Hub aims to take a toll on downtown drivers

Boston Herald ^ | Wednesday, March 30, 2005 | Kimberly Atkins

[Radix]

 Driving in congested downtown Boston would cost commuters more than time under a City Council plan that would use cameras to snap license plates and assess tolls.
     Councilor Paul Scapicchio wants to create a downtown toll zone where cars would be electronically charged for passing through Boston's busiest thoroughfares in neighborhoods such as the North End, Chinatown, and Charlestown. ``It's meant to alleviate congestion on downtown streets,'' said Joseph Arangio, an aide to Scapicchio, who will file an order today calling for hearings on the proposal.
     Arangio said it would also combat pollution, encourage use of public transportation, and give the city an extra source of revenue.  Instead of toll booths or prepaid pass system, Arangio said, cameras would be installed within the downtown toll zone.  When a car enters into the zone, the camera would capture the vehicles' license plate, and the tolls can be assessed.
     If the city adopts a program such as the one in London - upon which Scapicchio's plan is modeled - even locals will have to pay to drive neighborhood streets.  London residents within the zone are not exempt, though they get a 90 percent discount.  Also under the London system, taxicabs, buses, disabled drivers and emergency vehicles are exempt from the toll.
     San Francisco - a city officials note is geographically similar to Boston - is also considering a similar plan that would discourage use of that city's most jammed streets and use the toll charges for municipal transportation improvements.

[Radix]

It is all for the children.

[Radix]

Ping!

I searched and saw your earlier thread on a similar matter.



http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1343910/posts

[Bertha Fanation]

Maybe to really enhance revenue . . . . they could charge a double toll to drivers with license plates from red states.

[Centurion2000]

Disgusting.

And of course people will borrow license plates from other cars.

[Little Pig]

Nah, the Mass plate is simple enough it can be edited with red-colored tape (or green tape, if you're lucky enough to have one of the few remaining green plates).

[F105-D ThunderChief]

Can you say Photo Blocker?

[BigBobber]

Brilliant liberal logic. Tax people who are coming into your city to conduct business, shop, and eat in the restaurants.

[rockabyebaby]

Absolutely! All for the Children!

Only in Massachusetts!

[rockabyebaby]

>>>Brilliant liberal logic. Tax people who are coming into your city to conduct business, shop, and eat in the restaurants.<<<

This was a heavy topic on talk radio this morning, we can't believe the logic behind this assinine proposal, but once again, only in Massachusetts would you tax people coming into the city, the laughable part is that we've spent how much $$$ improving roads to make it easier for folks to come into the city? IMO reason behind this is to pay for all the leaks in the infamous Big Dig tunnel.

[jolie560]

I thought the leaks in the Big Dig PREVENTED people from bringing their cars downtown.

[LibFreeOrDie]

"...encourage use of public transportation, and give the city an extra source of revenue..."

Well, there won't be much "extra revenue" left over if ridership does increase on public transportation. They'd have to hand over the money to the MBTA to run more busses/subways. And didn't the MBTA just cut the overnight schedule altogether? So much for folks with odd night shifts.

And there's nothing like riding in those cattle cars at rush hour to brighten your day. Several stabbings at Red Line stations, two escalator incidents (one injury, one death), fire and floods on the lines and stations, fatal shooting on a bus, commuter rails shut down due to pedestrian deaths on tracks,... Not to mention having to deal with the drunks and the perverts.

Fewer people will want to work or live in Boston, or drive in from the 'burbs to go to a restaurant or a show. I don't think the retaurant owners in the North End would support this idea.

[ProudVet77]

Last heard the big dig was being turned into a swimming pool in the summer and a skating rink in the winter.

[rockabyebaby]

>>>I thought the leaks in the Big Dig PREVENTED people from bringing their cars downtown.<<<


The tunnel is still in operation, according to "those that know" the tunnel is safe so people continue to use it.

[rod1]

Taxachusettes has earned its name well.

So what happens if you live on one of those streets. Are you taxed everytime you turn around--literally?

[cloud8]

> ...if you're lucky enough to have one of the few remaining green plates).

Wanna buy mine?

:-)

This downtown toll zone is a terrible idea. They'll prolly put it through.

[raccoonradio]

I'll bet you're exempt from the toll if you still have a Kerry bumper sticker on your car. Tolls, fees, fines, taxes...it brings Mike Dukakis to mind...

Years ago, a record store near Boston noticed a resemblance between former Gov. Mike Dukakis and Cajun singer D.L. Menard, at least on this album cover. They put it up on the wall and put a piece of paper over the top, reading : "MIKE DUKAKIS--Fees, Fines, and Taxes". Always brought a smile on my face when I stopped in :) (it was Rockit on Rt 1 in Saugus, in case you're curious...)