Everyone understands that the Big Dig has royally screwed the state's finances. We get that, and we understand we have to pay off the debt. What we don't understand is why half of us are being asked to take this one for the team. Spread the pain a little, for God's sake.
Why not add open road tolling to 93 and create some equity in the tolling scheme? The open system would allow everyone to maintain highway speed, so there's no additional traffic. Last time the Globe asked, Turnpike Chair Andy LeBovidge said they didn't want to incur the expense of putting them up. I imagine he had a good laugh after hanging up with the reporter. He won't do it because he, Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen and Governor Patrick are scared shitless of a real fight with the legislature. A fight they'd win.
Look, I've outlined how I feel about this before: Either remove the tolls and get the money through the tax base (likely a gas tax), or toll everyone, which means hitting up the South Shore and 93N corridor. As it is right now, half the state is paying for a project that more directly benefits the other half:
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