a trash fee and fees for just about everything we can. Our fire, police and DPW are cut to the bone-we had to cut back to minimal snowplowing on non-major streets this year and we've already closed town hall one day a week. I'm not sure what's left. Maybe the governor could give us a few suggestions.

Hey why don't you fire the toll collectors plus some of the hacks. Privatize the Turnpike! Yea they would take away the toll increases. I believe it. It would be just like the excise tax that was a temporary tax too! Cut govt cut hacks!

Boycott the turnpike, clog all the side roads. Better yet just leave New England for good

You have got to be kidding!!! The tolls will never go away and the prices will definately not go down who are they kidding. Once again the useless board uses the pike to cover their financial mistakes to give them the cash they need. I think it is time to start using 30 and route 9. Or you could always take the commuter rail. OH Yeah the Worcester line is useless due to breakdowns and late trains. The T's worst line by far doesn't help us. You cannot count on that either!! Time to find a new State to live in.

This is ridiculous! The people of the Northshore and MetroWest get to single- handedly bail out the Turnpike Authority. Looks like I am moving soon!

This is INSANE! I live in Framingham, and I work in Dedham. Why do I HAVE TO PAY FOR the Big Dig??? I they are looking to re-coop the cost of the Big Dig, they should make 93 a toll road since they are the promary users of the Big Dig.

Sounds like the Turnpike Authority would rather keep a few buddies employed than extend a welcoming hand from Boston to the rest of the state. Too bad, we were going to head that way more often, but I guess we'll look for fun elsewhere.

And no, a gas tax increase isn't any smarter. Deval Patrick- 1 termer! I like the idea of firing toll collectors and getting rid of the MTA completely. Why do we have them, so we can pay huge salaries?

Maybe one day everybody could avoid using the Pike.

At first I thought I read "staggering" not "staggered"...WOW. What a relief.

this makes me want to throw up. i hate this state

I think what I like the most about this is that the dumb state government isn't fixing the problem which is missmanagement. They are just gouging us.

Do people realize that in addition to themselves paying more for tolls and gas, products and services being delivered are also going to be paying more. Which translates to an increase cost that will be pasted onto the consumer, company or end user...So basically there will be a two fold increase for EVERYONE.. Although you may walk, take the "T" or live in the western part of the state, you will see an increase in the cost of your goods and services...

I feel very sorry for the cab owners and livery owners trying to make a living. Not only did they have to deal with rising gas prices and will have to again, but their bottom line with take a huge hit with this proposal. Also, working in Westborough, living in Framingham and having to do a lot of travel to Waltham for personal reasons leads me to believe that it is close to criminal to make me and others like me pay more money because of the irresponsibility of the politicians who made this mess. We will all be stuck in traffic on Route 20 and 30 and within many of our cities limits trying to get to our destinations.

People that do not use the Boston Transportation should not be paying a gas tax. The people that use the BOSTOn transportation should be paying for it every day. They are the ones that can afford it. They have jobs. So many people in this state don't have jobs, and should not have to pay for Boston messes!!!!!!!!! They wanted to BIG DIG, they pay for it. Noone else in this STATE uses it. No GAS tax for the rest of us.

Thieves...as they drive toll free to and from home/work

Pigs.

This isn't a Toll Hike! This is highway robbery!!! The Ted Williams Tunnell should just be re-named the Dick Turpin Tunnell!

If they can track your car with a chip in your inspections sticker why do we need toll booths at all?

They say that these toll increases will raise x amount of money per year but what they are not taking into account is that they are assuming that commuters will continue to use the road after these tax increases. I know that I, for one, will definitely start avoiding the mass pike if at all possible and I'm sure that many other people who use it even though they don't need to will start avoiding it as well.

I just feel bad for all the folks that live along Rte 16 in Newton and closer in to the city since their neighborhood is going to be gridlock now that nobody will take the pike...

I'd love to see the stats at the end of a year of this fiasco showing that they turnpike authority has now actually LOST money since less folks will be taking the pike than they would if it only cost $1 still...

Great solution guys... way to think outside the box!

they should all be fired and their salaries will cover the payments!

Ouch!
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
I find it had to take seriously the promise to repeal this increase.
Expecting Beacon Hill to pass the gas tax before the toll increase date in not realistic. Expecting a repeal of the toll increase is incredible.
Can I just have my Federal tax decrease directly deposited with Beacon Hill?

Deval Patrick is an epic fail.

I am voting Patrick out of office. He is slow and inefficient as a Gov. This toll hike is the death knell for the State.

I am glad the gas tax will not be going up now.

I'd be stunned if a gas tax increase wasn't passed soon. Whether it'll be 19 cents a gallon or not, we shall see. I'd be really shocked if the Turnpike Authority actually rolled back a tax increase. Massachusetts isn't very good at rolling back taxes.

How much would we save if we fired the 5 hacks on the turnpike board

I think this would be an interesting figure for you to consider. With the approved toll hikes and gas taxes….it will now cost me 2400 dollars a year in tolls for the wife and I to get to work. Counting the excise taxes for our cars I’m up to 2800 dollars.

It’s official….I pay more money for fees and taxes for my families cars than I do to insure both vehicles and my home.

And no….switching to GEICO will not save me from this disgraceful abuse of taxpayer dollars.

I will never ever pay another tunnel or bridge toll again for as long as I live.

The dumb idiots at the MTA should all be fired.

Aloha from Maui. I collected signatures at supermarkets for that petition that tried to get rid of Turnpike tolls a long, long time ago. Those paid-off arrogant idiots on the state Supreme Court put the kibosh on that. Nice. Now look what you're got. I am SO glad I got out while the gettin was good. What a fricken joke, to be paying that much money to drive on a highway because of bureaucratic greed and ineptitude. Aloha, Taxachusetts and good riddance.

Wait a minute - I thought the deal was that tolls would go away with the gas tax?

I'll tell you how to avert the tolls - drive a new route - and that's what's going to happen. I feel for the people that have to use the tunnels - those communities will end up with lower proerty values - who wants to live somewhere where you need a ticket to get out?
And what about the inequity of a free ride N and S?

Tear down the tolls, fire everyone at the pike and merge with MassHighway. Raise the gas tax to make up for the shortfall (in addition to increased federal aid and savings from reduction in headcount).

Tolls should only exist on state borders (maybe bridges and tunnels...depending on the case), I really don't know how this is even an issue.

HA HA! That what you clowns get for putting a socialist government in place there. That is total blackmail and you did it to yourselves! Have fun paying all your extra taxes! And stay in Mass and out of NH... we don't want your tax loving socialist politics up here!

JSA- Boston Says:

I get it. We are going to have both a Gas Tax that is something less than the shock and awe number of the original number sent out to us dopes.

Then the tolls will be reduced somewhat and both taxes will keep increasing every time we get that money urge..

Then we dopes will say oh thank you, thank you. for not increasing it so high.

Keep it up folks. The " root rot" is not going away by throwing money at it.

It is going to take new people to run this infrastructure. When we dopes have had enough it ain't going to be pretty believe me.

I got an idea: instead of raising taxes, trying cutting that worthless Turnpike Authority. Duh!!

Oh there is gonna be hell to pay if there is a raise in tolls and a gas tax hike.

It us infuriating to be placed in this position after years of these agencies being havens for patronage and ludicrous benefits. We have been ripped off for years and now we pay again for the mismanagement. The legislature should be held accountable for this travesty.

This is outrageous. It's time to press the reset button.

Well, it's time to start packing and leave this horribly run Commonwealth. Unbelievable.

wow - here is a state that charges us 5% income tax and now we have to pay more to drive in Boston. Its unreal how bad the state is at managing OUR tax dollars. The cost of being a liberal state is that everyone gets money for everything and it comes from hard working people who keep getting screwed.

Wonderful. Let's screw the people on the North Shore and Metrowest again!

Scumbags. Thieves. Incompetent, shameless, corrupt morons.

Didn't Deval formulate his gas tax increase in order to stave off toll increases and eliminate most tolls? More broken promises from an administration full of them.

I wonder how people like this actually live with themselves and their families. I keep reminding myself of course that the voters of Massachusetts brought this upon themselves by not voting to repeal the income tax. Let alone the fact they keep voting these amoral thieves in to office. The Governor hasn't done a thing other than to lie through his teeth. I feel sorry for my friends who are struggling to make ends meet AND voted against the income tax; voted for their reps and voted for this Governor

This is out of control. No one can claim that it is "fair" representation to charge those traveling east and west to get to the city but if you are coming from the north or south its a free ride! As a resident of East Boston I am even more angry at the fact that visitors to my home will soon be charged $7 for their visit. Not only my visitors, but those of East Boston businesses which will suffer even more.

This is outrageous. What was the purpose of the toll hike hearings? We all told the Board of the burden and unfairness of requiring the lower North Shore to pay for the Big Dig, repairs to the Zakim Bridge, and the expressway. Why are the Board members making $150,000 a year? Everett and Chelsea roads will take the brunt of the extra traffic in the mornings. There is no way I would $7 to go through the tunnel!

This is complete and utter garbage. Politicians misuse money and when it catches up to them, and they get scared, they come back to the taxpayer to pay for everything and make this recession even harder for commuters. Nevermind the gas prices that will no doubt sky rocket by summertime. i think it's time to leave this miserable sinking ship we call Massachusetts, not worth the hassle, plus I'm sick of shoveling.

You get the government you deserve...Amazing how creative our government can get when it comes to raising taxes, yet they choose to ignore the most basic fundamental ways to reduce the cost of government by bringing costs in line with the realities of the current economic climate. Our police and firefighters are have the largest salaries of any other state, and often work the least amount of hours earning it. Switch all state employees to market style compensation with a funded portable retirement plan and market rate salaries, consolidate redundant departments and reduce head count and you won't have to raise taxes or take federal dollars.

When possible Rte 30 & Rte 9 never looked better. Seek alternate routes if you have the time!

Wait, what is going on here??? I thought they were going to tax the GAS?????? Now it's both??? NH - here I fricken come! I am starting to HATE this state.

When I read about all these 19 cent gas tax increases and toll hikes, I think it should be MANDATORY that all articles published include pictures of Wilkerson stuffing cash in her bra and Turner shaking hands with hundreds of dollars. I think that would only be fair.

When is someone in state government going to stand up to these hikes and say "No"? Don't any of our reps and senators have the stones to tell the governor and his lackeys that the public will not stand for this kind of abuse? It is time for the revolution to start.

Weren't the tolls on the Pike supposed to go away after the road was paid for?

Maybe it was never paid for because they kept refinancing and paying enourmous wages to the people sitting in the booths collecting money, then paying them workers comp.

This is pathetic, this little club of back slappers. Well..........just don't forget this come November. All incumbents must go.

How about they stop paying themselves six figure salaries to do nothing (other than watch the roads fall apart).

Just a thought.

Shocked, Shocked, is all I can say about this money grubbing Governor. When's my income tax going to fall, Mr. Yes We Can Governor? Another disappointment in state govt.

"The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority today approved a set of staggered toll hikes..."

Shouldn't that read "staggering toll hikes?

Don't blame me - I voted for Muffy!

You guys realize that the NY thruway tolls are way higher than the pike tolls right? and no one seems to compliain out here, well except people like me who are used to the lower mass tolls

Deval Together We Can Patrick needs to realize if I can not balance my checkbook I can not go to my employer and say I need a pay raise. You see my checkbook is overdrawn. I would be fired and laughed out of the building. This State needs to realize you can't spend more than you take in, even if it means cutting expenditures for illegal’s, Doritos eating welfare recipients’, or just pain cutting the give-a-way programs that do not good hard working tax paying citizen any good. Come on people show some anger. It is time to shot out and be heard.. Cpme on everybody I can not be the only one pissed off.

Every article pertaining to Massachusetts tax increasesshould include a picture of Diane Wilkerson stuffing thousands of dollars down her bra and Chuck Turner shaking hands with hundreds of dollar bills.

All of those who didn't vote to repeal the income tax repeat after me:

"Thank you sir, can I have another, Thank you sir, can I have another, Thank you sir, can I have another, Thank you sir, can I have another....."

I have a better idea. I will be willing to pay a bigger toll and a higher gas tax if they roll back masspike pay and retirement payments!

Screw the politicians who don't know how to run a business other than stiffing Joe Average. I'm paying attention here and everyone of them will have NO future in public service!

Who voted for this guy?

revolution is imminent . . . the government exists to serve the people . . not the other way around! When will we stand up and say, "NO MORE!"?

Goodbye Deval! I recommend that on the first day of the increase we all just blow right through the tolls and send Beacon Hill and the MTA a message.

And on the second day we all boycott the tolls as suggested above and make the sideroads impassable!!

What a bunch of BS this whole toll increase is. The tolls should be eliminated- not increased!

Hey, BDC blogger. Stop censoring

The people that live along the Mass Turnpike need to stand up and show the government that they will not take it anymore!! I, for one, will stop using the Mass Turnpike on a daily basis when this toll increase takes effect. Unfortunately, this will add an additional burden to the towns along the Mass Turnpike, as I will be using the back roads. With less of us using the roads, the revenues will not increase and the state will have to look for a way to equitably distribute this financial burden, maybe even including those that use the roads of the "Big Dig", who are not being tolled or taxed at ALL!!

The toll collectors are loving this. They can steal half the time and still make the same pay or steal full time and eventually have enough to buy a home in Weston, Wellesley or Newton, not far from their booth.

It seems like getting rid of King George may have been a mistake for you lot...you got the Turnpike Authority instead and corrupt Mass politicians.

DEVAL PATRICK should sell his mansion to cover the $8.1M budget gap and then he should move out of the universe!

Over paid troopers, over paid turnpike workers, over paid MBTA workers, over paid Massport workers, what do they all have in common???? Unions! Take on the unions and take back this state

California is laying off ten thousand government employees. They are in a budget deficit of 42 billiion. Why is their proposed gas tax only 12 cents? Why is our State Government not looking on the overburdened overhead and headcount like CA.

The platform was "Together we Can" . How bout "Together we Tax:"

Overpaid Troopers, over paid toll takers, over paid MBTA workers, over paid Massport workers. What do they all have in common in this fine state? Unions! Take on the Unions and we can take back this state.

Is there any way to organize a massive boycott of the Pike one day to voice our displeasure? Either take a vacation day or take back roads that day - yes, the commute would be brutal on side roads, but maybe it would make a point. Maybe one of those facebook groups could be started.

Anyone else been down to Charlotte, NC? Brand new metropolitan city- yes, they do have all the famous, nice restaurants(CapitolGrille, Mortons etc etc)plus even better local restaurants, jazz clubs/nightclubs. You can buy a condo in pristine development 8miles from downtown for $100k(and that was before bankamerica and wachovia tanked). It took me less than ten minutes to get downtown at 8am on a Mon morning.
Guess what? Not one toll. Gas is cheaper. Its a smoker's paradise (though I dont smoke),same landscape as here (so not such a shock as moving to S.Florida or AZ), people are extremely friendly, schools are better and less expensive...I could go on and on. You have the mountains 90min west and ocean3 hrs away. Funniest thing the few times I went down was everyone you meet is from MA, PA, NJ, IL, MI, NY. We are all fools for putting up with these clowns- there is no reason you cant have a great city at reasonable price

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Aloisi is a powerhungry jerk, who has been let loose by an uninvolved in-over-his-head governor from another state, who doesn't care about Boston, never mind the region. When will Massachusetts ever learn and vote in decent folk?

Why should Auto's and Trucks suppliment other forms of Transportation? If you raise the Tolls and Gas Tax People will use thier cars less and avoid the Toll Roads when possible. Then what? Raise State Income Tax?

I'm moving so they don't get any more money from me.

Arrest the board for extortion and put the MTA in receivership. Cut political payoff jobs before raising tolls! Replace the $100,000+ toll-takers with a computerized system like I've seen in other countries and can anyone making over $50K.

all of you commenters here are acting like a bunch of spoiled brats. complain about everything! look, paying tolls and taxes is part of the deal for great technology and being able to utilize it. you think it is easy to build a tunnel under water? i personally think a toll in the $25, $30 range would be reasonable for use of these state of the art tunnels. but you are all spoiled so you think it should be free or something! pay your taxes and tolls and be lucky you don't have to swim to logan airport. what a bunch of whiners!!

Deval is a an Idiot and all the politicians are crooks in the state. This is the last straw. We have to stand up to these people and get rid of them. Deval why don't you send your kids to public schools and sell your mansion. Don't tell us how to live. Please just resign....you are an idiot

Time to put tolls on 93. The Big Dig was built to improve 93 traffic. What they SHOULD have done is just rip out the artery and replace it with NOTHING. Make 93 north and 93 south into spurs that terminate into surface streets.

Since they didn't do that, time to put a $7 toll on the Zakim and another just north of Rt 3.

the gas tax and toll and taxex for candy and beer and tax for the miles u drive a car is a bunch of crapy the government are greedy buch of well you all know what and whats next they tax your right to speak and tax you cats or dogs u have at home and hope they see their it my rigfht to say and speek my mind

Government spending never decreases. It's always tax and spend from the democrats and cut taxes and spend from the republicans. It is government spending that has ruined the country. National Debt will decrease the standard of living very soon. It already has.

DON'T RE-ELECT ANYONE!!!!!!!!!

ALL POLITICIANS, COPS, and FIREMEN ARE CROOKS!!!

I say triple or quadruple the tolls now so we won't have any worries till beyond 2014. This should take care of a lot. I can't wait for the gas to go back up to $4+ and beyond.

I'll be working to pay tolls and gas, but oh... no lunch or food on the table or anything left to pay any bills. Why work? I'll save more staying home being unemployed - why it's like I'm getting paid to do nothing, just like our moronic Governor!

AS if getting out of Winthrop every morning isnt bad enough, now this?1?!EVERYONE I know (including me) will be bombarding rt 16 and the gridlock will be horrific. I have already driven that route NOW without the toll hike and its awful! Imagining it AFTER the toll hike is well depressing me terribly. I am lucky to have a job I love and don't want to ever leave it But it takes 2.3 hours by train or 1/2 hour by Ted williams then the PIke to my work. Now what? Do I spend over $200 (not including gas!) to EVEN GET to work . Or spend 5 hours a day by train, away from my family and not getting home until after 7pm fo about $90? I am so upset. My life and family's life is now in REAL finanacial danger..this has r

Too many complaining clowns here had there chance on question 1.
Your golden opportunity for a "tea party".

the debt needs to be divided amongst ALL the taxpayers, not just those on the pike and in the tunnels... I have no issue paying tolls and taxes, as long as EVERYONE has to shoulder the burden.

What a joke. Once again our overpaid public officials have no idea how to run any type of operation. What they all need is to stand in an unemployment line and wait to collect, or go to work in the private sector where they would get fired for "Enron type accounting". As far as toll hikes go, the politicians should stop getting new bonds issued against the Turnpike to pay for other thing in their state budget. (ex. new Cadillacs & Drapes, pay raises, and bloated pensions). The real reason they never pay off all the debt on the Turnpike is the Turnpike charter states that once it is paid for then the tolls are to be eliminated. How about that! If tolls are really needed then why are we not using technology by eliminating all toll collector and eliminating OT pay for Turnpike State Troopers.(they make more money that Doctors and local CEO's). Finally, if we applied a little commonsense, we would realize that the state could have plenty of money if they would reform state pensions, reduce state labor force, take pay cuts, and revamp state organizations with more efficient modern technologies.

This slap in the face is what every clown who voted against eliminating the MA income tax gets. You were duped into thinking if we left the income tax alone then the legislature/governor wouldn't up the rest our fees. WRONG! Tax & spend, tax & spend, tax & spend.

Weren't we complaining just a few years ago about how Massachusetts was the only state in the U.S. to have a reduction in its population? And wasn't this attributed to the excessive cost of living? How does raising toll prices and instituting the nation's highest gas tax reduce the cost of living so people will come back to Massachusetts? As a 15th generation resident of Massachusetts, I'm quite sure my ancestors would be disgusted with our state government. Does the Boston Tea Party ring a bell to anyone? If we stop voting these self-centered, hypocrital, left-wing politicians into office and restore a balance of power, this can save Massachusetts from being the damned liberal guinea pig where all residents suffer. Balance the budget...stop spending money we don't have...don't help one person at the expense of another...stop acting like the residents of Massachusetts are too stupid to take care of themselves. We are supposed to be the most educated state in the country. Let's take back state government and show the nation that we can be a model of fiscal responsibilty. Government has proven to be irresponsible. Let's put the decision-making process back into the hands of Bay Staters.

Our fore fathers understood the arrogance of power. The taxation inequity of the Big Dig is no more palatable than the tea tax. It's time for the rulers to be replaced. Our French cousins know how to send a message to their government with civil disobedience. It's time to show Rt 93 commuters the traffic jams the tolls cause. How about a day per week campout on Rt 93.

This is so sad. The reason for the representitives was to carry the people's concerns to the state and then go back to their real jobs.

It was not a job it was a public service. It was what any free man or woman that had their freedom would do to show a little gratitude.

Here is the real story. The vast majority of people we elect are only interested in getting re-elected and move up in seniority.None will speak out, especially their own party because there will be punishment coming their way.

The only fair and just way for all these people to really understand what REAL people are going through, is to put each and every one of them back on the street and try and then try and cope.

Please, please someone or some group step up and let all of us, regardless of party or beliefs, get rid of each and every one.

It really is time for people to stand up.

Come join the fight.

Peace

seeking justice for all

.
Theu

this is ridiculous. these are supposed to be the people to lead us?? even a teenager could come up with more solutions. Its time for a big change in our government. I don't understand why we even pay these polititians, they are just wasting our money and they also raise our expenses instead of working to save the people money. i just don't get it, where is all these money going cause all i see is potholes.

"Legislators have complained that Patrick’s latest plan, announced last week, pressures them to act quickly on the gas tax to avoid the toll hike. "

Like no one knew this was comming? Isn’t it there job to act quickly? What a joke... you get what you vote for!!

I think there should be a drive to the state house via the turnpike at minimum speeds during a monday morning rush hour. Don't pay any tolls and park in front of the state house and demand from our un documented non-Massachusetts resident governor for our stimulus hand out so we can afford to stay in our homes. Maybe we should ask for tax free status and mortgage free status.

I live in metrowest, I can't wait to get stuck in traffic on every route now.
Thanks so much!

Tea Party
WE NEED A TOLL PARTY
pay with penies

masspikeman obviously has never had to cross the harbor. Old Poor Richard and all of the rest of you who think putting tolls on I-93 or the Zakim bridge is a fair way of distributing the tolls burden should just plain stay underground. Suggestions like those are likely to be acted upon. That would result in even more toll roads without reducing or eliminating any of the existing fees. Better to just let sleeping revenue lobbyists lay. In the mean time, everybody who drives should Goggle MapQuest and find various alternative routes. If there is one consolation, the tolls across the harbor are one-way.

Shame on you. Someone traveling from Winthrop to Boston to work will spend a small fortune, $100 or more a month. Disgusting. What does that add up to a year!!!!!! $$$$$$$$$$.

arent you glad that you all elected deval ?? heh heh enjoy those taxes.

i live south shore, GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice job! Lets increase the tolls so the western part of Mas and the North shore get whacked. But the South shore and anyone else who does not pay tolls gets a break. We have such a fair state. The fairest thing for all Mass tax payers is to raise the gas tax.

I will not give another dime to this GROSSLY MISMANAGED ENTITY!!! KING PATRICK is going to have to scratch his head and try to think up another B.S. story to feed to the LEMMINGS of the "commonwealth". When I pay my excise bill every year where does this money go???. When will the sheeple of Massachusetts WAKE UP from their comas and smell what has been wiped under their noses. I take the surface roads and revel in the fact that before this talk of increases the "commonwealth" used to generate revenue from me ....but now they get zip ...NOTHING.!! IT TRULY IS THE FOOL THAT SHOOTS THE GOLDEN GOOSE. Glad to hear their SLUSH FUND is drying up.!!
Posted by M.T. POCKETS February 20, 09 09:38 AM

Just one more example of the Mass miracle its a miracle that these idiots are still in office Hey Deval why dont you try to live on a budget like the rest of us.My budget strategy is if you dont have it dont spend it. Yours seems to be if you dont have it TAX it. Politician is just a fancy word for thief, get out of our pockets.

Increased tolls to get to the airport, increased parking at Logan. Boy is Providence and Manchester airports looking good right about now. I am so sick of the crap in this state. They should start looking internally at the fat that is being wasted and stop taking from the people. What more can "Devil" Patrick and his coherts take from us? Why don't we just all have our paychecks (whats left after taxes) direct deposited into the state bank account. At least my conscience is clear--I didn't vote for the Devil

This feels like the way a Dictatorship runs is not a Democracy! At each one of the meetings citizens came up with countless ideas to come up with the funds needed. Tax Logan passengers. Will anyone really say I won’t go to Boston because they are charging me a $1.00 tax? That alone could raise 3 Million! I live near the airport I see the Troopers two or more at a time sitting in their cars while construction is being done. What about their overtime? What happened to that after one of the stations did a feature on it and the massive salaries they get yearly due to the overtime! It goes on and on and the waste goes on and on. What our elected officials have told us is they don’t care what we think! Also they aren’t smart enough to come up with a plan that won’t burden people who struggling to survive. Raising the tolls, doubling the gas tax…..it is nuts! There are ways to deal with this that would be a pinch to everyone not a slap in the face.

I feel sorry for everyone who will suffer due to this Dictator attitude but I especially feel sorry for the businesses that need to use the tunnels. I hope they can survive and not force more people out of work when that is the last thing we all need right now. President Obama would love this one!

i was a toll collector on the mass pike for 19 years. in nov. of 2007 i got into an argument with a fellow collector about his drinking on the job( he liked to show up for "work" with a glow on) and his lack of job performance. he complained to management, so they fired me. oh well! LISTEN PEOPLE!!! in the 19 years i was employed by the turnpike i could tell hundreds of tales of WASTE,THIEVERY, INCOMPETENCE, POLITICAL PATRONAGE..ETC. and so on.far too many to get into here, but believe me, this is not just disgruntled former employee story. i have many times over my years on the turnpike voiced these same concerns to fellow employees. over the years ive seen the turnpike authority go from a well managed, user friendly atmosphere to a disaster of political waste and patronage and an UBSURD, ABSOLUTELY UBSURD WASTE OF TAXPAYERS$$$. i just hope the legislator will support the governors plan to abolish this travisty of the publics trust.

Wouldn't it be fine if we all got together and refused to drive on the Mass Pike for just one day! That might be enough to alert them to our displeasure.

This idiot Caddilac Deval is as dumb as his buddy who was just put in the White House by all the Moonbats with their pony tails and birkenstocks. Why don't all you liberal losers just go away. The state is a joke. And so are ALL Liberals. Muffy Healy should have won!

I live in the Metrowest. This toll increase now means that I would have to pay $7.50/day to commute to work. ($37.50/week). In effect, I've just been handed a pay cut of $2,000/year on my net take-home salary, a penalty imposed ONLY on metrowest drivers.

I plan to avoid the Pike and use only local roads and, where available, public transit. I suggest everyone else protest in the same manner.

congradulations to all the folks that like paying state tax...they jus gave u more to pay ....i voted againt state tax but i still hav to pay it so you guys should enjoy ...they will still lay off some teachers emts and police by the way ....thaey wernt so fast when it was election time ........taxachuttes is a sham i said that right a SHAM
thats 2 times for thos hard of hearing.

California impeached their govenor when he was frivilous with money. Why isn't anyone suggesting this?!?!??!!!!

Beacon Hill needs an overhaul and the MTA needs to go away! Let's vote these bums out!

This is disastrous for neighborhoods in Newton at exit 17 that will get increased surface street traffic. It is NOT just about money but traffic flow. Our elected officials, take notice.This is a terrible plan.

It is a sorry sad day that this 'new' government under POOR leadership for Massachusetts CANNOT care about its people....GREED and feeding on the lack of 'NEW CARING candidates allows for our government to ballon....
I wish I was an illigal immigrant and would not have to feel the weekly and monthly effects of poor governing....When will we appoint REAL HONEST
talent to these commissions and get rid of the GOOD OL BOY CLUBS
here in TAX-A-CHUSETTS To all you liberals....go out and tap our crude oil reserves in the midwest and get rid of the middle-east dependency....