I thought voting no on question 1 and keeping the income tax was suppose to avoid raising these other fee's! all fall, everyone said, if you vote yes on 1 then property fee's and tolls will go up. I voted NO and now this. I should have known better then to trust the government
29 comments:
These tolls are inequitable. Why should some communities pay more than others, while some use the roads for free. Put tolls everywhere (93 South at 128, and 93 North at the RT 3 split) or raise the gas tax so the people who drive more pay more. Either of those solutions would be more palatable the the measures currently proposed.
If we lose our resident discounts we will be outcasts in our own city.
East Boston should form its own city if it costs seven dollars to go to city hall, seven dollars to go to 1010 Mass Ave to get a permit etc.,
This isn't fair we are treated like Third class citizens!!!!
Save Our Community!!!!
Will they be upgrading Hwy 16 into an 8 lane freeway soon?
Chelsea will become gridlocked.
Don't Steal... The Government Hates Competition
For East Boston residents, this is potentially insane. How can anyone justify going from $0.40 to leave EB to $7.00 to leave EB? The reason we have the reduced toll is because we LIVE here - we are FORCED to use the tunnels. Last time I checked my car could not drive on water. So guess what happens when it becomes $7.00? People move out of EB, people sell their cars and use the T which is already crowded beyond belief during rush hours, or better yet, people move out of MA all together. The Big Dig is an engine that supports the economy of this entire state. Just because it is located in Boston doesn't mean the cost burdens should only reside in Boston. The entire state benefits and the entire state should pay equally. Slapping a 1,750% toll increase on a single neighborhood is not the answer.
Well said, "save our neighborhoods."
This is an absolute outrage, especially if the $0.40 resident charge is increased to $7. Why should residents of East Boston pay the price for the state's fiscal irresponsibility? And at a more fundamental level, why should pay to leave our town???
On a community level, if it costs $7 to visit Eastie, nobody will ever come. Businesses will be crushed. Revenues for the neighborhood will be crushed. Property values will plummet, and tax revenues will decline. There is no benefit at all to the community.
Where are our representatives, by the way? I don't see Petrucelli or Basile anywhere. There seems to be very little representation for the neighborhoods most affected by this toll hike.
Obviously, other parts of the state that don't frequent Eastie will support this because it saves them from more substantial toll hikes. So our voices need to be extra loud.
I agree that the hikes are inequitable! If we have to have road tolls, they should be on 93 and Rt 3 South as well! Why should the Cape Commuters or North Shore rich get away totally unscathed!
"Mary Z. Connaughton of Framingham
and board member Michael P. Angelini of Worcester said they also believe the Legislature should consider eliminating steep discounts for residents of East Boston and Boston’s North End."
Are you kidding me??? If either one of these Pike board members lived in East Boston or the North End, I can assure you they wouldn't suggest eliminating the residential discount? Why are people living out in the sticks of Framingham and Worcester making rules for those of us who live in Boston??? Try using the tunnels or the Tobin a few times a day every day...the tolls add up quickly!!!
I'd like to know who voted for Gov. Deval Patrick? Also, who voted 'no' on Question 1?
If you are guilty of both, you all get the government you deserve.
I am tired of people who complain but keep voting in the same politicians over and over again!
Those of you that voted 'no' on Question 1 means you are willing to pay more taxes!
Great idea. You should display all the signatures though, or at least a tally, so we know how many people have signed. If it's a lot, it's strong; if not, we will be motivated to pass on to more friends. Just a thought!
It is unfortunate that the Mass Turnpike Board had to take this course. It amazes me how they expect taxpayers to take on this extra burden. The proposal is outrageous.
Folks: you must attend the upcoming public hearings and make yourselves heard. It's time to start banging the drums. In addition, people should be taking to the streets and protesting this reckless proposal.
What's next? Taxing us for every mile that we drive? Enough is enough.
All I can say is this:
Let The Boston Toll Party Begin!
Something else to get mad about:
link
There is more to East Boston than just the airport. There are people here who have invested in this neighborhood and deserve a fair chance at its success. I don't expect my family and friends to visit if they have to pay $6 or $7 just to get home. The businesses here are at an extreme disadvantage because of the tolls, and will suffer greatly due to this increase. Would you choose to have dinner at a restaurant where you had to pay the price of an appetizer just to get home? A friend of mine is a food perveyor, and services many restaurants in East Boston. He has to drive to Eastie four or five times a week, so the cost of his doing business here will now be $16-$20 per week. His company will face similar disincentives to deliver to East Boston. This neighborhood has shown recent promise, and inspired people to invest in property and business here. The toll increase will destroy the efforts of these good people, and will completely cripple the neighborhood of East Boston.
I understand that someone has to pay for the poor management and corruption of the Big Dig. It's not fair, it's not right, but it's reality. If that burden must be carried by commuters into the city, it should be spread out to include 93 North and South.
Just think of where the toll booths are in the state in relation to where the influential politians live, any coincidence? I don't think so. Kennedy, Finneran, Bulger, Murray, etc., etc. - what a scam. Screw the people from the North East and West. We're not putting up with this, lets stop the toll increase and TEAR DOWN THE TOLL BOOTHS. I'd love to see them put one up at the sagamore bridge, see how long that would last.
STOP THE PIKE HIKE!
Why not add toll booths to Route 93 South bound (south of Route 128, Winchester Highlands?) and North bound (Savin Hill?). These are the drivers who benefit most from the Big Dig through Boston and currently drive with zero tolls. The Pike users have already paid off the cost of the Mass Pike and only have a minimal benefit from the Big Dig. The same applies for the residents of East Boston whose lifeline is heavily impacted by these outrageous toll increases.
I can't believe it will cost me more to drive to work than it does to fill my gas tank. $30 just to go to work, not counting the another $12 each weekend to get into Boston. I grew up in Chelsea and now live in E Boston and I find we've always been on the loosing end in these cities. Double my discount to $.80 and I'll be happy.
I agree it's not fair for there to be Big Dig tolls on 90 and not 93. But I'm disappointed that East Boston residents feel they cannot leave their neighborhood without driving a car. An easy way to beat the $7 toll is to take the T, which is a $2 or less trip away from almost anywhere inside Route 128 you might want to go. Higher tolls mean that people will work harder to find alternatives, and East Boston and the city as a whole will benefit from reduced air pollution and traffic congestion.
The Gas tax hike is NOT an Equitable Solution either. Why should residents of this state that do not commute via the Toll Roads should have to have the burden transferred onto them. I refuse to pay for the Big Dig.
Gov. Patrick is not responsible. Go after Bechtel and those companies that basically stole the money from us.
And to the poster that was complaining about Question 1... If you want a higher Tax burden on your home and such, then that is on you. Removing one tax would have killed our schools and the service we all enjoy.
Find an Equitable solution that benefits ALL of Massachusetts. DO NOT TRanfer your burdens on those of us that do not commute on the toll roads. Hells, The South Coast has suffered enough from neglect by the past administrations.
I could care less if they raise the tolls -just like when nobody raised a voice when the MBTA raised parking lot rates back on Nov.15 to $4, $5, and $7 a day or when the they raised commuter rail rates by $60 last year.
Where was bigmouth Michelle McPhee or Michale Graham back then?
It wouldn't bother me if they tripled the tolls for those tunnels or the rest of the pike as far as that goes. I don't use them. I was against the Big Dig from the start, of course nobody asked the public what they felt or if they did, they ignored them. I don't feel like I should have to pay for something I don't use. There are plenty of other ways to get to where I'm going.
Another free pass for many years to those South of the city.Not a bad idea but why should all pay?
Thank you for contacting the Representative’s office regarding the yearly cost of the I-93 Southeast Expressway HOV (“zipper”) lane. As per instruction from the Representative, I am forwarding the information from the Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) to you.
The Executive Office of Transportation sent the following yearly cost breakdown and total spending for the “zipper” lane. The numbers outline maintenance, police detail, vehicle contract, towing contract, and staffing:
Parts and Services ---------------------------------$300,000
State Police -----------------------------------------$160,000
Barrier Transfer Vehicle Operator Contractor - $340,000
Tow Truck Contract --------------------------------$170,000
State Worker Staff ---------------------------------$400,000
Total ------------------------------------------------$1,370,000
Why don't we boycott the Turnpike for a day? If a boycott were publicized well enough, I think enough people would participate that it would show a couple of things. For one, it would show that if we use the Turnpike and tunnels less, the revenue would not go up as much as some people hope. For another, it would show that we can vote with our feet, or at least with our tires. The resulting congestion on alternative routes would be pain for us, but it would also put pressure on the authorities. Maybe that would be an incentive to spread the misery around more fairly. We've had enough toll hikes!
Nice idea to boycott the turnpike, but it would never work. Think back to those emails sent around a few years back telling people to boycott one of the gas stations on a specific day/week to teach those companies a lesson. That never came even close to working or making any difference, the free market is the free market and communications are never across the board.
Similar from a traffic/route related boycott, the standard roads outside of the turnpike can't even come close to handling the traffic demand for normal commuters. I work at an office in Framingham -- completely outside of downtown Boston level traffic. There have been times before when I've seen major pike-closing accidents that caused all traffic to get off the exit. The result was it took about 45 minutes to get 1/4 mile away from the office, you could have walked quicker than that!
Nice ideas to emphasize the issues that we are seeing, but a boycott would never work -- from either an effective communication standpoint or any type of reality as to what kind of traffic that would cause.
Put a toll on 93 and Route 3 just south of the Mass Boarder, only during the morning rush. NH residents should pay a something. A $1 toll would bring in plenty of money.
when i hire a contractor to do work for me and he screws up, he pays for his mistakes. can someone explain why we have to pay for bechtel's screw-ups? i am sick and tired of our corrupt government acting holier than thou, and then making us pay when they need more money to pad their own pockets. bring on the toll party.
SAVE OUR STATE YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT
BUT OUR PROBLEMS ARE STATE WIDE.I'M
SO SICK AND TIRED OF THIS STATE AND
IDIOT POLS.THEY DO WHAT EVER THE HELL THEY WANT:FINANCING,LAWS,
PATRONAGE,TAXES.THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES,I DONT KNOW HOW THEY LOOK IN THE MIRROR.WE NEED A REVOLUTION!!
I am sorry to say that I voted for Deval Patrick. What a huge mistake on my part. I will not make that mistake again. I think considering that his net worth is in the millions that in this time of fiscal crisis he should forgo his current salary and work for $1 per year. I recall my mother telling me that politicians are public servants, yet our Gov acts like he is a king. The audacity of not responding to public outrage is mind bending. If the increase goes through I will boycott the tolls. I will work to see that anyone who supported them is not re-elected.
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